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The one thing Valve would change about the Steam Machine? 'Make it cheaper'
Valve engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Pierre-Loup Griffais admitted that the primary thing they would change about the Steam Machine is its high price, with the cheapest model costing $1,049. They attributed the cost to difficulties in securing components like RAM due to market conditions. Valve also confirmed that users can now install SteamOS on non-Valve hardware, including PCs with AMD GPUs.
Well, that explains the expensive Steam Machine: Valve can't negotiate with RAM companies for better prices because "if we say no, then they never talk to us again"
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais explained that the high price of the Steam Machine is due to RAM manufacturers refusing to negotiate, leaving Valve with limited options. This issue is exacerbated by generative AI companies consuming large amounts of RAM, driving up prices for all consumers and leading console manufacturers like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo to increase their own hardware prices.
Valve admits Steam Machine is "more expensive" than it hoped
Valve has acknowledged that the Steam Machine is more expensive than initially hoped due to component and distribution costs. Engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Lawrence Yang stated that current component prices and scarcity prevent them from achieving their desired entry-level price point. Analysts suggest the Steam Machine will remain a niche device due to its cost and form factor.
Atari and MobyGames launch new career development platform called Moby Professional
Atari and its subsidiary MobyGames have launched Moby Professional, a new online platform designed to help game industry professionals find jobs, network, and develop their careers. The platform offers free and premium tiers, with the premium features available for free during a beta period expected to last through summer 2026. Moby Professional leverages MobyGames' extensive database of game development credits to provide personalized career insights and job recommendations.
How does the Steam Machine compare to PCs? Is it worth it for you?
Valve has announced the pricing and specifications for the Steam Machine, positioning it as a console-like PC gaming device. Benchmarks show performance comparable to mid-range PCs and the PlayStation 5, with potential advantages in its PC library integration and SteamOS environment. The article analyzes its value proposition against traditional PCs and consoles, considering hardware costs and future market trends.
Games Inbox: Is Sonic the Hedgehog cooler than Super Mario?
This article discusses whether Sonic the Hedgehog is still cooler than Super Mario, exploring arguments about their respective attitudes, supporting characters, and modern relevance. It also touches on the high cost of new hardware like Steam Machines and the PlayStation 6, and Sega's struggles with its retro revival strategy.
Valve Admits That it Didn’t Have Bargaining Power With RAM Companies for Steam Machine
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais revealed that the high cost of the Steam Machine was partly due to a lack of bargaining power with memory manufacturers. These companies dictated prices with no room for negotiation, a situation exacerbated by the demand from AI data centers. Griffais also explained Valve's commitment to an open PC ecosystem, which prevented them from subsidizing the hardware cost like a console.
Evening Tech Bits
Valve is reportedly working on a general release of SteamOS and collaborating with Nvidia to ensure compatibility. Future updates may include dual-boot capabilities for the operating system.
$1,049 Steam Machine is still a "good value," Valve engineer says, even though it was supposed to be $789 like…
Valve engineers discuss the $1,049 price of the Steam Machine, acknowledging it's higher than their original $789 target due to component shortages. They believe the price is still competitive for its specifications and form factor, especially compared to self-built PCs, and hope consumers will understand the market conditions.
The Steam Machine's Companion Cube case is big, expensive, and based on a 19-year-old joke, so I hate how well-made it is
Dbrand has released a Companion Cube-shaped case for the Steam Machine, which is based on a joke from the game Portal. While the reviewer finds the case to be well-made with premium materials and clever design touches, they ultimately dislike it due to its significant increase in size and high price point of $100-$130.
The Steam Machine Has Already Lost Is Biggest Advantage Before Launch
The upcoming Steam Machine is set to launch without the significant advantage of its exclusive SteamOS, unlike the original Steam Deck. While the Steam Deck's success was largely due to its seamless, controller-friendly operating system in an uncontested market, the Steam Machine will face competition from more powerful handhelds and the ability for users to install SteamOS on any PC. This diminishes the Steam Machine's unique selling proposition, making its premium price point questionable despite Valve's broader goal of expanding Steam's reach.
Valve Was Forced Into Making A Weird Hardware Decision With Steam Machine
Valve's Steam Machine launch is impacted by a RAM crisis, forcing a 'memory lottery' for consumers. All units will ship with 16GB of RAM, but configurations will vary between dual 8GB sticks or a single 16GB stick, potentially affecting performance due to single-channel memory speeds. Valve attributes this decision to supply chain issues and supplier demands.
If you were on the fence about the Steam Machine, this RAM configuration twist might push you off it — straight…
The Steam Machine's RAM configuration has become a point of contention, with many units featuring a single 16GB DDR5 stick instead of a dual 8GB configuration. This single-channel setup can negatively impact CPU-intensive games, although Valve engineers argue the difference is often negligible in actual gameplay. The scarcity of 8GB sticks due to market demand for higher storage is cited as the reason for this configuration choice.
Morning Tech Bits
Demos for Mortal Shell II and The Sinking City 2 are now available on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest, featuring NVIDIA DLSS support. The article also touches on Valve's decision regarding subsidizing Steam Machines and the impact of the AMD 5800X3D CPU.
"It didn't look like things were going to change anytime soon": Valve insist price worries were never behind Steam Machine delays
Valve designers Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehayyat clarified that supply chain issues, not pricing concerns, were the primary reason for the Steam Machine's delays. They explained that establishing efficient production lines and securing components took significant time and effort, impacting the launch quantity rather than the decision to release.
Valve greenlights SteamOS installs on normal PCs with AMD GPUs, so you can go make your own Steam Machine if you…
Valve has officially greenlit the installation of SteamOS on standard PCs, provided they are equipped with AMD GPUs. This update, version 3.8, allows users to install the same operating system found on Steam Machines onto their own hardware, though support for other GPU manufacturers is pending. Previously, users could manually install older versions, but this marks Valve's official endorsement and aims to simplify the process for AMD users.
Better value than the Steam Machine: I'm determined to find you gaming PC deals this Prime Day that show why a traditional build is better in the long run, even in a RAMpocalypse
This article analyzes Prime Day gaming PC deals, arguing that traditional custom-built or prebuilt PCs offer better long-term value and performance than Valve's Steam Machine. The author, an experienced reviewer of PC components and systems, aims to find deals from retailers like Amazon, Newegg, Best Buy, and Walmart that provide superior upgradeability and discrete graphics cards for living room gaming setups, even amidst current component shortages.
Steam Machine review roundup: Hefty pricetag for a niche product
Reviews for Valve's Steam Machine highlight its high price point, with the 512GB model costing $1,049 and the 2TB version $1,428, not including a controller. While praised for its compact design and smooth SteamOS performance, reviewers note that the hardware uses older AMD architecture and may not be powerful enough for high-end gaming, making it a niche product compared to more affordable consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
'Going to make myself stick with SteamOS instead of slithering back to Windows': gamers get ready to abandon Windows 11, as Valve focuses on boosting SteamOS on the desktop
Valve is actively improving SteamOS to enhance compatibility with desktop hardware and Nvidia GPUs, aiming to make it a viable alternative to Windows 11 for PC gamers. These efforts are prompting some users to consider switching from Windows 11, despite Nvidia support not being available this year. While SteamOS adoption is still niche, Valve's progress could eventually challenge Windows' dominance in PC gaming.
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The article indicates a '404 Page Not Found' error, humorously comparing the situation to the non-existence of Half-Life 3. It prompts users who followed a link to report the issue to Eurogamer.net for correction.