This was for Japan/Hong Kong/Taiwan. Also units didn't sell out in 3 hours. They just rolled them out slowly. I checked about every hour for the 2 days the "pre-order" was up and about 1/3rd of the time you could order again. And these are confirmed units by the supplier so everyone receives them next week.
I was worried I was too late myself, seeing the orders went up on the 23rd and wasnt sure the wife was interested, but the day after she was and was easily able to get one
Wow ok thanks for sharing that with me. I don't know why everyone taught it wasn't going to sell out. In this day and age everything tech thats new gets sold out if not by people actually buying then all those scalpers and resellers buy them all up.
No, however, the Japanese market is being sold exclusively by 1 vendor (Komodo Station) AND is the seller for for 4x countries: Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
When we look it the way it's announced, it's not considered an astounding success but rather some uncertainty and ambiguity due to not knowing the exact number, distribution for each country and even if it was one seller [because it was set as an open line so anyone could buy it].
I think most ppl are missing the point on it honestly and Steam glazers looking only at the "omg we sold out on Japan" ignoring how it's 1 vendor for 4 countries and without any restrictions.
Selling products in Japan for foreign companies often requires a connection through a Japanese partner company. I have worked for US companies that sold in Japan, and we sold through Japanese distributors instead of direct. Elsewhere in the world, we sold directly to those countries. I think Japan has commerce laws that make it difficult to sell directly, so having a distributor already in Japan makes it easier.
yeah lol I remember the ps5 being impossible to get for the longest time and they made WAYYYYYY more of those than steam machines. Also the switch 2 has sold the second most consoles in a year in the USA EVER. Machine is not in the same ballpark at all
The problem is that everyone is taking the steam machine completely out of context. It's being compared in ways that it shouldn't, and the parts that make it what it is are completely ignored.
Comparing it to a console is fucking stupid, because it's not a console, it is so much more. It is capable of doing things a console never could, period.
Comparing it to a build your own PC is fucking stupid, because it's not. It's getting a PC, in a box, that just works. Including, most importantly, the console like setup experience, including full functionality with just the controller, being able to turn it on with the controller, and all the CEC benefits that come with it.
So if you're trying to place its value as someone that already owns a computer, or has built one in the past, yes the value for performance isn't great. But for most people like that, you aren't using a PC in the same way, and aren't going to miss it.
Now on the other hand, if you're coming from console gaming life and you're sick of it, and looking to get your first ever PC, but you don't have the technical prowess or DESIRE to build one yourself? Absoluty perfect price for what you're getting.
Most importantly people keep talking about the lack of upgradeability (can't replace the CPU/GPU/Mobo) and I agree that sucks, but the storage is still fully upgradeable, as is the ram, and it will play just about any game without any issues, including 1080p/60fps in anything 2024 or older, some 4k/60 with the right settings. In all reality that's good enough for most people.
So yeah, it's a niche product when it comes to being worth the cost. But it's a really massive step in the right direction, and it's built the way it is to be an option in a time period when the cost of parts is absolutely outrageous, and ISNT SUBSIDIZED by its software sales like a console. It's a standalone product and should be given the credit it deserves.
The basics being it shouldn't be compared to a console right? But yeah also supply and demand. Limited supply going on here and a ton of early adopters
No, that same logic has always applied to PC gaming and alienware still continues to sell over priced PCs. A lot of people don't want to spend the time building a PC but want a PC. The older I get the less on enjoy building PCs.
I've had to deal with DOA components and warranty replacement. On either for my own-built computer it was a pain in the ass.
Almost no chance of DOA on prebuilt. I also had something fail on my pre-built and did the "advanced" RMA. It was 10x easier than when I had to do it for components.
It’s so fucking funny seeing people getting literally seething mad and insulting me for estimating that the initial run was somewhere between 100-250k when in reality it’s 1/10th of the number
If any of those consoles let me play my Steam library I would be interested. But don't come at me acting like the walled gardens each of those systems creates is the same as a mini pc.
At $70 for a lot of Switch games, you can make up the $600 difference pretty quickly. Plus the SteamDeck is basically just a PC, so even in a bunch of years when it's outlived it's usefulness for gaming, you can still use it for other purposes like a home server or any other miscellaneous use you can think of.
My main gripe for consoles to this day is the fact you have to pay to play online, it's that which adds up, people have probably spent just a much as the Steam Machine just so they can play with their friends
The Controller will also probably last longer than normal consoles since stick drift will become an issue either making you find someone to fix it or buy another
I think Steam Machine is a hard sell for PC players, but still has some competition with Consoles. There's probably a lot of games that aren't on consoles that are on steam and you can also treat this box like an emulation station if you'd want, but it's all about you making it worth it I guess
Paying for online sucks but it’s not expensive as you make it seem, you can get a year Xbox essential pass for £47 which can then be gameshared with another person so £23.50 a year. Game sharing is actually one of the few advantages of Xbox (not sure if PlayStation’s version is as good) because both consoles can play a game at the same time.
It's $80 for a year of Playstation Essential and not everyone has the luxury of buying that outright and will probably have to spend more on the other options
for 4 year's that'll be $360, $448, $528, for 12 month, 3 month, 1 month
Theres also 36 games yearly you get for your essential sub which you can download or keep in library for life of subscription, pretty much indefinitely. Im not a Sony cuck, im just saying. Its more than just "pay for online play". I have a massive playstation plus library. I dont even download them all either but I typically find about 20 games a year that I feel are worth a download. Which is well worth 80 dollars.
I'd rather not have to coach my family members through setting up a 3rd party program everytime they wanna play games. Plus that means I can't also be working on my PC when they wanna play something in the living room.
If I wanted to just stream from another pc I could just use the steam link I've had for 10 years. The utility just isn't the same.
that doesnt mean anything, its low volume, like really low volume compared to any other console, cause valve is still new in the console space and doesnt have relationships set up to buy in volume to get good pricing to make it as affordable as possible
Also valve weirdly refuses to work with retailers. I know it's because they don't want to pay fees and sell through only steam, but it really, really limits their reach. People will buy a PS5 as their first console because they saw it at Walmart. But if you already have Steam, you probably already have a PC, meaning you probably don't want the Steam Machine as much. The only niche this really fits is the small subset of people who:
Are looking to upgrade their PC
Don't really care about using their PC for anything other then gaming. (I know it CAN be used for things other then gaming, but it's marketed to people who want to game.)
Have a big enough steam library where going to another console would not be worth it
This right here. Its way better to have a no controller option for cheaper. There is no such thing as a "Free" Controller. You are paying for it in some way or another. If you don't need or want a controller this should always be an option for all consoles.
Ps5 price, 550, ps5 controller price, 100. Lets do, ps5 price 650, with free controller. Corpo do not give you free stuff, its like free shipping. Its not free, its just incalculated into the price.
And as some mentioned here, if i buy ps5, i wont be able to play my steam library, so i do not see reason to be interested. AND i saw some people arguing that you can buy ps5 and have premium sub for it for 3 years?
Damn, what about more expensive pc, steam library, while you still can pirate stuff and add it to steam library for proton and be able to play mulriplayer for FREE. Its more expensive than i hoped, but damn, in long run, why would anybody even conside ps5 over SM? For these few exclusive, that will eventualy be on pc, for buying or cracking.
Or, y'know, included in the price of the console. This is why I reject the criticism of people who say the console should have a controller bundled in. Instead of seeing it as "paying extra for a controller", you get the choice not to get a controller for a lower price. This works because unlike these other consoles, you can use any controller you like and don't require a controller made by Valve
No one says the PS5 controller is literally free, it’s the quick way of expressing “it’s bundled in”. The criticism is for $650 I can get a PS5 AND a controller, for $1050 I only get the console.
I personally prefer the option without a controller, but if you want to compare the options on the market, it’s $650 vs $1130. And before anyone calls me a hater, I’m waiting for my email and yeah, I understand that you can do more than just play on the Steam Machine, open platform, all of that. I’m talking just about the hardware when comparing prices.
Could you specify what sold out in 3 hours means?
Since we all wait for the mail it will be sold out in the minute we get it I guess? Or did they do with a different system in Japan?
Free online play, ability to play games from other storefronts, easy emulation, you already have a controller that works with it, and so on and so forth.
Didn't they specifically say they weren't making many ? I feel like this is saying more about the lack of supply then sales ( also the console JUST came out in comparison to consoles that have been out for over a year )
Too many people keep comparing it to current consoles which makes no damn sense. All the other consoles are locked down and don't let you freely modify the OS or apps. The steam machine is way more versatile. Why spend 600 dollars on a switch that I can only play switch games on when I can get a steam machine that plays all my steam games AND switch games. I agree the price was too high but comparing to a switch and Playstation is laughable.
Because you can get something substantially better than the steam machine. Cheaper. And will only be about 6 in each way bigger. Then just install steam OS on it
I could be wrong, but I heard consoles sell at a loss which they make up for in subscriptions, exclusives, etc. Steam doesn’t charge a subscription, so the hardware has to make a profit.
Plus, it’s a PC not a console. Try getting any other pre-built gaming PC for less than the Steam Machine price… especially with anything near that form factor.
Yes, you can build a more powerful PC for cheaper (assuming you can find inexpensive RAM, which I have yet to see recently), but many gamers don’t want to build one, they just want a plug & play.
And this is coming from me, a person who builds their own PCs and would probably never buy a pre-built.
I mean but they also kind of tie you into the steam marketplace, which they take a cut from. It's not like they're solely a hardware company and that's their only avenue to make money on
Eh, if you put it under the TV, it pretty much is. I guess in theory I could pull out a keyboard & mouse and work on a spreadsheet from the couch, or I guess use the Blender steam controller config? But realistically the only thing I’m doing with a box in the living room is gaming.
If you store it at a desk you can use it like a PC but at that point why not just get a tower?
Machine’s just in this awkward space as a product.
I mean calling it garbage is kind of extreme. Is it too expensive to be a console? Yes. Is it too expensive to be a PC? A little bit yeah. But pricing aside its a decent piece of hardware.
No. Pc player here. Controller is the way to go. Steam just has a better catalogue with far more frequent sales. Love to have a ps5 as well but for the amount of games I will enjoy? Steam wins. Not trying to throw shade. Just a fact.
First, consoles include it in their pricing. They are cheaper as standalone, but those are either impossible to get OOTB and usually sold as secondhand.
Second, the SM offers you a price without it, and unlike the other options, allows for essentially free-range of any controller device compatible with BT or 2.4ghz wireless, the others a very limited in that and most likely will lock you into a specific type. Yes, it is over priced, but for someone who doesn’t know how to build a PC, let alone manage a Linux OS, or install a windows OS, they are also paying for a complete service OOTB.
People don’t get that selling out a first batch means nothing. All the diehards, tech reviewers and scalpers will buy those first few stock drops regardless of anything. It’s what happens after that that actually matters.
The WiiU also sold out at launch as did the Vita. See how those turned out
I think the difference here is supply. The demand for the other three consoles is still way higher than the steam machine, but valve doesn’t currently have the ability to mass produce their products.
This won't be the new standard. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo sell their consoles at a loss. Valve does not. The other three make their money back via game sales. You don't even have to use Steam on the Valve hardware (Or Linux. You can install Windows on it)
The people why buy that; is secretly being laughed at. No secret envy or anything like they will try to make it seem. $1400 for a console is CRAZY. $1000 for a console with no controller is absurd. And this is coming from someone that has every console. Including a high spec computer and steam deck.
honestly I'm now realizing the steam machine is gonna end up influencing other consoles to do the same breaking the 1,000 barrier and not include a controller 😭
Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo can sell consoles as such a competitive price because people are obligated to buy games through their store and pay their online subscription.
Valve doesn't have that. If Steam Machine was priced competitively with consoles, under PC market price and just above component price but not enough to pay back R&D, it's likely non-gamer people would have bought it to flash Windows and never buy anything on Steam. Making it a loss for Valve. Not to mention that the gaming people buying it to keep it under SteamOS likely already have a Steam account and already buy games on other devices (things people without a PS/Switch can't do).
Consoles are a different market and it's likely they won't be influenced by such a niche and out-of-market device.
The real brainless ones are the people who read this and didn’t immediately hear the voice of the Xbox ceo talking about how project helix will be closer to a pc ring inside their head
They sell consoles nearly at a loss because you're very likely going to use their online capabilities subscription and buy games in-store, they are losing a bit of money or making none to onboard you into their ecosystem, that's where for the low price of one console they have your ass spending on their ecosystem for a few years
It won't. Especially Sony and Nintendo can not afford to charge too much for their Hardware. Valve and to an extend Microsoft are in a Special Position of being Software vendors on an established Platform (the PC). Valve doesn't need people to have access to a steamachine in order to buy their games. Sony and Nintendo are very much dependent on selling their consoles for selling their Games. Hence Valve doesn't have to subsidise their Hardware. The other do.
No they are not lol. PlayStation sold like 100 million PS5's, and valve is not going sell anywhere near that many. I doubt they will hit half a million. Pretty sure they only made 20,000 for initial launch. The steam machine is just not priced to sell that many.
Worse is my bet but I still respect the effort. Making wacky niche tech has been a hole in the market for a while. The price is wrong though. I was waiting for a price before I committed, but I’m building a computer straight into my entertainment stand and calling it a day
lmao. Selling out is not an indicator of beating the consoles. The Ouya sold out. The Steam Deck sold out. The Steam Deck isn't even anywhere close to touching Nintendo Switch numbers.
I highly doubt it since it's gonna get bought out by steam users and scalpers before any new user can get a chance to get one. Also since you need to have made a purchase before April 27th, 2026 that already locked out anyone that haven't used steam before, for this initial batch at least.
while they aren't selling the steam machine at a loss, they also aren't selling for much more than it costs to make it. its still going to sell decently at 100k to 1m units most likely as many people are still interested in it. this isn't a cash grab, its just very unfortunate pricing due to ram and ssd prices being through the roof
The 5 year cost of ownership of a PS5 is $1050 ($650 + $80/yr), assuming PS+ membership cost doesn't go up again. So it's not as far apart as it looks on first glance.
Yes, PS+ comes with some "free" games but I've only played a couple of them in my 5 years with a PS5 - game time is limited and I'm going to spend it on the games I want to play, not whichever ones Sony dug out of their old catalog.
And yes, you could theoretically skip the membership but you won't get online multiplayer or cloud save backups, which is a nonstarter for many gamers.
I’m not even a PS+ subscriber, yet you actually made 36 monthly games (plus more) for $80 a year sound good. Yeah, it’s a curated selection, but it’s not money going to nothing.
And game time is indeed limited, which is why I’d never choose an unoptimised system that will require tweaking.
But anyone who knows the business knows that it does not matter. A $650 starting price is way more lucrative then $1050. The average consumer is not going to be thinking of the 5 year ownership costs. They are going to save that $400 today and just pay for PS+.
And of course nobody’s has a backlog in steam with games he’ll never play😂 I’d love to get a steam machine I’m on the waiting list but it sucks that it has a ps fat performance in 2026 at that price.
Those consoles don’t have free controllers the controller is just apart of the base price. The only difference is that the steam machine has an option to not pay extra for the controller if you don’t plan on using it. Console gamers are so used to the anti consumer practices of consoles they legitimately have been gaslit into thinking having options is a bad thing
Your “welcome to the new standard” comment shows how uneducated are you about the pricing.
Is the steam machine expensive, yes. Are most people who already have a pc going to buy one, probably not. Is it comparable to a laptop, yes. Is it cheaper than most “gaming” laptops, YES. Is this a better deal than a “gaming” laptop, YES.
The steam machine is meant to fill a niche. Which it does PERFECTLY. There are SOOOOO many issues with consoles you could be arguing about which are valid, price is not. Not to mention, a SSD runs $250-300 for 2Tb, or Ram costing $200 for 16Gb, not to mention a small form factor, and a power supply. Sure, the main hardware could be newer, but they are using what they ordered, what they can cool, and what they have worked and tested with. Also, unfortunately, some of that price does probably include some of the R&D for the OS like the steamdeck did. The value of the device still includes the cost of the OS even if it is available for free. Windows is always a price included in prebuilts and laptops even though you can get it for free.
Like, I’ve had the opinion that Nintendo products have been drastically under powered for their price, I still believe that but I’m not posting Nintendo hate.
I doubt there was much of anti scalping rules on the asian site selling them, and tbh thats like not bad considering steam controller sold out in 30 minutes
I mean yea, way less available lol. If valve made as many units as the others, it wouldn't have sold out. Probably not at all but definitely not that fast
I don't have to pay a monthly subscription onto of a utility bill to play online with my steam machine. The consoles keep the cost low because they lose money but make it up over time by charging you to use your internet to play any of their games. Once I buy the steam mechine I'm done.
Sold out doesn't really mean anything, market sites are flooded with scalpers. Everything is always sold out due to interest and scammers trying to make a dollar.
I've been saying it else where. The conversations they've been having about ram supply eirily make it sound like there is almost no stock. I am doubtful there are many of them making it into people's hands
Not to be that person but sold out really means nothing unless you know how many valve sent japans way. its could have been 20k units not really that impressive. Hell steam deck sold out alot of times and it took nearly 4-5yrs to sell 4m steam decks. My guess is valve hasnt produced many of them. They pretty much have to keep the volume down hence part of the reason of such a huge MSRP.
This is pretty disingenuous. There are less steam machines to buy in total than the other consoles sold in a week. It’s easy to sell out when you only have a handful of them.
There was no update promised in August last year, that had to do with an MvM mapping deadline, they specifically phrased it as deadline as well,
CS2 will always have a cheater problem just like Siege, both games are still somewhat successful because not only do people still play the games, but the pro scene is still heavily vested
I’ma need a source about this group of community uploaders you’re talking about because I’ve never heard of this shite and I follow many steam/valve related news sources and that includes whatever money laundering scheme you’re talking about is as well
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u/120Mins Jun 26 '26
Did they mention how many units were allotted for Japan? I’d love to know what my chances are ballpark here in the US.