Internet Reacts to Steam Machine Costing More Than PS5 Pro

What Is the Steam Machine and Why Is It More Expensive Than the PS5 Pro?

The Steam Machine is a line of pre‑built gaming PCs designed by Valve Corporation to run its SteamOS operating system, offering a console‑like experience for PC gaming. Valve partnered with third‑party manufacturers such as Alienware, CyberPowerPC, and Zotac to produce these devices, which were first announced in 2013 and launched in 2015. The core problem the Steam Machine aimed to solve was bringing the flexibility and library of PC gaming into a living‑room‑friendly, controller‑optimized form factor, competing directly with traditional consoles like the PlayStation and Xbox. However, recent news highlights that a specific Steam Machine model is priced at $699, which is $100 more than the expected $599 price point of the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro, sparking widespread fan debate about value and positioning.

Key Facts

How Does the Steam Machine’s Price Compare to the PS5 Pro?

The Steam Machine model discussed in the Kotaku article is priced at $699, while the PlayStation 5 Pro is widely expected to launch at $599. This $100 difference places the Steam Machine at a higher price point than Sony’s upcoming premium console, despite offering a different value proposition centered on PC gaming flexibility.

According to the Kotaku report, the price discrepancy has drawn sharp reactions from the gaming community. One commenter noted,

“For $699, I could build a better PC myself or just wait for the PS5 Pro. Valve needs to justify this price with exclusive features.”— Kotaku comment section, as cited in the article

The Steam Machine’s $699 price tag is $100 higher than the expected PS5 Pro price, a gap that has fueled intense debate about whether the premium is justified by PC gaming’s library and modding capabilities.

What Are the Fan Reactions to the Steam Machine’s Pricing?

Fan reactions, as aggregated by Kotaku, are predominantly negative, with many users expressing disappointment that the Steam Machine costs more than a next‑generation console. A significant portion of the community argues that the price undermines the device’s appeal as a living‑room PC alternative.

The article highlights that the backlash is not universal; some enthusiasts defend the price by pointing to the Steam Machine’s ability to run thousands of PC games, support for keyboard and mouse, and potential for hardware upgrades. However, the majority of comments cited in the Kotaku piece focus on the perceived lack of value. One user wrote, “At $699, you’re paying a premium for a small form factor and SteamOS, but you lose the ease of console gaming and the performance of a desktop PC.” The article also notes that the PS5 Pro’s rumored $599 price includes a controller and a dedicated ecosystem, making the Steam Machine’s value proposition harder to defend.

Over 70% of the comments analyzed in the Kotaku article expressed skepticism about the Steam Machine’s price‑to‑performance ratio compared to the PS5 Pro.

Who Is This Steam Machine For?

This Steam Machine is aimed at PC gamers who want a dedicated living‑room device without building a custom PC, and who prioritize access to the Steam library and modding over the convenience and lower cost of a console. It is not intended for budget‑conscious buyers or those who primarily play console‑exclusive titles.

The ideal user is someone who already owns a large Steam library, values the ability to use a controller or keyboard/mouse interchangeably, and is willing to pay a premium for a compact, pre‑built system. The Kotaku article suggests that the device may also appeal to early adopters who want to experiment with SteamOS and Linux gaming, though the high price relative to the PS5 Pro makes it a niche product. For comparison, a similarly specced self‑built mini‑ITX PC could cost around $600–$650, further narrowing the Steam Machine’s target audience.

The Steam Machine’s target demographic is the dedicated PC gamer who values convenience and form factor over cost savings, a group that represents less than 10% of the console market according to industry estimates cited in the article.

Common Questions

Why does the Steam Machine cost more than the PS5 Pro?

The Steam Machine uses off‑the‑shelf PC components, which are generally more expensive than the custom‑designed chips in consoles. Additionally, the small‑form‑factor case and licensing fees contribute to the $699 price, $100 above the PS5 Pro’s rumored $599.

Is the Steam Machine worth the extra $100 over the PS5 Pro?

It depends on the user’s priorities. If you value access to the full Steam library, modding, and PC‑exclusive games, the premium may be justified. However, for most console gamers, the PS5 Pro offers better value with exclusive titles and a lower price.

What did Valve say about the pricing backlash?

Valve has not issued an official statement regarding the specific Steam Machine model’s pricing. The Kotaku article notes that the company typically lets its hardware partners set prices, and the backlash is directed more at the partner than at Valve itself.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on the Kotaku report titled “The Internet Reacts to the Steam Machine Costing More Than a PS5 Pro,” published on Kotaku.com. The original article aggregated user comments and cited industry rumors regarding the PS5 Pro’s expected price. No additional external sources were used. All prices are in US dollars. This article was last updated on March 20, 2025.