Valve · Gaming · Reviewed by This Is · Published 2026-06-22
Based on a review by This Is (accessed 2026-06-22).
This page converts This Is's review of the Valve Steam Machine into structured evidence — timestamped claims, pros & cons, and buyer questions. It is not the original review and does not replace watching or reading the full source.
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The reviewer concludes that the Steam Machine is absurdly overpriced, stating, "The machine is not an $1,100 machine" and that it was never meant to be. They are "pissed" about the pricing, especially when compared to consoles like the PS5, which now appears to be a "great deal" by comparison.
This video discusses the newly announced Steam Machine, focusing on its pre-order pricing, hardware specifications, and market positioning. The reviewer analyzes why the device is priced significantly higher than anticipated, attributing much of it to the 2026 RAM crisis and Valve's position as a smaller hardware manufacturer compared to console giants. The video also includes a sponsored segment for a Fanttik handheld vacuum.
The Steam Machine is absurdly overpriced and fails to deliver on its promise of being a cheaper console alternative. Its base model costs $1,049 without a controller, which is double the price of current-gen consoles like the PlayStation 5, despite featuring mid-spec hardware from a year ago. While the pre-order lottery system is a positive step to prevent botting, its prohibitive cost makes it a poor value proposition. If you are looking for an affordable console or a powerful gaming PC, this is not worth it. If you are a dedicated enthusiast with disposable income and specific interest in its form factor, it might still sell.
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specification_claimneutralt=0:29–0:31
The 512 gig base configuration of the Steam Machine is priced at $1,049 without a controller.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
specification_claimneutralt=0:50–0:53
The 512GB configuration with a controller costs $1,128, which is a slight discount from buying the controller separately.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
specification_claimneutralt=0:53–0:55
The 2 terabyte configuration of the Steam Machine is priced at $1,349.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
specification_claimneutralt=0:55–0:57
The 2 terabyte configuration with a controller costs $1,428.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
reviewer_claimneutralt=0:58–1:00
There is no configuration of the Steam Machine available for less than $1,000.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
reviewer_claimneutralt=1:13–1:18
The reviewer honestly thinks the Steam Machine was originally supposed to be $600, or perhaps $700, before the RAM crisis.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
specification_claimneutralt=1:23–1:34
The Steam Machine features a mobile 6-core Ryzen CPU and a semi-custom AMD RDNA GPU.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
reviewer_claimneutralt=1:34–1:40
The device was designed as a mid-spec PC from a year ago and was never intended to be a '4K 120 hertz crushing thing'.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
specification_claimneutralt=1:41–1:46
It is designed as a small 6-inch by 6-inch cube, essentially functioning as a console.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
comparisonnegativet=2:19–2:22
The Steam Machine's price is now actually double the price of an Xbox or PlayStation.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
specification_claimneutralt=5:39–5:42
The Steam Machine comes with 16 gigabytes of RAM and 8 gigabytes of VRAM.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
expert_opinionneutralt=5:48–5:53
The reviewer states that the RAM crisis of 2026 is the primary reason for the Steam Machine's high price, affecting all expensive tech products.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
comparisonpositivet=7:13–7:26
The reviewer notes that the PlayStation 5, with 2 terabytes of storage, now looks like a great deal and is likely more powerful than the Steam Machine.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
expert_opinionneutralt=8:45–9:20
Valve is a smaller player in hardware manufacturing compared to companies like Sony, leading to higher component costs due to a lack of economies of scale.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
comparisonneutralt=9:50–10:04
The Steam Deck, after three or four years, has sold in the single-digit millions, while the Xbox Series X, widely considered a failure, has sold around 30 million consoles.
Source location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkTrJVU3j1A
The base 512GB configuration of the Steam Machine is priced at $1,049 without a controller, and $1,128 with one. A 2TB version costs $1,349 without a controller, or $1,428 with it. No configuration of the Steam Machine is available for less than $1,000.
The reviewer believes the Steam Machine is significantly overpriced, stating it was likely intended to be $600-$700 before the RAM crisis, but is now double the price of an Xbox or PlayStation. They question who would buy an $1,100 machine that will often play PC games worse than a custom-built PC or even a PlayStation 5, which they now consider a "great deal."
The device is described as having a mobile 6-core Ryzen CPU and a semi-custom AMD RDNA GPU, which the reviewer notes is "a little bit on the older side," designed as a mid-spec PC from about a year ago. It includes 16GB of RAM and 8GB of VRAM and is packaged as a small 6x6 inch cube, similar to a console.
The reviewer heavily implicates the "RAM crisis" of 2026 as the primary factor driving up the cost, suggesting the Steam Machine was originally envisioned at a much lower price point ($600-$700). Additionally, they point out that Valve's relatively smaller scale in hardware production, compared to giants like Sony or Microsoft, means they face higher component costs due to less purchasing power and economies of scale.
Unlike traditional pre-orders, Valve has implemented a waitlist system. Users register on a pre-order page, and then on June 25th, the list closes. People are randomly selected from this list to be able to purchase the console. This system is designed to prevent bots from mass-buying and reselling the consoles.
30/100 source quality
The Steam Machine is now available for pre-order, starting at an unexpected $1,049 for the base model, with no configuration under $1,000. Reviewers expected a price point closer to $600-$700, noting that its mid-spec mobile Ryzen CPU and AMD RDNA GPU are from about a year ago. The high price is largely attributed to the ongoing RAM crisis and Valve's smaller scale in hardware manufacturing compared to industry giants like Sony. Despite the high cost, Valve is implementing a lottery system for pre-orders to prevent bot reselling, and the device is still expected to sell out.
Full transcript is not redistributed here to respect the original creator’s rights.