Valve has finally put a price on Steam Machine, and the number is high enough to change the conversation around the compact SteamOS-based PC. Every version sits above $1,000 USD, placing the device firmly in premium territory before pre-orders even begin.
That pricing would matter on its own, but Valve is also attaching strict purchase rules to the launch. The company is treating the machine less like a typical PC release and more like a tightly controlled early allocation, with limited eligibility and a waiting list system.
Four variants, all above four digits
Valve is offering four Steam Machine configurations, split by storage size and whether a Steam Controller is included. The entry point is the 512 GB model without a controller, priced at $1,049 USD.
For buyers who want more storage, the 2 TB version without a Steam Controller rises to $1,349 USD. The bundled options cost more, with the 512 GB package priced at $1,128 USD and the 2 TB package set at $1,428 USD.
The company has pointed to the current high price of RAM as one factor behind the cost. Even so, Valve is positioning each SKU as competitive within its category.
What Valve is putting inside the box
Steam Machine runs on SteamOS 3 based on Arch, and Valve says the system still leaves room for users who want to install another operating system. That keeps the product closer to a flexible PC than a locked-down console.
The processor is a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 chip with 6 cores and 12 threads. It can boost up to 4.8 GHz and carries a 30W TDP.
Graphics are handled by a semi-custom AMD RDNA 3 GPU with 28 compute units. Valve lists the GPU at up to 2.4 GHz and 110W TDP, while memory comes in at 16 GB DDR5.
Storage is limited to two NVMe SSD options, either 512 GB or 2 TB. That makes the price spread easier to understand, since the hardware choices are otherwise tightly defined.
Ports, wireless, and display support
The compact system includes Wi‑Fi 6E 2×2, Bluetooth 5.3, and Gigabit Ethernet. For a small desktop machine, that gives it the kind of connectivity buyers would expect from a full PC.
DisplayPort 1.4 supports output up to 4K at 240Hz or 8K at 60Hz, with HDR, FreeSync, and daisy-chaining support included. HDMI 2.0 is also present, with support up to 4K at 120Hz plus HDR, FreeSync, and CEC.
USB connectivity is split across the chassis as well. The front offers two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, while the rear includes two USB-A 2.0 high-speed ports and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port.
Small frame, heavy hardware
Valve has packed the hardware into a compact body measuring 152 mm tall, or 148 mm without the feet, 162.4 mm deep, and 156 mm wide. Despite the small footprint, the unit weighs 2.6 kg.
The design also includes 17 individually controllable RGB LEDs. Beyond visual customization, they can be used to show system status, reinforcing the idea that this is a desktop-style machine built for a gaming setup with limited space.
Pre-orders open with tight limits
Valve plans to launch Steam Machine in Summer 2026, with pre-orders opening on June 25, 2026 alongside the start of the Steam Summer Sale 2026. The sale itself will run until July 9, 2026.
Orders must be placed through Steam, but not every account will qualify immediately. Buyers need an account in good standing and must have made a purchase on Steam before April 27, 2026.
Valve is also restricting reservations to one per household. If someone misses the June 25 window, the reservation moves to the back of the waitlist.
Once a SKU has been reserved, Valve says confirmation emails will begin going out from June 29, 2026. After that point, the chosen model cannot be changed, and canceling to switch to another SKU sends the buyer to the back of the queue.
The launch timing places Steam Machine directly inside one of the busiest periods in the Steam calendar. That makes the device’s expensive pricing and limited reservation rules impossible to ignore.