Valve Could Launch Steam Machine Pre-Orders Within the Next Few Weeks

Backend package listings and reservation tools strongly suggest Valve is preparing for an imminent hardware launch announcement.

It looks like Valve is getting closer to confirming the price and reservation details for the reported Steam Machine. New reports from the Steam update say pre-orders are already underway. Multiple Steam Machine packages have now been found in server code, according to information found in Steam's most recent client update.

This has led to rumors that Valve could announce the hardware within the next two weeks. The leaked code, first mentioned in Reddit groups that monitor Steam updates, is said to list four Steam Machine packages, along with controller and frame packages. Early rumors say that Valve is working on two main storage options: a 512GB model and a 2TB model.

The new Steam Controller will be available as an extra bundle with both of these models. A lot of people think that Valve is trying to avoid the launch problems that happened with earlier hardware releases. As soon as the Steam Controller came out, people called "scalpers" bought a lot of them and then sold them online for much higher prices.

Later, Valve implemented purchase limits and account-based reservation systems to curb abuse. It looks like these measures are now part of the plan to roll out the Steam Machine. According to reports, Valve may require accounts to complete certain steps before they can make bookings.

This could make it harder for resellers to quickly obtain large quantities of stock. It would be important to make sure that real players, not scalpers, get early access to the gear. The talk about prices has also gotten more heated as rumors about the specs keep circulating online.

Valve seems to be trying to stop another big hardware launch that is pushed by scalpers.

The 512GB version is likely the entry-level model, while the 2TB version is more likely to appeal to fans who need much more storage space. The biggest question mark, though, is still the price. Based on what we know now, the base 512GB system will cost around $600 without a device.

Reports say the price could reach around $700 if the Steam Controller is included. Due to the rising cost of high-capacity NVMe storage, some figures say the more expensive 2TB version might even cost more than $1,000. Players on both PC and consoles are already arguing about that price point.

A lot of people still think of the Steam Machine as a small PC for gaming, but some see it more as a system for playing games in the living room. For that reason, some customers might think that a processor should really come with the package. Valve's biggest problem may be finding the right balance between high-end gear and ease of use.

Price rumors for Steam machines could change Valve's whole hardware market position. If the system is too expensive when it first comes out, some users may choose to build their own small-form-factor PCs and buy the controller individually.

Still, the growing number of reservations and back-end updates suggests that Valve is preparing to move forward soon. Many people think that Valve will officially announce price and release dates within the next week or two, since anti-scalping measures already seem to be in place, and package configurations can now be seen by everyone through Steam tracking tools.