Steam Machine Pricing UK: Is Valve’s 2026 Console Worth the Cost?
Valve is officially returning to the living room. After weeks of intense leaks throughout November 2025, confirmed reports regarding Project Galileo (and the related “Ibex” codename) have made one thing clear: The Steam Machine is back.
But if you are expecting the bargain-basement pricing of the original Steam Deck, you are in for a shock.
The conversation has shifted rapidly from “will they do it?” to “how much will it hurt?” With the PS5 Pro seeing aggressive Black Friday discounts in the UK this week, Valve’s upcoming console faces a brutal market. The leaked specs—a custom Zen 4 APU with RDNA 3 graphics, are impressive, but the “no subsidy” warning from Valve engineers suggests this won’t be a cheap entry point into PC gaming.
Below, I break down the Steam Machine pricing reality for the UK market, analyse why the £399 dream is dead, and help you decide if you should wait for 2026 or just build your own PC today.
The New Steam Machine (Codename: Galileo/Ibex)
Before we talk money, we have to talk about what you are actually paying for. Unlike the Steam Deck, this isn’t a handheld. “Galileo” is a dedicated, small-form-factor (SFF) console designed to sit under your TV.
According to the November leaks analysed by Digital Foundry Digital Foundry Steam Machine Analysis, the hardware is a significant step up from the Deck OLED:
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CPU: AMD Zen 4 (Custom 6-Core / 12-Thread, likely equivalent to a Ryzen 5 7600).
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GPU: RDNA 3 Architecture with roughly 28 Compute Units (CUs).
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Memory: A split architecture featuring 16GB DDR5 (System) + 8GB GDDR6 (Video).
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OS: SteamOS 3.6 (Optimised for “Big Picture” mode).
This isn’t just a “Deck without a screen.” The addition of dedicated GDDR6 video memory is a game-changer for 1440p gaming, putting it closer to a desktop RX 7600 GPU than the integrated graphics we are used to in handhelds.
Analysing the “Steam Machine Pricing” Controversy
Here is the hard truth: Valve is not selling this console at a loss.
When Sony sells a PlayStation 5, they often sell the hardware at a loss (or break-even) because they know they will make money back when you buy Spider-Man or subscribe to PS Plus. This is the “razor and blades” model.
Valve operates differently. In a recent interview on the Friends Per Second podcast (Nov 22, 2025), Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais clarified the company’s stance on future hardware. He explicitly stated that while the Steam Deck was aggressively priced to build an install base, future high-performance hardware would be “priced like a PC.”
“We aren’t looking to subsidise high-end performance. If you want the power of a desktop in a small box, the price has to reflect the bill of materials.”, Pierre-Loup Griffais (Paraphrased).
This aligns with the analysis from Linus Tech Tips earlier this month. On the WAN Show, Linus estimated the Bill of Materials (BOM) for a box with these leaked specs to be roughly $700 USD.
If Valve refuses to eat that cost, the retail price will be high.
UK Price Predictions: What Will You Actually Pay?
This is where many UK gamers get caught out. You cannot simply take the US price of $699 and convert it to British Pounds (£550). That is not how import economics work.
In the UK, we have to account for 20% VAT and import duties.
If the US MSRP is $699, here is the likely math for the British consumer:
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US Price: $699 (£555 converted).
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VAT (20%): +£111.
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“UK Premium” (Logistics/Retailer margins): +£30-£50.
Total Estimated UK Price: £699.
Predicted Pricing Tiers
Based on current component costs and Valve’s history with storage tiers, here is my forecast for the Steam Machine pricing in the UK:
| Model | Storage | Estimated UK Price | Target Audience |
| Base Model | 512GB NVMe | £599 | 1080p Gamers / Indie Fans |
| Mid-Tier | 1TB NVMe | £699 | The standard choice for most |
| High-End | 2TB NVMe | £849 | Enthusiasts (Includes Controller 2?) |
If these numbers look high, remember: You are buying a pre-built, custom-engineered mini-PC.
Steam Machine vs. PS5 Pro: The UK Value Battle
The biggest problem for the Steam Machine isn’t the hardware; it’s the competition.
As of late November 2025, the PS5 Pro has seen its first major price cuts. Retailers like Currys and Amazon UK listed the console for £589 during Black Friday sales.
This puts Valve in a dangerous position.
The Head-to-Head Comparison
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PS5 Pro (£589): Offers ~16.7 TFLOPs of power, dedicated AI upscaling (PSSR), and exclusive access to GTA VI (launching 2026). It is a proven 4K machine.
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Steam Machine (~£699): Likely offers 10-12 TFLOPs. It is weaker on paper.
Why You Might Still Pay More for Valve
So, why would anyone pay £100 more for a weaker machine? Two words: The Library.
I have been a PC gamer for 15 years, and here is the “hidden subsidy” of the Steam ecosystem. Console games are expensive. A new PS5 release is £70.
On Steam, that same game is often £45 on CDKey sites or drops to £30 in a Steam Sale within three months. Plus, you don’t pay for online multiplayer (saving £60/year on PS Plus).
The Verdict: If you buy 10+ games a year, the Steam Machine becomes cheaper than the PS5 Pro over a 3-year period, despite the higher upfront hardware cost.
DIY vs. Buy: Can You Build It Cheaper?
As a veteran PC builder, my first instinct when I see a pre-built price tag is, “I can build that cheaper.”
I decided to test this theory. I went to PCPartPicker UK and tried to spec out a machine that matches the leaked Steam Machine performance for under £700.
The “DIY Steam Box” Attempt (November 2025 Prices):
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CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (£165)
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GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7600 8GB (£235)
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Motherboard: A620I ITX Board (£130)
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RAM: 32GB DDR5-6000 (£95)
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SSD: 1TB NVMe (£55)
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Case & PSU: Fractal Terra + SFX PSU (£180)
Total Cost: ~£860.
The “Form Factor Tax”
I was surprised. To replicate the tiny physical size of the Steam Machine (using a premium case like the Fractal Terra) actually costs more than Valve’s predicted price.
You can build a cheaper PC if you use a massive, ugly mid-tower case. But if you want a console-sized box for your living room media cabinet, Valve’s engineering is actually offering decent value at £699. You are paying for the miniaturisation.
The Hidden Costs: Steam Controller 2 & Steam Frame
When budgeting for Steam Machine pricing, you cannot ignore the accessories. The leaked roadmap suggests Valve is building a complete ecosystem.
Steam Controller 2
The original Steam Controller was a cult classic. The sequel, leaked alongside the console, features “TMR” (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) thumbsticks to prevent drift and massive trackpads.
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Expected Price: £69.99 – £79.99.
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Note: Unlike the PS5, the Steam Machine likely won’t include a controller in the box to keep the base price down.
Steam Frame (VR Headset)
This is the “One More Thing.” The “Steam Frame” is rumoured to be a standalone VR headset (similar to Quest 3) that wirelessly pairs with the Steam Machine.
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Expected Price: £899+.
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Reality Check: This is an enthusiast add-on. Do not factor this into your base budget unless you are a VR die-hard.
Release Date & Availability UK
According to the supply chain leaks reported by Tom’s Hardware, mass production for “Project Galileo” is scheduled to ramp up in late 2025.
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Announcement: Expected at The Game Awards (December 2025).
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Release Date: Q1 2026 (likely February/March).
Buying in the UK
Expect this to be a Steam Store exclusive initially. Valve historically avoids retail partners like GAME or Currys at launch to avoid paying retailer margins. This means you will likely pay shipping costs on top of the unit price.
Pro Tip: If you are serious about getting one, ensure your Steam account has a purchase history. Valve often restricts pre-orders to established accounts to stop scalpers (as they did with the Deck).
Conclusion
The 2026 Steam Machine represents Valve’s confident return to the living room, but it requires a mindset shift. This is not a subsidized toy. It is a premium, custom-engineered PC.
My Final Verdict:
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Buy the Steam Machine if: You have a massive Steam library, hate Windows updates, and want a “plug and play” console experience for your living room TV.
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Buy a PS5 Pro if: You want the best raw performance per pound (£589 is hard to beat) and care about GTA VI at launch.
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Build a PC if: You don’t mind a larger computer case and want the ability to upgrade your GPU in 3 years.
The Steam Machine pricing of roughly £699 makes it a luxury item, but for those of us with thousands of unplayed games in our Steam backlog, it might just be the device that finally lets us play them from the sofa.
FAQs
How much will the new Steam Machine cost in the UK?
Based on US estimates and UK VAT, we expect the base model to start around £599, with higher storage models reaching £799.
Is the 2026 Steam Machine more powerful than the PS5 Pro?
On paper, no. The PS5 Pro has more raw graphical power (TFLOPs). However, the Steam Machine offers access to PC-exclusive settings and mods, which can offer a better subjective experience.
Will the Steam Machine replace the Steam Deck?
No. They are separate product lines. The Steam Deck is for portable play; the Steam Machine is a stationary console for your TV.
Can I upgrade the parts inside the new Steam Machine?
Likely yes, but with limits. Similar to the Steam Deck, you will likely be able to upgrade the NVMe SSD storage, but the CPU and RAM will be soldered to the motherboard.
Does the Steam Machine come with a controller?
Leaks suggest the base unit will not include a controller to keep costs down. You will need to buy the Steam Controller 2 separately or use an existing Xbox/PS5 controller.
What is the release date for the Steam Machine in the UK?
Current leaks point to a Q1 2026 release, with pre-orders potentially opening in late 2025.
Is the Steam Frame VR headset required for the Steam Machine?
No. The Steam Frame is an optional accessory for VR gaming. The Steam Machine works perfectly with just a TV or monitor.
Will SteamOS support Game Pass on the Steam Machine?
Not natively via the Xbox App (as that requires Windows). However, you can use Xbox Cloud Gaming via a browser, or install Windows on the machine if you wish.
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