At the time of writing, the waitlist for Valve’s Steam Machine has just opened up, as well as a revision of the price of the PC-console hybrid.
The device, which is being framed as a living room companion to the Steam Deck, will be made available to a limited number of people (decided by a lottery) on the waitlist in the coming days.
The Steam Machine arguably tells us a lot about the travails facing the modern gamer. Not only is it more expensive than previously planned – the new floor price is $1,049 for the 512GB model – it’s also going to be difficult for people to get their hands on initially. Joining the waitlist means you get a chance of owning the device right away.
The Specter of AI is Looming Over Gaming Costs
Does it say a lot about modern gaming in general? Well, right away, we can point to the price point and its links to the AI industry, contributing to intense demand for computing components. Gaming inflation has soared since the gold rush for AI chips started.
Almost every aspect has become more expensive, so it’s hardly a surprise to see the Steam Machine selling for a bigger price tag on its release. The original cost was supposed to be $750, according to IGN.
Yet, the story is about more than inflation. The Steam Machine also demonstrates how difficult it has become to define a modern games console.
Valve’s device looks like a console, is intended to sit beneath the television and promises a relatively straightforward plug-and-play experience.
Underneath, however, it is essentially a compact gaming PC running SteamOS. It occupies the increasingly blurred space between two categories that were once easy to separate.
Gaming Is Broader Than Ever Before
That distinction has been eroding for years anyway. Gaming entertainment is increasingly broad, taking in everything from puzzle games on mobile to social casino gaming to the big AAA releases like the upcoming GTA VI.
It also tells us that the modern gaming industry is increasingly built around platforms rather than individual pieces of hardware.
Valve’s most important asset is not the Steam Machine itself, but Steam. That is a powerful selling point at a time when consumers are becoming more conscious of digital ownership and backward compatibility.
In a sense, Steam is becoming what Xbox tried to do over recent years: an ecosystem not fully dependent on the hardware alone.
Still, it represents a challenge for Valve. It is a much more expensive price point than a console, and while cheaper than a lot of gaming PCs, it remains a device that is purpose-built for gaming alone.
Valve seems pretty certain that the device will sell, and the early buzz suggests that it is right, but the marketing buzz might not tell the full story, and we will only know that a few years from now, when the dust settles.
Overall, it feels like it is trumpeting a new era of higher costs for a ‘premium” gaming experience, making us wonder what exactly the price point of GTA VI will be.
Like the Steam Machine, many will buy that game no matter what the price, but it may still feel to some that they are being priced out.
