Steam Machine Price Leak: Is Valve’s 2026 Console Really £918?
The Czech retailer Smarty.cz just dropped a bombshell: a hidden listing for the 2026 Steam Machine priced at over 22,000 CZK. For UK gamers, this converts to a staggering £900+.
With the PS5 Pro already squeezing wallets at £699, the immediate reaction is panic. Is Valve pricing themselves out of the living room before they even launch? Or does this price tag reflect a grim reality of the 2026 hardware market that we haven’t accepted yet?
In this analysis, we strip away the shock to calculate the real UK price (including VAT and duties), check the “RAMaggedon” hardware reality, and determine if this leaked price is a mistake, or the new normal for high-end PC gaming.
The Smarty.cz Leak: Breaking Down the Numbers
The leak originated from the source code of Czech retailer Smarty.cz (and was later corroborated by listings on Alza). While the pages were quickly pulled, the data was captured by eagle-eyed users on Reddit.
Here is the raw data found in the backend listings:
| Model | Leaked Price (CZK) | Approx. USD (Pre-Tax) | Release Window |
| Steam Machine (512GB) | 19,826 CZK | ~$950 | Early 2026 |
| Steam Machine (2TB) | 22,305 CZK | ~$1,070 | Early 2026 |
Key Takeaway: These listings also referenced a “Steam Controller 2” and “Steam Frame” (Valve’s rumoured VR headset), suggesting a full ecosystem launch is imminent. But for now, all eyes are on that eye-watering price tag.
The “UK Tax” Reality: Calculating the True Cost
If you look at US-based tech sites today, you will see them simply converting CZK to GBP and calling it a day. This is wrong. That lazy math leads to false hope.
As a UK consumer, you know that our electronics pricing includes 20% VAT and often a “UK premium” compared to the US market. To get the accurate Steam Machine price leak figure for Britain, we need to reverse-engineer the Czech price (which includes 21% VAT) and apply UK tax rules.
The Calculation Formula:
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Remove Czech VAT (21%): 22,305 CZK ÷ 1.21 = ~18,433 CZK (Base Price).
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Convert to GBP: 18,433 CZK ≈ £635 (at current Jan 2026 rates).
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Add UK VAT (20%): £635 × 1.20 = £762.
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Add Import/Buffer (~10%): Valve usually pads this to account for currency fluctuation.
The Predicted UK MSRP:
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512GB Model: ~£815
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2TB Model: ~£918
My Pro-Tip:
Don’t rely on direct currency conversions for tech hardware. When the Steam Deck OLED launched, the $549 US model didn’t cost £430, it cost £479. Valve sets regional pricing tiers. If these Czech leaks are accurate, you should budget £900 for the high-end model, not the £850 Google might tell you.
Why is the 2026 Steam Machine So Expensive?
If £918 sounds insane, you have to look at the global hardware context in January 2026. We are currently in the middle of what industry analysts are calling “RAMaggedon.”
1. The “RAMaggedon” Factor
According to a Q1 2026 report from TrendForce, global contract prices for DRAM (memory) have surged by 55-60% since late 2025. NAND Flash (storage) is up nearly 40%.
Why? Because enterprise AI servers are gobbling up every stick of DDR5 and high-speed storage manufacturers can produce. Valve isn’t just competing with Sony; they are competing with AI data centres for parts. The 32GB of unified memory rumoured for the Steam Machine is significantly more expensive to manufacture today than it was six months ago.
2. Next-Gen Specs (Zen 5 & RDNA 3.5)
This isn’t a PS5 with a different logo. The leaked specs suggest a Zen 5 Hybrid CPU paired with RDNA 3.5 graphics. This is effectively a high-end Mini-ITX PC shrunk into a console form factor. You are paying for the density and the engineering required to keep that kind of power cool and quiet.
Steam Machine vs PS5 Pro: The £800 Showdown
The PS5 Pro launched at £699. If the Steam Machine lands at £918, is it dead on arrival?
Not necessarily. Here is the value proposition breakdown:
| Feature | PS5 Pro (£699) | Steam Machine (£918 Est.) |
| Online Multiplayer | £60/year (PS Plus) | Free |
| Game Prices | £70 standard | Frequent sales / Key sites |
| Library | PlayStation only | Steam, Epic, GOG, Emulators |
| Upgradability | SSD only | likely SSD & RAM (if not soldered) |
The Verdict: The PS5 Pro is cheaper upfront. However, the “Steam Ecosystem” saves you money long-term. If you buy 10 AAA games a year, the price difference evaporates within 24 months.
Can You Build a Better PC for £918? (The Builder’s Test)
As a PC builder, my first instinct when I saw the leak was, “I can build this cheaper myself.”
So, I went to PCPartPicker UK to verify. I attempted to configure a Mini-ITX build that matches the rumoured performance of the Steam Machine (Ryzen 7 9000-series equivalent, 32GB DDR5-6400, 2TB Gen4 SSD, RDNA 3.5 equivalent GPU, and a console-sized case).
The Result:
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CPU: £280
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Mini-ITX Motherboard: £190 (ITX tax is real)
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32GB DDR5 RAM: £140 (Inflated Jan 2026 prices)
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GPU (RX 7800 XT equivalent): £420
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Case + PSU (SFX): £150
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2TB SSD: £130
Total Build Cost: £1,310
Builder’s Dilemma: Even with the “overpriced” leak, the Steam Machine is arguably £400 cheaper than building an equivalent form-factor PC right now. Valve’s bulk-buying power protects them (and you) from the worst of the retail component inflation.
Is the Leak a Placeholder?
There is a shimmer of hope. Retailers like Smarty.cz often use placeholder prices to be safe. It is common practice to list an item at a “worst-case scenario” price so they don’t have to cancel pre-orders if the real price is higher.
Valve has a history of aggressive pricing. They sold the Steam Deck at a loss to grow the user base. With Gabe Newell recently hinting at wanting to “disrupt the living room again,” Valve might choose to eat the cost of the RAM price hike to keep the console under the psychological £800 barrier.
My Prediction: The £918 is the “real” hardware cost, but Valve may subsidise it down to £799 to stay competitive with the PS5 Pro.
FAQs
Is the Steam Machine 2 confirmed for 2026?
While Valve has not officially announced a date, the multiple retailer listings and the “Early 2026” metadata found in the leaks strongly suggest a Q1 or Q2 release.
How much will the Steam Machine cost in the UK?
Based on the Steam Machine price leak, we estimate £815 for the 512GB model and £918 for the 2TB model, though Valve may subsidise this.
Will the new Steam Machine replace the Steam Deck?
No. The Steam Machine is a home console (stationary), while the Deck is a handheld. They will coexist and share the same SteamOS library.
What are the specs of the 2026 Steam Machine?
Rumours point to an AMD Zen 5 Hybrid CPU, RDNA 3.5 GPU architecture, and 32GB of unified RAM to handle 4K gaming.
Can I upgrade the parts in the new Steam Machine?
Valve traditionally supports “Right to Repair,” so SSD upgrades are likely. However, given the small form factor, the RAM may be soldered.
Does the Steam Machine support VR (Deckard)?
Yes, the leaks explicitly mentioned a “Steam Frame,” which is widely believed to be Valve’s new wireless VR headset designed to pair with the console.
Is the Steam Machine more powerful than the PS5 Pro?
On paper, the RDNA 3.5 architecture is newer than the PS5 Pro’s GPU. Combined with SteamOS efficiency, it should offer comparable or superior ray-tracing performance.
Summary
The Steam Machine price leak of £900+ is a terrifying figure for UK gamers, but it isn’t baseless. It reflects a volatile 2026 hardware market where building your own PC has become prohibitively expensive.
While the price is high, the value proposition remains unique: a console-like experience with the freedom of the PC ecosystem. If Valve can manage to get this shelf price down to £799, they have a winner. If it stays at £918, it remains a premium enthusiast device rather than a PS5 killer.
Are you willing to pay £900 for the ultimate Steam console, or is the PS5 Pro looking like the safer bet? Let us know in the comments below.
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