I’m lucky enough to have disposable income, I could afford to buy one without it hurting. That said, idk just off principle it feels like an insane ask. Especially considering its not doing anything a PC can’t do (as far as I know). For those not in the know, the cheapest edition will be about 1,000 USD and the most pricy will be around 1,500. To my knowledge, consoles themselves aren’t profitable historically. So, do you think even at this price point Valve is taking a hit? Do you think if this sells well it will drastically increase the cost of other consoles (completely independent of the external factor being hardware shortage due to AI). General steam machine discussion post as well, just dont be a dickhead to anyone.
Its not upgradable. It might be appealing to console gamers but as a PC enthusiast whose been building, repairing, and upgrading my own PCs for 20 years, no.
Contrary to what people will tell you, there are some exclusive benefits to the Machine, like HDMICEC and background updates, both are really nice to have. But it’s not worth it.
Yes, refurbished one at least
Probably not.
Even if it does rugs and upholstery both, they just don’t get that dirty, normally. Almost all light stains I can get out with a careful application of soap & water and judicious toweling. Plus there’s always rentals if needed.I don’t know if mine is actually steam but having a machine feels like it’s been a good investment as a pet owner. Our dog is very good about going outside to potty but she does throw up from time to time and she will always try to find the limited amount of carpet we have in our house (I think it’s the closest thing to grass in her mind). Maybe it would be cheaper still to go rent a machine, but the convenience of being able to use it right away also has to be considered.
Oof yah, a pet situation could change everything, stat.
idk we have one of those small handheld ones you can get at Walmart for like $20 for getting out wrinkles and getting odors out of things like heavy coats that you can’t clean otherwise. it’s also great for reshaping things that wouldn’t otherwise survive an iron like vinyl game maps that come in a tube or my old stethoscope from school that had been coiled up in storage.
Sold!
Machine? No.
Frame? Yes.Would I like it to be cheaper. Of course. Are gaming consoles cheaper of course.
But I cant name 1 system or PC, which can waken when a Bluetooth Controller connects to it, and can play every game I own from the last 15 years, and every console game from the last 25 years.
Even Nintendo nickels and dimes you for this privilege, and with a one time purchase I can just remove my consoles and just use a Steam Machine, sign me up.
Not even PlayStation 5 can do what the steam machine does out of the box.
My PS4 wakes up when the bluetooth controller connects to it.
Your PS4 can’t play PS3 games, the Steam Machine can, nor can it play N64 and GameCube titles.
Homebrew can eventually fix the later, but the ps4 doesn’t have enough power for the former.
I’m not suggesting it can do those things. You said no known system or console can wake on a Bluetooth connection, I said PS4 can. I don’t have a PS5, but it probably does too.
Most consoles made since 2005 can wake from sleep on by turning on a controller.
But PCs cannot since it wasn’t a feature added to them.
However a PC can play older games, not just going back 20 years, but with emulation can play games as far back as games from the 70s.
A PS4/5 can’t do that since unless the developer needs to add support for it, or made a rerelease with their older games. So your PS4 isn’t play Super Mario Sunshine or even Brothers. Let alone the thousands of games which are classified as abandonware.
Which is what makes the steam deck alluring even at its inflated price point.
I’m glad it exists because it’s a much better alternative to consoles, but no, there’s no point in buying that instead of a PC unless you have money to throw around on cool hardware
Yeah I’d agree.
Yes. It’s too expensive for sure, but it is exactly what I want. I have no interest in doing any manual work to get a functioning Non-Windows gaming PC into my living room. I just want plug and play and that’s what Valve offers.
I am, yes.
I’ve been building custom PCs for myself and my family/friends for the better part of 2 decades now. I know I can get a better deal on used parts to run a more powerful machine. But you know what means? I play tech support for my friends and family.
I’m buying this for myself but installing it where most people I know come walking through. Setting it up as a show piece to get people to ask about Linux and to ask about the PC. If this thing holds up as well as my Steam Deck with support, updates, and stability? I’ll go halves with all my gamer friends and relatives just to get them on a machine I won’t be called about because windows decided to release another borked update…
Obviously I have the exposable income to support this and am extremely lucky. I fully get why people are upset and think it’s a rip off tho.
If I didn’t already have a gaming PC and a Steam Deck, maybe.
This is the boat I’m in.
I put a reservation down to help a friend get one. But I’m holding out for that Frame…
Same here… I already have a “steam machine”. I have a gaming PC connected to my TV via sunshine/moonlight (previously steam link). Heck you could even go HDMI cable, but I wanted to keep my PC in my office so I can use it as a work computer as well. If I didn’t build my own gaming PC a few years ago I’d strongly consider it, though.
No one on Lemmy is going to be looking for an entry-level device, we’re all boomers with custom rigs already.
PC gamers already have PCs, and console gamers don’t want to spend $1000 on a console-PC. That seems to be the general vibe. It’s not looking great.
The Steam Deck came in at a competetive price, and a handheld form factor, those two things made it a success.
You’re missing an entire market segment of gadget nerds. I have no practical need for steam machine but I’m still getting it because it’s fun, it’s beautiful and it supports ideals I’m interested in. 1,000 usd is nothing for a luxury gadget.
Yeah but no way that market is big enough for valve to keep building steam machines.
Let’s wait and see but I think it very well might be big enough.
Yes. I have many PCs and laptops around the house already but I simply want it as a luxury item and to support the idea of open game consoles.
Especially considering its not doing anything a PC can’t do (as far as I know).
It’s a PC. Why wouldn’t it do anything a PC can’t do.
That being said, it does have the connections to wake the machine and your TV by acticating a connected Steam Controller
I assume you could just install a windows partition and it could be your family PC if you wanted. Or you could just use linux.
Honestly, there is no reason the family PC should be windows. Windows has become an entirely inferior product for everything except some specialist software which you can not run through wine. But for that just use a windows VM
No the hardware is not good for the price.
It’s weaker than the ps5.
I don’t have any solid gaming console or PC at the moment.
I have an Xbox Series S, a Nintendo Switch, and a Steam Deck.
I have been wanting to build or buy a decent PC for years, but money has always been tight.
All this to say… maybe? It seems to be on par with the prices of prebuilts. My job uses a third party system to give us bonuses and we can use them to get digital giftcards.
I am trying to convince them to add Steam giftcards to it. If I can get that it means I’ll definitely eventually be able to get a Steam Machine. But also I’m hoping that the price decreases over time, as unlikely as that may be.
This is an “eventual” purchase and not an immediate one, in my eyes at least.
For now, I have plenty of games I can run well on my Steam Deck, since I hardly played my Xbox. 8 basically skipped out on gaming from 2016-2025 really.
The Steam Machine would really just be something I’d remote play from the Deck from to either conserve battery life or run more demanding games, like BG3 or E33. Basically anything with unreal haha.
I suspect the price will decrease over time, but it might take several years with current supply chain problems caused by AI.
That’s okay. I’ve been an unintentional member of the patient gamers club for years now.
FYI, physical Steam gift cards are out of production and will not be restocked. It was announced a week or two ago. Not sure if your work does physical or virtual cards
They’re all digital gift cards from what I’ve seen. I do appreciate the warning though!
Nope. Way too expensive.
