The Steam Deck OLED recently received a major price increase, and despite the higher cost, demand seems to have retained momentum. The 512GB model now costs $749, while the 1TB version has climbed to $949. Even with the massive price hikes, both models quickly sold out shortly after new stock became available again.

Expectations surrounding Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine have changed significantly. When the device was first announced, some industry experts estimated that the system could launch at around $1,000. At the same time, there were rumors that Valve might absorb part of the cost itself and release the machine somewhere in the $700 to $800 range in order to compete more directly with traditional consoles. Now, it’s a much different story.

What to expect from the Steam Machine launch

Over the past several months, component prices have remained high, and the Steam Deck OLED’s new pricing has shown that customers are still willing to pay premium prices for Valve hardware. Because of that, many now believe the Steam Machine could launch well above the $1,000 mark.

According to journalist Jez Corden, Valve was already discussing a $1,000 price point internally when the Steam Machine was originally planned for an earlier launch window. Since then, the device has been delayed, and many believe any launch price discussed last year may no longer reflect current market conditions.

The Steam Machine is expected to serve as Valve’s answer to traditional living room consoles, offering a Steam-focused gaming experience designed for TVs. However, if the final price ends up significantly above $1,000, it could place the system in a completely different category from the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

At the same time, signs are pointing toward a launch happening sooner rather than later. A recent Steam backend update added a welcome tour specifically for the Steam Machine. The setup guide walks users through the initial configuration process and includes instructions related to setup.

Interestingly, Valve previously added a similar welcome tour for the Steam Controller shortly before revealing its pricing and release details. In that case, the announcement followed roughly a month later. If Valve follows a similar pattern, there is a possibility we’ll get to see the release date and price soon – at long last.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.