Valve announced a new line of devices, but said absolutely nothing about their prices – and the Internet is ablaze with controversy, discussion, and attempts at analysis. Especially about the Steam Machine, which threatens to disrupt the status quo on the console market: according to some experts, it could cost up to $1,000. ArsTechnica portal speakprice predicted by financial analysts.
There are both pessimistic and quite cautious forecasts. Therefore, Superdata Research founder Joost van Drunen predicts that the cheapest Steam model could have a relatively low price – $549. A model with 2 TB of storage can be had for $749, plus $50 for bundles that include the Steam Controller.
According to van Drunen, Valve's position in the market is unique. As a private company with a loyal fan base, they can afford to set prices based on their own financial strategy – without regard to competitors. In this case, Valve could agree to take a small loss in profits to introduce SteamOS to more users. After all, the real money lies not in the device itself, but in the ecosystem that gamers connect to after purchase.
Eric Bellomo from analyst agency Pitchbook agrees that Valve could use the device as a loss-making item to expand the Steam ecosystem. But at the same time, he noted that Sony's high prices underscore the need to maintain profit margins and control supply chain inflation. Although Valve has more room to maneuver in this matter since it is a private company. Bellomo expects that the Steam Machine's “modest hardware” will put the platform in the upper-mid price segment: higher than the $400-600 range Microsoft is asking for the Xbox Series, but cheaper than the $750 mark for the PS5 Pro.
On the other hand, TechInsights senior analyst James Sanders believes that Valve subsidizing device sales may not be very profitable. That's partly because the heavily subsidized Steam Machine could prevent system builders from using SteamOS to sell their own models – something Valve has hinted at opening up. Additional profits from software sales to new Steam Machine owners may also be affected if users simply clear their Steam backlog.
Additionally, forecasts for high Steam Machine prices could change if Valve decides to adopt an aggressive pricing policy and directly challenge console manufacturers. If the company intends to enter a new market, the price will need to be lower than the PS5 Pro or Xbox Ally X. But if Valve decides to pander to its loyal audience, it probably won't need to lower the price too much.
In part, it is difficult for even experienced analysts to accurately predict the Steam Machine's price range due to the volatility and unpredictability of the market for components, such as RAM or high-speed drives. It's likely that Valve itself hasn't revealed the price yet for the same reason. If the price of the drive skyrockets before it hits the market, the company will have to increase the price of the new product.
The magnitude of this potential price increase may also depend in part on how long Valve has actually been preparing for the launch of the Steam Machine. RAM and SSD prices are the biggest issue in the short term. If Steam Machine production begins to ramp up in the third quarter of 2025, the company will be in a better position; If it gets up to speed in the fourth, parts prices will likely be significantly higher.
It may turn out that solid-state drive prices will create a certain price threshold for the Steam Machine, and in any case, it will unpleasantly surprise some buyers. But some of this negative impact could be offset if Valve and other tech industry representatives breathe a sigh of relief amid Donald Trump's easing of trade tariffs.
It's very possible that Valve is working with a manufacturer that has factories located outside of China – which would automatically reduce the impact of the tariffs, but not eliminate them entirely. In total, the US tariffs could result in a price difference of around 50-100 USD if Valve does not accept the price in the form of increased losses.
One way or another, the price of a Steam Machine largely depends on fans' loyalty to the Valve brand, the appeal of the ecosystem, and the ability to control force majeure in the supply chain. The lack of pricing information may be frustrating for players, but from a company perspective, Valve made the right decision in taking its time with the announcement.
