Steam Machine's Internal Price Target Already Topped $949 Steam Deck OLED Two Months Ago, Leaker Warns Of Brutal Launch
Wccftech • • general
Key Points:
- The Steam Deck OLED has returned to stock with a significant price increase across all regions, now priced at $949 for the 1TB model, raising concerns about the affordability of the upcoming Steam Machine.
- Leaker Brad Lynch revealed that the estimated starting price for the Steam Machine is expected to be even higher than the current Steam Deck prices, suggesting it will not be a budget-friendly gaming system.
- Some speculate that the Steam Deck price hike might be an attempt by Valve to offset costs and keep the Steam Machine's price lower, though this remains unconfirmed and is considered wishful thinking.
- The Steam Machine, announced during the RAMaggeddon crisis and delayed to early 2026, faces challenges due to rising RAM and storage costs, potentially outdated hardware, and a scalper queue system that may increase prices further.
- Despite early optimism from industry figures like former Xbox exec Mike Ybarra, the Steam Machine's high price and performance concerns make it unlikely to seriously challenge Sony's market dominance.