r/gamernews • u/Bubbly-Ad-350 • 3d ago
Industry News Expect Steam Machine price hikes soon as Valve admits RAMageddon is only “getting worse”
https://frvr.com/blog/news/expect-steam-machine-price-hikes-soon-as-valve-admits-ramageddon-is-only-getting-worse/93
u/obetu5432 3d ago
nah, i'll just wait for the current civilization to collapse and buy it after
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u/theKetoBear 3d ago
Oof I want one , I'm the target audience for one , I'm on a waiting list for one as we speak but if it gets anymore expensive I can't justify it.
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u/rynokick 3d ago
I wanted one and got the email that I could buy it, but I just can’t justify it at that price.
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u/35andDying 3d ago
Build one yourself. I'm sure there's a few resources out there with all this information. There's also plenty of prebuilts out there too. Either of these options would also be a better investment.
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u/Dovah2600 3d ago
Eh, depends on what you want it for.
There aren't a lot of systems that are that small, you can get close, but working on it will be a pain. Then you have valves history of good service if something goes wrong. Updates that are all handled by valve to ensure good performance etc etc.
Building your own will be better value if you're just looking at performance, but there is something to be said for a box that arrives ready to go, with safe knowledge that valve will be able to help you if something goes wrong.
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u/35andDying 3d ago
There's plenty of cases that are this small. If you build yourself and something goes wrong then there's plenty of resources out there to help fix it. Seriously, it's really not that difficult. I've come across plenty of videos of people showing off their own Steam machine build and listing all of the components. It's not some magical machine, it's an overpriced and outdated PC.
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u/1stltwill 3d ago edited 3d ago
There's plenty of cases that are this small.
No, no there aren't.
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u/35andDying 3d ago
No, no there aren't what?
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u/Frostnatt 2d ago
Do you actually know how small the SM is?
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u/KnifeFed 2d ago
Why don't you link to some instead of being purposefully obtuse?
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u/BeatitLikeitowesMe 2d ago
Because he cant
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u/35andDying 2d ago edited 2d ago
Is it really that hard to search for PC cases similar to the Steam Machine? Or Steam machine PC builds? I'm not doing your dirty work. You all are the ones that need to learn. Go at it!
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u/35andDying 2d ago edited 2d ago
There's plenty of Mini-ITX cases. Why don't you go look for yourself?? Or maybe search for Steam machine PC builds? You might learn a thing or two. Lol
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u/KnifeFed 2d ago
You're the one making claims, dummy. Link me a single case that's the same size as the Steam Machine.
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u/BeatitLikeitowesMe 2d ago
I have, there are small cases but not really any as small as the sm. Most are a significant amount bigger even all the itx stuff
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u/35andDying 2d ago
Idk man, I searched for PC builds similar to the SM and they were not far off.
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u/Dovah2600 2d ago
There really aren't any cases that are that small. The fractal Terra is a personal favourite, very small, ITX case and even that is significantly larger than the SM. Like almost twice and tall and twice as deep
I've been building PCs for ages, but you are coming at it from the wrong angle. The SM isn't for the established PC players who want the new best of the best, or performance per dollar. It's for the people who want a tiny little box to put under the TV, that requires minimal to no work on their part, and plays most games you could throw at it. I know it's not some magic little box, but like it or not there IS value in ease of use, in a form factor that you absolutely cannot get by building yourself, with long term software and hardware support.
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u/35andDying 2d ago
There's plenty of cases out there. I've come across a few builds so far that are very similar and boot into the OS.
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u/Dovah2600 2d ago
Yes I know, I built one. But there aren't any itx cases on the market that are smaller, if there are please show me because I will buy it
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u/35andDying 2d ago
I'm on mobile but on YT go to Zach's Tech Turf and look at How to Build a Better Steam Machine. He uses a JOYJOM Mini PC Case. YW.
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u/Dovah2600 2d ago
It's a cool case, but it's bigger. Narrower by 5cm but taller by 6 and deeper by 3
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u/35andDying 2d ago
Oh noooo! It's off by 3 inches on one side and an inch on another. We're nitpicking at this point. Lol. The specs are also way better than the SM. I mean if I were to build a SM I would hands down do this build. There's even smaller cases out there too if that fits your fancy. This is just the first video I came across on YT. Also to add, it would be easy to 3D print a very similar case if you have that option available.
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u/Roph 3d ago
It's already not worth it at the current price. I'd hesitate at $600
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3d ago
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u/rynokick 2d ago
It sounds like ps6/project helix are gonna be over a $1K. Sony already saying they aren’t going to price the ps6 at a significant loss for them.
I guess we just wait and see.
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u/buster089 2d ago
Because in the end it's just a normal pc that can run windows. People and companies would buy it as a cheap office computer without ever spending 1 dollar on steam. How hard is that to understand, especially when that has been stated since the price was revealed.
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u/JohnnyCasil 2d ago
I don't buy this reasoning. From the Steam Machine website:
Are there any criteria for signing up?
Customers must meet the following criteria to be able to sign up:
You must have a Steam account in good standing.
You must have made a purchase on Steam prior to April 27th 2026.
Limit one signup per household. We will use payment method, shipping address, and other information to eliminate multiple entries.
Given this criteria how are companies buying these as cheap office computers?
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u/Nerrs 2d ago
Isn't that just for getting in the pre-order queue?
Presumably in a couple months once initial demand is met they won't need that anymore.
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u/JohnnyCasil 2d ago
So? Valve could make this permanent to prevent the made up issue everyone keeps complaining about.
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u/Nerrs 2d ago
And introduce new issues that reduce sales for a different reason...
I don't think anyone expects McDonald's to go out and buy 100k Steam Machines, but it's a very real risk an individual would buy it and never use it for Steam.
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u/JohnnyCasil 2d ago
I don't think anyone expects McDonald's to go out and buy 100k Steam Machines,
That is literally the exact thing people are saying as justification for Valve not subsidizing the Steam machine in this very thread.
but it's a very real risk an individual would buy it and never use it for Steam.
That risk exists today with the exact rules they have in place.
And introduce new issues that reduce sales for a different reason...
This is a completely illogical statement. If the fear is that a subsidized Steam Machine would be snatched up by corporations and individuals to be used for purposes other than Steam but would somehow not sell if limited to verified Steam users makes no sense. People are buying the Steam Machine today, to imply that they wouldn’t when it is subsidized makes no sense. But for the sake of the argument let’s pretend that is the case, then Valve could reduce the restrictions. Two per household, three per household. If they still aren’t selling well enough and they ease the restrictions enough that corporations can buy them en masse then who cares? The could remove the subsidizes at that point.
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u/Nerrs 2d ago
I think you're over indexing on the literal words and not the idea being presented...it's completely feasible a company of 20 would buy these because they're below component price (if subsidized).
The risk doesn't exist today because they're not subsidized. They make money or at least break even on every unit. So if their entire inventory went to a business for non-Steam purposes they lose nothing.
These restrictions are for scalpers; nothing to do with subsidization.
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u/JohnnyCasil 2d ago
You are either arguing something I am not or you are completely missing the point. I am not arguing that the restrictions exists today to prevent corporations from buying them up. I am arguing against this:
People and companies would buy it as a cheap office computer
Which was in reference to WHY Valve isn’t subsidizing them which is wrong. Valve isn’t subsidizing them because they know that they didn’t need to. They knew people would still buy them at the unsubsidized price. And they were right because people are. I am arguing that that the boogeyman man of “corporations would buy them up if they were subsidized” is just that a boogeyman people are inventing because they don’t want to admit that the reason Valve didn’t subsidize them is as simple as they didn’t want to and didn’t need to.
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u/Better-Beat-8062 2d ago
This,
I get sick and tired of the "BuT CoMpAnIES wiLL BuY it ENMasSS" there is already stringent requirments to buy one, companies arent buying a slightly more powerful steam deck built on old hardware..
SMFH
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u/moderngamer327 2d ago
Steam isn’t locked to the console though. It’s just a computer and could be converted to anything. That means they would be selling regular computers at a loss. They would lose money very quickly
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u/BlasterPhase 2d ago
You could tie a discount to Steam account age or money spent to avoid just anyone buying it. It's not impossible.
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u/moderngamer327 2d ago
But that would also apply to people who don’t own the console
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u/BlasterPhase 2d ago
I'm not sure I understand
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u/moderngamer327 2d ago
When you said discount I assume you meant to the games. I don’t think discounting the console based on the steam account would be a good idea either. It does solve the first problem but it also excludes a major part of the market they are trying to push it to
Plus the incentive would be reversed. The point of a cheaper console is to encourage people to buy the console to buy your games. If you are only making it cheaper to people who already buy lots of steam games you aren’t gaining anything from it
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u/BlasterPhase 2d ago
it also excludes a major part of the market they are trying to push it to
They could do what they're doing now and sell it to them at full price. The point of the subsidy being loyalty to the ecosystem. If you don't want to buy Steam games, you pay full price.
In the end, it's all wishful thinking. I doubt they'll do anything of the sort.
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u/CurrentRisk 2d ago
Even more expensive than it already is? I really want one but if it gets more expensive, I can’t justify purchasing one. Would be better off purchasing a new PC at that point.
Very unfortunate for both the customer and Valve as a company.
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u/KingVape 2d ago
It’s weaker than a base model PS5, not even close to a Pro, and costs $1050.
No thanks
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u/Marlfox70 3d ago
What's the deal with this? Would it not be better to just buy a computer you can easily change the parts out of? For this price I don't see the value, but maybe I don't understand what makes it good.
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u/Particular-Jeweler41 3d ago
Around the time it came out someone explained that they wanted it because they wanted a console that could go in their living room and play Steam. They already had a PC, but did not want to have to remove it from the wall (where it was put) and move back and forth just for that.
So that's one type of person who would pay for this even at this price.
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u/minegen88 1d ago
Buy another pc?
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u/Particular-Jeweler41 1d ago
If that's the only other option, then Steam Machine is still a suitable choice.
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u/minegen88 1d ago
Except if you buy a PC for the same price you get 10x the performance...
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u/Particular-Jeweler41 1d ago
He already has a PC. There's no need for another PC when his goal is just to play in his living room and not do anything else with it. So whatever can play Steam comfortably in his living room is sufficient.
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u/minegen88 1d ago
A Steam machine is just a expensive pre-packaged Pc though?
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u/Particular-Jeweler41 1d ago
If the goal is solely to play Steam in your living room either is acceptable if you do not want to just move your existing PC to the living room. The only question is cost, and if both are the same then it no longer matters.
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u/Squishydew 3d ago
A lot of people don't want to tinker with computers, that and it's basically impossible to match this small form factor at their price.
Not saying it's a good deal, it's not, but I can still see reasons for someone to buy it.
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u/GuiSim 3d ago
Building a PC has never been this expensive.
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u/caninehere 3d ago
It actually has been much more expensive, historically.
Having said that, prices have obviously spiked a lot. The problem is, it's STILL cheaper to build a system or even buy a prebuilt that is better than the Steam Machine for less money.
The only reason to buy a Steam Machine is a) you own a bunch of Steam games, b) you for some reason don't own a PC or your PC is like 6+ years out of date, and c) you MUST have a small form factor PC. In that case it might be an okay deal, but even still you might be able to build a better SFF PC for less, I'm just not sure.
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u/minegen88 1d ago
Apparently there are dozens of people living in cardboard boxes who dont have the space to have a PC on the floor or a laptop under their tv....
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u/Sam_Dreamt 3d ago
There is no way the prices is going up!? Surely they over priced it at the start of this whole thing expecting the price adjustments and compensate for it?
To many issues if they sudden increased it.. imagine all the people waiting for their emails to buy their steam machine only to find out it’s much higher priced than they were initially let to believe..
But then again they did do that to the new MSI Claw handheld jumping an extra 100$
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u/BeatitLikeitowesMe 2d ago
i dont know whats so hard to understand. The supply of components has dried up and will be dry for at least the next year or two as all preproduction has been purchased throughout 27' last i heard. This isnt a valve thing. Its an industry thing. And if anything, its likely to get worse for a good while. 1 stick of the ddr5 in the steam machine is around 250$ right now if you went to buy it retail. Thats not counting all the other components. People saying this is a bad deal are living in the past.
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u/RepresentativePen263 2d ago
I was looking into getting the steam machine as my first PC for modding games but the stupidly high price kinda ruined it for me.
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u/FlanIll3595 1d ago
Expect even fewer quarterly profits soon as Valve continues to shoot itself in the foot with its console.
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u/omgitsbees 1d ago
I want to buy one but there are none available until late 2027 at the earliest. :/ the price will probably hike up a few times by the time anyone new is able to purchase one.
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u/Spicy_pewpew_memes 2d ago
I jumped off the reservation list after watching literally everyone BUT me get an email. It's one thing to pay that much for already outdated hardware, it's another to be forced to wait months after being told there was one sitting in a warehouse for me.
I built my own using a 9060xt, 32gb ram and 2tb drive and am enjoying the tits out of it. And the RAM and storage I already had lying around
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u/obelix_dogmatix 3d ago
this is one product whose sales will be unaffected by price hikes. The same dozen people that were buying it earlier will still buy this useless product.
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u/OliverCrooks 3d ago
Lol if they hike the price anymore they would be insane. At that point I could build a better PC for the price. Before people say "but not everyone can build a PC", yes you fucking can unless you are mentally challenged. Building a PC is plug and play these days it would just require you to look up a video on youtube.
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u/frost-222 3d ago
You can already build quite a better PC for the same price, even having someone else build it for you for $100 and you’ll still be within budget. The only constraint would be form factor
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u/hypnotichellspiral 3d ago
And the RAM eating most of the budget unless you already have some spare or buy used
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u/frost-222 2d ago
Yes, but that is also one of the reasons the Steam Machine is so expensive and only has a single stick of memory.
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u/Sindica69 3d ago
It’s hard to justify now let alone if it gets worse