Valve launches Steam Machine pre-orders: high price and lottery system

Technical specifications and configuration variants

The Steam Machine measures approximately 15 centimetres, making it considerably more compact than traditional gaming PCs. The 2 TB models ship with two interchangeable front panels made of red fabric and walnut wood. The operating system is SteamOS, based on Linux; thanks to Proton, nearly all Windows games in the Steam library are expected to run without further adjustments.

Unlike with traditional consoles, Valve does not subsidise the purchase price. In a blog post, the company explained: "Das traditionelle Konsolenmodell besteht darin, Hardware mit Einbußen zu verkaufen und die Einnahmen durch Abonnementdienste oder den Verkauf von Spielen, die an die Hardware gebunden sind, auszugleichen." It added that it is convinced that "dass offene Ökosysteme langfristig besser für Kunden sind. Die historische Entwicklung des Bereichs beweist: Es ist die Offenheit der PC-Spielindustrie, die es ermöglicht, über Jahrzehnte hinweg der Katalysator für Hardware- und Softwareinnovationen zu sein."

Price comparison with consoles and gaming PCs

Valve also commented on the price: "Die Preise spiegeln den globalen Zustand für die Fertigung wider; oder genauer gesagt, sie reflektieren den Preis der Komponenten, die wir in den vergangenen sechs Monaten erworben haben." The original pricing target could not be met due to sharply rising component prices, and many parts had only limited availability in recent months, which limited production volumes.

Compared with other gaming consoles, the Steam Machine is noticeably more expensive than current devices from Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. Even after the recent price increases, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X remain available for under 600 euros. The specialist site PC Games Hardware therefore criticises: "Genau an der Stelle wird der Vergleich für Valve doch eher unangenehm", as complete PCs with higher performance are also available in this price range. The machine, however, receives praise for its high-quality build, very quiet cooling system, and successful integration of SteamOS.

Reservation system and allocation by lottery

The YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips rates the Steam Machine as a "price for enthusiasts" and sees it primarily appealing to dedicated Steam fans as well as users looking for a hassle-free living-room PC. For the mass market, the device is likely to be less relevant due to its high cost.

To cope with the anticipated high demand, Valve is using a reservation system followed by a lottery. Interested buyers can register for their preferred variant until 25 June at 19:00 German time. Only one registration per household is permitted, and the registration is tied to a Steam account to deter scalpers. A prerequisite is a Steam account without negative activity flags on which a purchase was made before 27 April 2026.

The reservation lists are separated by shipping region: North America, the United Kingdom and EU, and Australia each receive their own waitlists. Anyone who receives a reservation confirmation email on 25 June has 72 hours to complete the purchase. After this window, they slip to the back of the queue. Orders received after 25 June are likewise placed at the end of the queue. The order of reservations is determined by a lottery after a review, so an earlier registration does not guarantee direct entitlement to purchase.

Market assessment and delivery times

Valve expects to work through the reservation list by the end of the year. Buyers should therefore expect waiting times of several months. According to Valve, the first purchase invitations will be sent out from 29 June, followed by additional waves at irregular intervals as long as components remain available.

Overall, Valve is positioning the Steam Machine not as a classic competitor to PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, but as an open PC platform for the living room. However, the comparatively high price, the lottery system, and the expected long waiting time are likely to significantly limit availability, at least at launch.