The Steam Machine starts at a $1,049 price tag, which was already far too high for a device in its performance class. However, the worst is not over, as scalpers are listing reservations (or units) on eBay for twice that price, or even more. It appears Valve’s reservation system is not enough to deter scalpers, and this situation is turning out much like the Steam Deck’s launch in 2022. More on this story below.
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Sclapers are listing the Steam Machine as high as $2,899
The Steam Machine will officially launch on June 29, 2026. Valve is allowing users to register their interest in the Steam Machine under its Reservation System, which will randomly select some users for the chance to buy it. Valve even added a specific clause requiring a Steam account in good standing to be eligible for the chance to purchase the new Steam console.
The company explained that this measure would deter scalpers and prevent server crashes caused by high demand, but it has clearly not been enough. Scalpers are listing Steam Machine reservations on eBay for $2,700 to $2,899, which is twice or even more than the official price tag. However, rather than reselling the actual device, they are selling the reservation accounts that were selected for purchase.
The worst part is that buyers of these reservations will still have to pay the full retail price on top of that. This means they will end up paying $2,700–$2,899 for the reservation alone, plus another $1,049 to $1,349 for the Steam Machine itself, which will destroy any value this tiny console has.
Even similarly priced $1,049 to $1,349 new PC can deliver substantially higher gaming performance now and in the future. The Steam Machine’s old-gen hardware is unlikely to run future games quite well, but its equivalent-priced PC likely will.
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Edited by Suraj Bhowal