- Valve indicates there will be no subsidy: price aligned with a similar PC.
- Estimates in Europe point to a range close to €700-900.
- An equivalent setup in a compact format costs around €861,20 at retail.
- Launch planned for the first quarter of 2026, price not yet finalized.
The conversation around the Steam Machine price has intensified since its presentation: Valve has hinted that the price will be set using PC logic, not console logic.This is key for anyone who values it as living room equipment. In other words, no sales below cost or subsidiesbut a label that matches its performance and format.
With that approach, and looking at the European market, expectations are higher than the cost of a PS5 or an Xbox Series X in Spain. Several indicators They place the starting point in around 700-750 euro, with scenarios that They could reach 800-900 euros depending on configuration and storage (512 GB or 2 TB), as well as the condition of the components.
What has Valve said about the price?
Company officials have explained that the device will be positioned as “a good deal” within the range of an equivalent PC in terms of performance. While final figures are not yet available, they emphasize that market variability (RAM, other components) makes it difficult to pinpoint further for now, but they confirm one crucial point: It will not be subsidized the hardware, as is often the case with consoles.
Furthermore, Valve emphasizes the value of attributes that are difficult to replicate in a home build: Very compact size, low noise, integrated connectivity (including improvements to HDMI CEC and Bluetooth with multiple antennas) and a design made for the living room SteamOS.
Market signals and rumors: why not $500?
Industry sources suggest the minimum price will exceed that of current consoles. Reports from outlets like The Verge have already pointed to a certain amount. above the typical PlayStation and Xbox rangeEven a meeting commented on by Linus Tech Tips describes how the Valve team He did not look favorably upon it the idea of a "console-type" price of $500, reinforcing the thesis that the product will follow the PC standards.
Some argue that an aggressive push would require a price of $400-450, but that threshold seems unrealistic with the current approach. The figure of manufacturing cost around $428 According to some sources, although these are unofficial and therefore inconclusive estimates, the overall picture is clear: the positioning will be mini PC for gamingnot a subsidized console.
A useful reference: building an equivalent PC in Spain
To test the waters, it's illustrative to build a compact machine with off-the-shelf parts that performs similarly. With components such as a AMD Ryzen 5 7600a whirlpool bath, Radeon RX 7600, 16GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD, B650M motherboard with WiFi, 650W ATX power supplyBasic ventilation and a cubic chassis like the Jonsbo C6, the trolley in Spanish stores It stood at €861,20 in recent days.
That calculation does not include professional assembly, peripherals, or tasks such as Install Windows 10 on a Steam Machineand could vary due to specific offers (Black Friday, etc.). Even so, it serves as market reference: buying retail and assembling similar equipment approximately 800-900 euroswhich fits with the idea of a final Steam Machine price typical of the PC market.
- CPU: Ryzen 5 7600 (includes cooler)
- GPU: Radeon RX 7600 (compact model)
- Motherboard: B650M with integrated WiFi
- RAM: 16 GB DDR5 (2×8 GB)
- Storage: 1 TB NVMe SSD
- Power supply: 650W ATX and auxiliary fan
- Box: compact cube-type format
512GB and 2TB models: impact on RRP
Valve has confirmed two standard capabilities, 512 GB and 2 TBIt is expected that the version with more storage will raise the price, especially with the memory in a rising cost cycleIf the goal is to launch a competitive entry-level option, the 512 GB version would be the candidate with a more affordable price in euros.
Likely price scenarios in Europe
Based on the available data, two main scenarios are being considered. First, an "ambitious" one of 600-700 € which would target the console market, unlikely today given the lack of subsidies. Second, the one that best aligns with Valve's statements: around €800-900In exchange for a very small, quiet format and a living room-ready experience.
It should be remembered that In Spain, a PS5 or an Xbox Series X usually costs around €550 at regular retailers.That comparison fuels the cost/performance debate, but Valve envisions Steam Machine as a mini PC running SteamOSnot as a traditional console with a software-based marginalization model.
Calendar: when it will be released and what remains to be known
The most frequently occurring launch window is the first quarter of 2026The price is still in the kitchen. Between now and that date, there may be fluctuations in component prices and final adjustments, so the final retail price in Spain and the rest of Europe will vary. It is not confirmed.
The most consistent clue is that Steam Machine will be priced as a living room mini PC: without subsidy and with a similar retail price to an equivalent PCIn the European context, a range between 700 and 900 euros seems the most likely today, subject to storage capacity, memory costs and the final tweaks before its arrival on the market.
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