Valve has launched the Steam Machine to a decidedly mixed reaction, as most people were left disappointed by the sky-high price tag of Valve’s PC-console hybrid. The Steam Machine was very promising when it was first revealed, and gamers were cautiously optimistic about Valve’s attempt at a pre-built PC. However, the $1,050 base price of the Steam Machine left potential buyers disappointed, but not in Japan, it seems.
Yes, the Steam Machine has reportedly sold out in Japan, despite the price being over $1,175 for the base model. Valve’s distributor in Japan, Komodo Station, did not employ a reservation queue like Valve did for the US and Europe. Instead, the Steam Machine was put up for sale directly, and now all four configurations have sold out within 48 hours.
Komodo Station listed all four configurations separately, with prices starting from ¥189,980, or $1,175, for the base model without a Steam Controller. The 512GB variant with the controller costs ¥204,980, or nearly $1,268. The 2TB model without a controller was listed for ¥249,980, or just over $1,545, and the top-end 2TB Steam Machine + Controller bundle costs ¥264,980, or $1,639 US.
The Asian distributor has jumped the gun with official sales, since Valve has employed a reservation and lottery system for the Steam Machine in the US. This direct sales tactic might lead to faster sales, but it doesn’t deter the bots and scalpers who have their eyes set firmly on the Steam Machine. The console officially goes on sale in the US on June 25th, and it remains to be seen how well it performs in that market, given the strong competition from PS5 and Xbox Series.
In Japan, however, the Steam Machine is all sold out within 48 hours. That figure might even be lower, as some users on the official Komodo Station X page have said that they saw “sold out” stickers in as little as 3 hours after the sale went live. Japanese prices are even higher than US prices, which have already been criticized, since Japan adds a consumption tax and other regional duties.
Valve has admitted that they were forced to price the Steam Machine higher than they would have liked, given the ongoing global memory crisis. They have also said that they will not subsidize the console like Sony and Microsoft do. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how well the Steam Machine sells in the US and Europe with its steep pricing.
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[PC Hardware Specialist]
Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.
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