Valve allegedly had higher Steam Machine prices in mind before the Steam Deck hike, but I need you not to assume the worst

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Everyone is understandably freaking out about the Steam Deck OLED 1TB now costing a grand and what that means for the Steam Machine. For what it's worth, I'm sweating too, especially since the exact rumors regarding the mini PC costing more than the new gaming handheld prices are now circulating. Before you start getting in a tizzy about your big 2026 being ruined, though, I need you to calm down and consider what that means.

The fresh Steam Machine pricing leak comes courtesy of Brad Lynch, who says the figure they were told for the rig by insiders was "still higher" than the new Steam Deck OLED prices. That was apparently two months ago, so it sounds like MSRPs anywhere near the $600 mark have been off the table for a while.

The doom and gloom Steam Deck news means you're now likely thinking the Steam Machine will cost over $1,000. That's not an impossibility, even with Lynch stating up front that you should take the insider info with the usual grain of salt. What I am itching to point out, however, is that the 512GB costs $789, meaning if the leaks hold true, there's still hope that the box will start at under $800.

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Take this with a grain of salt, because it was just whispers in my earBut back when I was told a figure for what Valve’s estimated price they’d have to set the starting price of Steam Machine, it was still higher than today’s Steam Deck prices..And that was 2 months ago.. https://t.co/5NFhACz9NVMay 27, 2026

Perhaps holding onto the ever-so-slightly lower Steam Deck 512GB pricing is wishful thinking on my part. Valve is clearly having internal struggles with its MSRPs, and the storefront giant is probably tormenting itself over how to strike the right price. I'm personally starting to think that gaming hardware releases are impossible to engage with in 2026 unless you're happy paying over the odds for new and existing tech.

As for what you should do about that? Well, it's firmly a case of putting your money where your mouth is. It's not necessarily a brand or manufacturer's fault when prices do increase, as we're talking about a knock-on effect of glutinous memory and storage demand from AI datacenters. At the same time, I would stick to investing in handhelds, components, and PCs that have stuck largely to their original pricing, and if that doesn't seem to apply, maybe lock yourself with your retro consoles or build a Windows 98 gaming PC (yes, I'll be spending the summer doing just that).

Simply put, let's go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint of existing hardware, and wait for this all to blow over.

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Phil HaytonHardware Editor

Phil is the Hardware Editor at GamesRadar+ who specializes in retro console setups, choosing the latest gaming handhelds, and navigating the choppy seas of using modern-day PC hardware. In the past, they have covered everything from retro gaming history to the latest gaming news, in-depth features, and tech advice for publications like TechRadar, The Daily Star, the BBC, PCGamesN, and Den of Geek. In their spare time, they pour hours into fixing old consoles, modding Game Boys, exploring ways to get the most out of the Steam Deck, and blasting old CRT TV visuals into their eye sockets.

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