Will the Steam Machine Be Expensive? Analyst Believes Player’s Main Concern Over Steam Deck Price Hike May Become Reality

The global memory crunch has rattled the entire gaming ecosystem, leaving players feeling the pinch and forcing major studios to rethink their strategies. Valve, in particular, has been hit hard: the company recently had to hike the price of the Steam Deck dramatically, and it still cannot confirm a retail price for the much‑anticipated Steam Machine.

PC gaming enthusiasts had been holding out hope that Valve’s next handheld would launch at a modest price point, but recent price adjustments have shattered those expectations. Now, the consensus is that the Steam Machine will likely cost more than the Steam Deck and could easily exceed the $1,000 USD mark.

Mat Piscatella, an analyst at Circana, released this week his forecasts for the Steam Machine’s price and warned that the worst fears of the community may come to pass.

Steam’s latest OLED edition of the Deck has seen a sharp price jump: the 512‑GB model now retails at $789, up from $549, while the 1‑TB variant has risen to $949 from $649. This steep increase effectively erodes any remaining hope that the Steam Machine will remain an affordable alternative to a conventional PC.

Gaming analyst Mat Piscatella weighed in on the pricing debate, warning that the market is behaving erratically and that numerous external variables complicate accurate forecasting.

According to Piscatella, the base model of the forthcoming Steam Machine is likely to launch at a hefty $1,399, with a premium version possibly priced at $1,699 or higher.

While Valve appears poised to announce the launch date and pricing of the Steam Machine, the exact timing remains uncertain. The ongoing memory crisis is expected to inflate production costs, further diminishing the device’s competitive edge against standard PCs.

Earlier, Valve cautioned that the Steam Machine could not be a subsidized product, as the company itself handles both manufacturing and distribution. Consequently, those interested in the device are advised to save as much as possible until the official price announcement arrives.

Despite the challenges posed by the memory crisis and the rising cost of video games, Valve remains committed to its plans for the Steam Machine’s release.

At the end of April, programmer Pierre‑Loup Grifais and engineer Steve Cardinali confirmed that the device is still slated for a 2026 launch. Amid growing uncertainty, Valve first introduced the Steam Controller—a peripheral now available in select markets for $99 USD—to gauge consumer interest.

Players eagerly awaiting the Steam Machine are growing anxious, as the controller sold out instantly and resellers began listing it for up to $400 USD. Many fear that a similar price spike could occur with the forthcoming hardware, potentially driving costs even higher.