Valve
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Valve.
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Steam Machine prices start at £879 / $1049, Valve confirm, as "randomised reservations" open for the SteamOS PC
Valve has confirmed pricing for the Steam Machine, with models starting at £879 / $1049, and has opened a randomized reservation system for orders. The company also clarified that Half-Life 3 will not be releasing with the Steam Machine. The article discusses the pricing in the context of current component shortages and the ordering system designed to mitigate reseller bots.
Sign up for a Steam Machine before June 25: Valve running one-time randomized queue due to limited availability and to…
Valve has announced a new randomized queue system for purchasing the Steam Machine, starting immediately and closing on June 25th. This one-time randomization aims to improve the buying experience and limit resellers due to limited component availability. Those selected for the reservation queue will receive emails starting June 29th, with purchases needing to be completed within 72 hours.
"We don't lock our hardware down" - Valve takes a swing at consoles while explaining why it doesn't subsidise the price of Steam Machine
Valve has announced pricing for its Steam Machine, opting against hardware subsidization to maintain an open ecosystem, unlike console manufacturers such as Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. Valve believes customers should be able to play any game on any PC and install alternative software on their hardware. Despite high price points, Valve views competing hardware like Microsoft's Project Helix as beneficial for gamers by offering more choices.
I've tested the Steam machine—and at this price, I don't think it makes much sense
The Steam Machine, Valve's living room PC, is a well-designed device but suffers from a high price tag and underpowered performance for its cost. Despite its sleek form factor and quiet operation, its RDNA 3 GPU struggles with demanding games, requiring significant compromises in settings and upscaling to achieve playable frame rates, making it an expensive curio rather than a mass-market gaming device.
Valve's new Steam Machines might be modestly specced but FSR 4 support is a big win for the tiny device
Valve has confirmed that AMD's FSR 4 image upscaling technology will be supported on the upcoming Steam Machine. This feature is crucial for enhancing game performance on the modestly specced device, potentially future-proofing it for demanding titles. While an exact release date for FSR 4 support is unconfirmed, it is expected to arrive soon after AMD's July target for RDNA 3 GPUs.
The Steam Machine is the biggest victim of the RAMpocalypse to date, and that's made me unreasonably annoyed
The Steam Machine, Valve's TV-focused PC, has become a victim of the 'RAMpocalypse,' leading to a significantly higher price than anticipated. The base 512 GB model retails for $1,049, with the 2 TB version costing $1,349, making it poor value compared to budget gaming PCs. This pricing, driven by memory component shortages, reflects a broader trend of inflated PC hardware costs.
Steam Machine is here, starts at $1,049—sign up live for 512 GB/2 TB model, with optional Steam Controller
Valve has announced the pricing for its Steam Machine gaming PC, with models starting at $1,049 USD for a 512 GB version and $1,349 USD for a 2 TB version. Due to component shortages and price increases, Valve is implementing a randomized reservation system to manage limited launch quantities, with potential wait times extending into 2027.
Valve finally announces the price of Steam Machine and a sort of release date, but the console-like PC might cost more than you're expecting
Valve has announced pricing and initial shipping dates for the Steam Machine, a living room PC. The console-like device will be offered in four configurations, with prices ranging from $1,049 for the 512GB model to $1,349 for the 2TB version. Shipping is set to begin after June 29th, with a reservation system in place.
Steam Machine: the big tech questions answered
This article addresses key hardware questions surrounding the Steam Machine, collaborating with RPS for expert insights. It discusses value for money compared to building a PC, performance longevity, 4K gaming expectations, and customizability options. The piece also touches on modding capabilities, Windows installation, and thermal performance, concluding that the Steam Machine offers a quiet and safe living room PC experience.
Valve's Steam Machine price starts at $1049 / £879; original pricing "no longer viable" due to hardware supply issues
Valve has announced that the Steam Machine will start at $1,049 USD / £879 GBP for the 512GB model and $1,349 USD / £1,149 GBP for the 2TB model, significantly higher than originally planned due to hardware supply issues. Availability will be limited and determined by a lottery system. Early reviews suggest it's a compelling entry-level gaming PC but too expensive to directly compete with consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
21 years ago, Valve passed on a chill game pitched as "the opposite" of GTA San Andreas, Journey creator says: "We only publish games with guns, our players like to shoot"
In 2005, Valve rejected a game pitch called 'Cloud,' which was designed to be the opposite of violent titles like Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Jenova Chen, co-founder of Thatgamecompany, revealed that Valve stated they 'only publish games with guns.' Despite the rejection, Cloud was eventually released for free, and Thatgamecompany has since found success with peaceful games like Journey.
Rumor Mill
A rumor suggests Valve may be taunting dataminers regarding Half-Life 3 by including a hidden Source 2 string. This comes as development is reportedly ramping up following a delay in the Steam Machine's release.
It's easy to find a great gamepad that's cheaper than the Steam Controller - here are my top picks under $100 based on hands-on testing with each one
This article recommends several PC game controllers that are cheaper than the Steam Controller, all priced under $100. The author highlights features like back buttons and advanced thumbstick technology, suggesting these alternatives offer comparable or better value for most players. Prime Day deals are also mentioned as an opportunity for further savings.
Steam Week in Review: spammy, AI-generated capsule art is a pox, and it makes browsing Steam less fun
The proliferation of AI-generated capsule art on Steam is diminishing the browsing experience, making it harder to discover genuine indie gems. This trend creates a disconnect between appealing art and actual game quality, potentially leading to wasted time and a less enjoyable user experience for curious players.
Steam Machine Pricing Revealed, Starts at $1049 for 512 GB
Valve has revealed the pricing for the Steam Machine, with the 512 GB version starting at $1049 and the 2 TB version at $1349. A reservation queue has opened, utilizing a random selection process to avoid bot interference and ensure fair distribution, with purchases beginning on June 29th.
The Stream Team: Hawthorne, SpiritVale, Caved In, Trine 6, and more Steam Next Fest multiplayer demos
Massively OP's MJ Guthrie will be showcasing various multiplayer game demos from Steam Next Fest, including Hawthorne, SpiritVale, Caved In, and Trine 6. Hawthorne is notably developed by former employees of Bethesda, BioWare, and Naughty Dog. The stream will focus on multiplayer and MMORPG titles, with a mention of interest in single-player games like Chonky Cat and Where We Used to Play.
Control Issues
A new web application has been developed that allows users to control the Valve Steam Controller's drift using its rumble motors. This tool effectively turns the gamepad into a remote-controlled device.
I spent an entire day with a fan-mod of North Korea's homegrown operating system, and I'm sorry to say…
An attempt to install and run a fan-modded version of North Korea's RedStar OS 3.5 on a PC proved largely unsuccessful. Despite improvements over the base 2011 version, the modified OS still suffered from installation issues, graphical glitches, and an inability to run modern applications or games, highlighting the significant gap between the OS and contemporary computing standards.
Valve calls out Dota 2 dataminers desperate for Dark Carnival news: "Why are you guys reading our variable names?"
Valve has responded to Dota 2 dataminers speculating about a new event called 'Dark Carnival' by humorously renaming a variable in the game's code to 'Why are you guys reading our variable names'. This follows months of rumors and in-game hints, including a 'Sense of Foreboding' modifier, suggesting a new large-scale event is in development, potentially involving the character Ringmaster.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 19: GOG.com Summer Sale
This weekend's PC gaming deals include GOG.com's Summer Sale featuring discounts on titles like Hollow Knight Silksong and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Steam and Epic Games Store also have various sales, with free games available on Epic Games Store and Amazon Luna. Humble Bundle offers several game bundles for different price tiers.
