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Given the popularity of the Steam Deck within enthusiast circles, the Steam Machine had been touted as a potential disruptor in the console space.
Well, that was until the price of hardware components soared, and the device got significantly delayed.
Now Valve has finally revealed the price of the device, and here’s how it compares to the PS5:
| USA | UK | Europe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Machine 512 GB (Without Controller) | $1,049.00 | £879.00 | €1,039.00 |
| Steam Machine 512 GB (With Controller) | $1,128.00 | £938.00 | €1,108.00 |
| Steam Machine 2TB (Without Controller) | $1,349.00 | £1,149.00 | €1,359.00 |
| Steam Machine 2TB (With Controller) | $1,428.00 | £1,208.00 | €1,428.00 |
| PS5 Digital Edition 825GB (Without Disc Drive) * | $599.99 | £519.99 | €599.99 |
| PS5 825GB (With Disc Drive) * | $649.99 | £569.99 | €649.99 |
| PS5 Pro 2TB (Without Disc Drive) * | $899.99 | £789.99 | €899.99 |
* All PS5 consoles come with a DualSense controller included
Digital Foundry reports that the Steam Machine itself performs similarly to the base PS5 console overall, although there are pros and cons for each device.
The Steam Machine’s CPU generally performs better than the one in the base PS5, for example, giving it a ~20% advantage in games which are CPU-bound, like Crimson Desert.
However, the PS5 excels in a range of other games at equivalent settings, largely because they’re optimised specifically for Sony’s hardware. You may need to do some tinkering on the Steam Machine to get similar results.
Obviously you do have the benefits of Valve’s open ecosystem here, meaning you can do more with the Steam Machine than you can with a PS5. It’s effectively a mini-PC, and thus comes with all the advantages and disadvantages you’d expect from a device like that.
One thing worth adding is that the Steam Machine is significantly smaller than the PS5, and runs silently according to Digital Foundry’s reporting.
So it’s a real engineering feat, then, but it’s hard to see what the market for this is when cheaper consoles and more flexible pre-built PCs exist.
The Steam Machine will start shipping on 30th June.
Will you be buying a Steam Machine? (2,198 votes)
- Yes, I'll be getting it day one
- Hmm, maybe when it's cheaper
- I'm tempted but need more info
- No, this isn't a product for me