YouTube star LinusTechTips has revealed that Valve wasn’t overly impressed with his suggestion of a $500 price tag for the dubbed Steam Console.
“I can’t tell you what the price will be, because I literally don’t know,” he said on the November 15 episode of the WAN show.
“When I said I’m disappointed it isn’t going to follow a console pricing model, where its subsided by the fact that manufacturer is going to be taking 30% of every game sold on it over the lifespan of this thing, because I feel that would be a more meaningful product, they asked what I meant by console price and I said $500. Nobody said anything, but the energy in the room wasn’t great.”
Linus is a dumbass. Tariffs are the reason I’ve seen that this won’t be priced aggressively, at least in the US. Most products going forward will have a new, much higher, normal established by tariffs. This includes next gen consoles.
The full LTT video outside of the WAN show is a lot better. In it he said that a company can just buy a lot of Steam Machines as their office computers giving no Steam sales to Valve and making them take the hit. He also gave a few more justifications as well as tariffs and others I think.
This is incorrect. The whole supply chain has been disrupted. Starting with the dismantling of de minimus exemptions, anything that was priced under $800 will now be subject to tariffs.
Parts are significantly more expensive and will continue to be so. Tariffs on electronics, computer components, and related goods from China are currently set at 10%-25%. Manufacturers push that cost to the buyer. And they then push it down the line to the consumer. It adds up to outsized consequences on prices for the end consumer.
I think it’s unrealistic they’ll price it at $500. I’d be pleasantly surprised if it’s $600. Above $700 things will get difficult, though. If you can build a more powerful PC for the same money, the cube loses much of its appeal. That goes for both nerds and normies, because those will buy an Xbox instead.
It’ll be an extremely niche market - the narrow range of nerdy PC players who don’t want to buy a laptop or a regular prebuilt, and don’t want to bother building their own.
A huge chunk of the Deck’s success is in its form factor. I don’t see much ROI on the Machine in that aspect.
I think you’re wrong. It appeals to gamers who want a simple living room PC and it appeals to console people who just want to plug something in and start playing. If the price is right, this may be huge. Also, it would actually be an upgrade for a lot of Steam users so there’s another huge market.
Unfortunately “console people who just want to plug something in and start playing” is a pretty big slice of the type of people that like playing multiplayer games especially AAAs which won’t always work. Not to mention they will still be served with a PC game so there will be all of the regular options like graphics that PC players are exposed to.
I’m really hoping Valve proves me wrong but I don’t think I’d recommend this device to a console only player as their first PC.
I hope I’m wrong; market success on this could stand to break at least some of the corporate living room triumvirate (though I’m not sure how popular Xbox is anymore tbf) and further development for Linux as an “it just works” system in a more mainstream context.
Non-console pricing may make it overpriced, and it may be DOA, but the alternative here is worse. Console pricing will lead to a walled garden and enshittification.
If it’s priced like a console and subsidized so that Valve relies on game sales to profit, then they have a huge incentive to lock down the machine with DRM and restrict user ability to install third party launchers, games, etc.
This would not only contradict their Deck strategy, but be a repudiation of one of the last healthy and consumer-friendly open design and product philosophies left among the gaming platforms. So I hope they do not sell hardware at a loss in this case. Let it sink or swim on its merits.
The steam deck already has a dock that will hook it up to your TV, and bluetooth to use a wierless controller, or mouse + keyboard, plus the steam deck is 100% mobile. Steam deck is already console priced, with 3 different options depending on budget and needs. Who is their market? I already own a new self built PC, 2 older PCs, an older laptop, and a steam deck. I’m not dropping $ on this, (although I would if I had disposable income like that.) I’m not sure if their target audience is console players, or PC players that hate windows, but are not technologically savvy enough to install linux on their own machines? Edit: I feel like we saw all this go down in 2012-2014 with steam machines, and this seems like it will be a repeat. I want steam and valve to succeed here, but I don’t think they will in this market.
The steam deck already has a dock that will hook it up to your TV, and bluetooth to use a wierless controller, or mouse + keyboard, plus the steam deck is 100% mobile.
This is (supposedly) 6x more powerful than a Steam Deck and doesn’t include a display or controller.
I’m not sure if their target audience is console players, or PC players that hate windows, but are not technologically savvy enough to install linux on their own machines?
I think it’s pretty obviously aimed squarely at the console market.
I feel like we saw all this go down in 2012-2014 with steam machines, and this seems like it will be a repeat
Yes, I am aware of proton, and I am aware that the OG steam machine predated proton. Proton is a compatibility layer instrumental in making windows games compatible with linux. Anyone capable of installing and operating a linux distro on PC probably loves proton.
This is (supposedly) 6x more powerful than a Steam Deck and doesn’t include a display or controller.
My point stands. Most people that are PC gaming already have powerful PCs. Steam deck gives us portability, turns into a low end pc, AND can be hooked up to your living room TV. Yeah steam deck has controllers built in, but you can also use your own controllers with it. Anyone capable of putting together a PC is capable of having a set up that is compatible with couch/living room use.
I think it’s pretty obviously aimed squarely at the console market.
I agree with this, but I think if the retail price is too high, it would not appeal to many in the console market. A market share of console players are doing multiplayer online. What about games that don’t have cross platform compatibility? Those games make the steam cube less appealing to console players.
Then you understand that the situation is completely different now. The previous Machine required developers to opt into making versions of their games for Linux.
Most people that are PC gaming already have powerful PCs.
Do those people never buy new PCs? Did you consider that maybe someone might buy this who’s not already a PC gamer? Did you pay attention to the fact that it’s already more powerful than what 70% of Steam users are currently using?
but I think if the retail price is too high, it would not appeal to many in the console market.
Yeah, I mean if they try and sell it for $1000 it’s not gonna happen, obviously.
After cutting the price to reach greater audience (originally too expensive) Sony had to remove Linux support from Playstation 3 because companies where amassing lot of those things to set up some sort of DIY supercomputers.
Maybe a startup would do it. If they did development of smaller shit like apps or simple web dev. But yeah no, no business would do this because businesses need support deals.
You think healthcare businesses (I forget healthcare is a business in America, sorry) would be caught using Steam Machines as work stations? They would risk ridicule. Wouldn’t be taken seriously.
I didn’t, and usually don’t, so that’s all good and fine. 👍
Healthcare around the world is stingy.
I will highly doubt any place would do this. Nobody making these decisions knows enough about computer performance, I bet you. Government decision makers don’t, for sure. 😆
I think it’ll sell just fine. They’re not gonna manufacture them in console sized batches. They’ll sell what they make and manufacture more if people like it. Gonna pair well with the headset. I think it’s a rich kid and nerdy tech guy console.
At least the SteamDeck was a different form factor, this will find it difficult to compete with consoles forget normal pre-builts, especially if its more expensive than both
It’s a bit of a hard sell in an environment where being economical is the first thing on people’s minds. That’s a very niche audience. People who don’t want to build their own PC, don’t want a normal prebuilt, and are okay being less powerful than a console, and will not to mention not play a ton of multiplayer games out of the box. It’s not going to capture anyone from the console market and its not going to capture the hardcore PC nerds.
What do you mean “people who don’t want a normal prebuilt”? That’s exactly what they’re going to be selling — a normal prebuilt from a vendor people trust with the economy of scale to sell it for a competitive price. It’s got an unusual form factor and some fancy hardware, but functionally that’s what it is.
It runs Linux out of the box not Windows, so it’s not normal. Not to mention it’s barely upgradeable, HDD and RAM only. I know some prebuilts lock you out of upgrading but you can buy plenty that you can fully modify yourself.
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I see the Steam Machine has a pre-built PC then a console.
Linus is a dumbass. Tariffs are the reason I’ve seen that this won’t be priced aggressively, at least in the US. Most products going forward will have a new, much higher, normal established by tariffs. This includes next gen consoles.
The full LTT video outside of the WAN show is a lot better. In it he said that a company can just buy a lot of Steam Machines as their office computers giving no Steam sales to Valve and making them take the hit. He also gave a few more justifications as well as tariffs and others I think.
Always been a dumbass, given all the controversies. He should just stop and hand the channel over to somebody else.
Tariffs aren’t applied to PCs.
This is incorrect. The whole supply chain has been disrupted. Starting with the dismantling of de minimus exemptions, anything that was priced under $800 will now be subject to tariffs.
Parts are significantly more expensive and will continue to be so. Tariffs on electronics, computer components, and related goods from China are currently set at 10%-25%. Manufacturers push that cost to the buyer. And they then push it down the line to the consumer. It adds up to outsized consequences on prices for the end consumer.
I think it’s unrealistic they’ll price it at $500. I’d be pleasantly surprised if it’s $600. Above $700 things will get difficult, though. If you can build a more powerful PC for the same money, the cube loses much of its appeal. That goes for both nerds and normies, because those will buy an Xbox instead.
It’ll be an extremely niche market - the narrow range of nerdy PC players who don’t want to buy a laptop or a regular prebuilt, and don’t want to bother building their own.
A huge chunk of the Deck’s success is in its form factor. I don’t see much ROI on the Machine in that aspect.
I have high hopes for the Frame though.
I think you’re wrong. It appeals to gamers who want a simple living room PC and it appeals to console people who just want to plug something in and start playing. If the price is right, this may be huge. Also, it would actually be an upgrade for a lot of Steam users so there’s another huge market.
Unfortunately “console people who just want to plug something in and start playing” is a pretty big slice of the type of people that like playing multiplayer games especially AAAs which won’t always work. Not to mention they will still be served with a PC game so there will be all of the regular options like graphics that PC players are exposed to.
I’m really hoping Valve proves me wrong but I don’t think I’d recommend this device to a console only player as their first PC.
I hope I’m wrong; market success on this could stand to break at least some of the corporate living room triumvirate (though I’m not sure how popular Xbox is anymore tbf) and further development for Linux as an “it just works” system in a more mainstream context.
Your guess is as good as mine. Only time will tell.
Non-console pricing may make it overpriced, and it may be DOA, but the alternative here is worse. Console pricing will lead to a walled garden and enshittification.
If it’s priced like a console and subsidized so that Valve relies on game sales to profit, then they have a huge incentive to lock down the machine with DRM and restrict user ability to install third party launchers, games, etc.
This would not only contradict their Deck strategy, but be a repudiation of one of the last healthy and consumer-friendly open design and product philosophies left among the gaming platforms. So I hope they do not sell hardware at a loss in this case. Let it sink or swim on its merits.
The steam deck already has a dock that will hook it up to your TV, and bluetooth to use a wierless controller, or mouse + keyboard, plus the steam deck is 100% mobile. Steam deck is already console priced, with 3 different options depending on budget and needs. Who is their market? I already own a new self built PC, 2 older PCs, an older laptop, and a steam deck. I’m not dropping $ on this, (although I would if I had disposable income like that.) I’m not sure if their target audience is console players, or PC players that hate windows, but are not technologically savvy enough to install linux on their own machines? Edit: I feel like we saw all this go down in 2012-2014 with steam machines, and this seems like it will be a repeat. I want steam and valve to succeed here, but I don’t think they will in this market.
This is (supposedly) 6x more powerful than a Steam Deck and doesn’t include a display or controller.
I think it’s pretty obviously aimed squarely at the console market.
Are you just not aware of Proton?
Yes, I am aware of proton, and I am aware that the OG steam machine predated proton. Proton is a compatibility layer instrumental in making windows games compatible with linux. Anyone capable of installing and operating a linux distro on PC probably loves proton.
My point stands. Most people that are PC gaming already have powerful PCs. Steam deck gives us portability, turns into a low end pc, AND can be hooked up to your living room TV. Yeah steam deck has controllers built in, but you can also use your own controllers with it. Anyone capable of putting together a PC is capable of having a set up that is compatible with couch/living room use.
I agree with this, but I think if the retail price is too high, it would not appeal to many in the console market. A market share of console players are doing multiplayer online. What about games that don’t have cross platform compatibility? Those games make the steam cube less appealing to console players.
Then you understand that the situation is completely different now. The previous Machine required developers to opt into making versions of their games for Linux.
Do those people never buy new PCs? Did you consider that maybe someone might buy this who’s not already a PC gamer? Did you pay attention to the fact that it’s already more powerful than what 70% of Steam users are currently using?
Yeah, I mean if they try and sell it for $1000 it’s not gonna happen, obviously.
If they don’t price it like a computer, companies would just buy them and not even buy games.
If you ever worked at a company before, you’d know that’s an insane belief
After cutting the price to reach greater audience (originally too expensive) Sony had to remove Linux support from Playstation 3 because companies where amassing lot of those things to set up some sort of DIY supercomputers.
Maybe a startup would do it. If they did development of smaller shit like apps or simple web dev. But yeah no, no business would do this because businesses need support deals.
You’d think so.
Try again with healthcare or some other place.
Stingy af.
You think healthcare businesses (I forget healthcare is a business in America, sorry) would be caught using Steam Machines as work stations? They would risk ridicule. Wouldn’t be taken seriously.
Stop assuming everyone is US please.
Healthcare around the world is stingy.
They try to get around buying high capacity backup drives because they paid 200€ for 5 1TB HDDs 6 years ago.
I didn’t, and usually don’t, so that’s all good and fine. 👍
I will highly doubt any place would do this. Nobody making these decisions knows enough about computer performance, I bet you. Government decision makers don’t, for sure. 😆
I’ve worked at a dozen companies before and don’t find it insane at all. Would you care to elaborate?
Are you aware of the time the Air Force built a supercomputer out of PS3s?
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/ps3-supercomputer.html
Lol
No it aint.
Not every company is a multi-bilion corporation distributed across 20 countries.
DOA already if it’s priced more than that. Who is this marketed to?
I think it’ll sell just fine. They’re not gonna manufacture them in console sized batches. They’ll sell what they make and manufacture more if people like it. Gonna pair well with the headset. I think it’s a rich kid and nerdy tech guy console.
I think they want to pierce the market, like with the SteamDeck.
At least the SteamDeck was a different form factor, this will find it difficult to compete with consoles forget normal pre-builts, especially if its more expensive than both
It’s a bit of a hard sell in an environment where being economical is the first thing on people’s minds. That’s a very niche audience. People who don’t want to build their own PC, don’t want a normal prebuilt, and are okay being less powerful than a console, and will not to mention not play a ton of multiplayer games out of the box. It’s not going to capture anyone from the console market and its not going to capture the hardcore PC nerds.
What do you mean “people who don’t want a normal prebuilt”? That’s exactly what they’re going to be selling — a normal prebuilt from a vendor people trust with the economy of scale to sell it for a competitive price. It’s got an unusual form factor and some fancy hardware, but functionally that’s what it is.
It runs Linux out of the box not Windows, so it’s not normal. Not to mention it’s barely upgradeable, HDD and RAM only. I know some prebuilts lock you out of upgrading but you can buy plenty that you can fully modify yourself.