- Valve recently revealed that the Steam Machine price will start from $1,049.
- This created an uproar with fans complaining that it offers bad value for money.
- Valve defends the price, stating that their hardware isn’t a subsidized console.
Valve recently revealed the price of its hugely anticipated PC-hybrid console, Steam Machine, and it created a bit of an uproar. Starting at $1,049, it costs much more than any standard home console, but the company has the answer.
Defending the over $1,049 price, Valve said that the Steam Machine is PC gaming hardware, not a subsidized console, so the price is justified. General consoles like the PlayStation and Xbox are heavily subsidized.
Why it matters: In a way, the claim is right, given it is PC hardware, but even then, the value it offers is really bad, since a base PlayStation 5 can outperform this “high-end” hardware at a quarter of the price.
In an interview with Skillup, Valve discussed the Steam Machine’s pricing and how it was affected by the memory crisis. It was originally planned to cost $750 for the base tier, but the high RAM prices pushed the MSRP.
They further explain that the consensus of selling the console at a loss, and making up by exclusives and subscriptions, doesn’t work here, since they see the Steam Machine as more of a PC, and this trick isn’t applicable here.
PC gaming is known for its openness, and Valve believes that if it had subsidized the Steam Machine, it wouldn’t have been very profitable for them. They say that PC gamers want freedom, and that’s what they offer.
Additionally, this has raised concerns about the upcoming next-gen consoles. The PS6 will likely be priced lower, but given that Xbox is also developing similar hardware to the Steam Machine, it might command a premium as well.
What are your thoughts on Valve defending the Steam Machine’s $1,049+ price tag? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
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News Reporter
Abdullah is an avid gamer who primarily plays single-player titles. If you can’t find him anywhere, he’ll probably be at his desk playing The Witcher 3 for the millionth time. When he isn’t playing games, he’s either reading or writing about them.
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