Valve confirms Steam Machine price hike amid RAM shortage, matching Steam Deck's 45% increase

At a glance:

• The Steam Machine starts at $1,049, a 43.72% increase from its estimated original price of $729.91.
• The price hike mirrors the Steam Deck's 45% increase due to the ongoing RAM shortage.
• The console remains more expensive than the PlayStation 5 Pro and offers open hardware capabilities.

Valve has confirmed that the Steam Machine, launched on Monday, faces a significant price increase from its originally planned retail point. Engineers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Yazan Aldehayyat attributed the hike to the current "RAMpocalypse," where RAM kits now cost four times their previous prices. While they couldn't provide a hard original price, they indicated it would have seen a "probably similar" increase to the Steam Deck, which rose approximately 45% in May 2026.

The price comparison reveals stark increases across models:

• Steam Deck 512GB: $549 → $789 (+43.72%)
• Steam Machine 512GB: $729.91 → $1,049 (+43.72%)
• Steam Deck 1TB: $649 → $949 (+46.22%)
• Steam Machine 1TB: $922.55 → $1,349 (+46.22%)
• PlayStation 5: $499.99 → $599.99 (+20%)
• PlayStation 5 Pro: $749.99 → $899.99 (+20%)

Despite the price jump, the Steam Machine remains costlier than the PlayStation 5 Pro even at original prices. Valve's decision not to subsidize hardware through Steam store sales reflects its open hardware philosophy, allowing users to install Windows 11 and access PC Game Pass without generating revenue for Valve from game purchases.

This pricing strategy positions the Steam Machine as a niche product for PC gamers with extensive Steam libraries seeking living room convenience. Features like HDMI-CEC and controller-based power management offer console-like ease, while the open architecture provides desktop PC flexibility. However, performance benchmarks show the PlayStation 5 outperforms the Steam Machine in several titles, though the Valve hardware still delivers acceptable results.

The RAM shortage is expected to persist for years, making any price reduction unlikely in the near term. For gamers preferring traditional desk setups or those invested in PlayStation's ecosystem, the Steam Machine offers limited appeal despite its technical capabilities. The console represents Valve's vision of blending PC gaming's versatility with console accessibility, though market conditions have significantly impacted its competitiveness.