Valve has opened reservations for the Steam Machine, unveiling a starting price of $1,049 for the base model with 512GB of storage, excluding the Steam Controller. A bundle including the controller is priced at $1,128, providing a $21 discount compared to purchasing the controller separately at $99. The device is also available with a 2TB storage option for $1,349, or $1,428 when bundled with a controller that includes alternative red fabric and solid walnut faceplates.
To combat scalping, Valve is implementing a lottery system for the initial batch of Steam Machines. Interested customers must possess a valid Steam account and must have made a purchase prior to April 27. Sign-ups for the lottery close at 1 PM ET on June 25. Participants will be notified of their reservation or waitlist status after randomizing entries.
Emails will be sent to those in the reservation queue starting June 29, outlining their purchasing options. Valve aims to create a fairer distribution process, as highlighted in a company blog post stating, “A launch that starts at a specific day and time tends to reward bots, people with fast internet connections… and those who can schedule their life around that moment.” The sign-up period allows for account validation to ensure authenticity.
Separate reservation lists will be maintained for North America, the United Kingdom/EU, and Australia. Sales in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong will be managed by Komodo, while shipments to South Korea will not occur.
All Steam Machine configurations feature identical specifications to assist in game performance verification. The device includes a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C/12T CPU, AMD RDNA3 GPU with 28 Compute Units, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. Storage can be expanded using a microSD card slot. Connectivity options feature two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a USB-C port, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, Bluetooth 5.3, and Wi-Fi 6E. The system has a cube form factor, measuring approximately six inches on each side.
No specific release date for the Steam Frame has been disclosed, but it is expected to be available this summer.
