The One Thing Valve Would Change About the Steam Machine? 'Make It Cheaper'
Valve’s latest Steam Machine has finally been unveiled, but not without a hefty price tag. The most affordable model starts at $1,049, a figure many potential buyers have found difficult to swallow. This high cost is largely due to the ongoing RAM crisis, which has driven up component prices across the industry. The revelation has sparked mixed reactions, with some fans expressing disappointment over the steep price, and others, like Valve itself, acknowledging that the cost is a hurdle.
Inside the Price Negotiations
During an interview with PC Gamer, Valve engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Pierre-Loup Griffais shared insights into the challenges of building the Steam Machine. When asked what one change they would make, both were quick to point to the price. “Make it cheaper,” Aldehayyat joked, while Griffais agreed, adding, “Yeah, I mean, that's an easy one.”
The engineers revealed that the process of securing components like memory and storage was far from simple. “Things that, two years or a year ago—commodity things—you would just say, ‘Yeah, I need that much,’ and you just pay the normal price for it and it's all good,” Griffais explained. “Now you have to negotiate really hard just to secure a few thousand.”
Despite the price concerns, both engineers expressed satisfaction with the hardware. “It's kind of perfect for what I need because we've shaped it like that, right?” Griffais said. However, Aldehayyat admitted, “We're open for feedback. I think we're pretty biased, obviously.”
More Ports, More Wishes
When asked about potential improvements, Griffais mentioned a common request: more ports. “We always want more ports,” he said. “People want more ports. The thing would be full of ports on all the sides if we listened to everyone.” This comment hints at a possible Steam Machine 2 with an even more densely packed port layout, potentially causing trypophobia for some users.
Despite the high cost, Valve has no plans to subsidize the price. The company remains committed to its open system philosophy, stating it would not “build a more closed system.” However, there is a workaround for those interested in a Steam Machine experience: users can convert their own PC into a Steam Machine, provided it uses an AMD GPU. With the release of SteamOS 3.8, Valve has officially endorsed installing SteamOS on non-Valve hardware.
Whether the Steam Machine will find its place in the living room or remain a niche product remains to be seen. But one thing is clear—Valve’s engineers are aware of the price concerns and are open to hearing what the community wants next.
