As Valve confirms Steam Machine will be priced more like a PC than a console, Baldur's Gate 3 publishing lead says its decision not to sell at a loss "isn't stupid," but it is "peculiar"

1. Games

As Valve confirms Steam Machine will be priced more like a PC than a console, Baldur's Gate 3 publishing lead says its decision not to sell at a loss "isn't stupid," but it is "peculiar" News By Scott McCrae published 27 November 2025

He argues that the loss will be offset by people buying more games on Steam

Comments (0) ()

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Valve)

Baldur's Gate 3 publishing lead Michael Douse has commented on the supposed price of the Steam Machine.

After a 10-year absence, the Steam Machine is officially back, with Valve's console-like PC experience set to launch next year. However, since its announcement, speculation over its price has been rampant. While some expected it to be priced more in line with a traditional console, YouTuber Linus Sebastian, AKA Linus Tech Tips, recalled mentioning a $500 price point to Valve, which allegedly didn't go down too well.

This led Valve to confirm that the Steam Machine price will be "more in line with what you might expect from the current PC market." This, given how RAM prices are going at the moment, could be significantly more expensive than some are hoping for the console experience with access to Steam.

You may like

• Baldur's Gate 3 publishing chief says the Steam Machine isn't super high-spec because there's "genuinely no point" when people who want demanding PC performance on TV "know how to turn any PC into a Steam Machine"
• Steam Machine price "more in line with what you might expect from the current PC market," confirms Valve – but "ideally we'd be pretty competitive with that and have a pretty good deal"
• Asked about a $500 Steam Machine, Valve apparently wasn't impressed: "The energy in the room wasn't great"

I know subsidising hardware is unfashionable now but surely they're losing far more than a ~200$ difference by not having people on the storefront, which is essentially a money printing machine. That said it isn't stupid to not sell things at a loss, just peculiar in this case. https://t.co/9J3Y4EXoq9November 23, 2025

Reacting to Valve's statement, Douse took to Twitter to question it somewhat, saying, "I know subsidising hardware is unfashionable now, but surely they're losing far more than a ~200$ difference by not having people on the storefront, which is essentially a money printing machine." That does make sense, given Valve likely makes the majority of its money from people buying games through Steam.

Following on, Douse says, "It isn't stupid to not sell things at a loss, just peculiar in this case." In response, some users point out that if sold at a loss, it could result in several Steam Machines being bought to be repurposed into a general-purpose computer with far better specs than anything else at the price point, which, unless Valve somehow manages to limit people from purchasing multiple machines, would be an issue. As ever, we need only wait and see what happens.

Baldur's Gate 3 publishing lead says there's a reason Steam is so popular: "It's almost as if it isn't providing a s**t service."

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. TOPICS Valve Scott McCraeSocial Links NavigationContributor

Scott has been freelancing for over three years across a number of different gaming publications, first appearing on GamesRadar+ in 2024. He has also written for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, VG247, Play, TechRadar, and others. He's typically rambling about Metal Gear Solid, God Hand, or any other PS2-era titles that rarely (if ever) get sequels.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Baldur's Gate 3 publishing chief says the Steam Machine isn't super high-spec because there's "genuinely no point" when people who want demanding PC performance on TV "know how to turn any PC into a Steam Machine"    Steam Machine price "more in line with what you might expect from the current PC market," confirms Valve – but "ideally we'd be pretty competitive with that and have a pretty good deal"    Asked about a $500 Steam Machine, Valve apparently wasn't impressed: "The energy in the room wasn't great"    "The real money isn’t in the box" - Analysts are torn on Steam Machine pricing, but I'm hopeful it won't be $1,000    Steam Machine price "will not be cheap," with analysts predicting anywhere between the "mid-five hundreds" and $1,000, as Valve "can basically do what it wants"    Steam Machine is "a console that refuses to admit it's a console," analyst says, but "Valve isn't trying to beat Sony or Microsoft at their own game so much as rewrite the rules"    Latest in Games Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto redesigned Master Chief 9 times before perfecting the Xbox mascot: "It took forever, but I wasn't going to stop"    inZOI tells The Sims 4 wait, I've got this – actual schools are coming to the life sim for free, in a move fans of EA's own game have waited 11 years for: "We aim to create a real school – not a rabbit hole"    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Maelle actor Jennifer English chooses her favorite ending for the "delulu fantasy" JRPG, and I forgive her for siding with her own character    Some Battlefield 6 players still can't hear enemies creeping up on them, so devs are doing "a full pass" to fix niggling sound issues for good: "Hoping we can share more details on that soon"    Chatter over Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's skill-based matchmaking kicks up another notch after player runs the tests and finds it isn't quite as open as we'd hoped    Arc Raiders devs drop "very hot fix" to finally stomp the door and weapon exploits that have been plaguing the game since launch    Latest in News As Valve confirms Steam Machine will be priced more like a PC than a console, Baldur's Gate 3 publishing lead says its decision not to sell at a loss "isn't stupid," but it is "peculiar"    Avatar: Fire and Ash is tracking for a massive domestic opening, but below Way of Water    Millie Bobby Brown has ranked the Stranger Things seasons, and it might prove controversial    Quentin Tarantino begins his best movies of the 21st Century list with a nuclear hot take: "I don't think Scorsese has made a film this exciting [this century]"    A new Mandalorian and Grogu trailer is currently playing in theaters, and it shows off more of Zeb Orrelios and Baby Yoda destroying a droid    Pluribus lead Rhea Seehorn didn't know about the Better Call Saul actor cameo until it was happening: "I tried to cover and play the scene"    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1Escape from Tarkov review: "An extraction shooter that will make you truly miserable if you let it, but can offer dizzying highs you won't find elsewhere"
2. 2Fans think this is the best strategy board game ever made, and I have to admit that they've got a point
3. 3Constance review: "If Hollow Knight: Silksong seems too daunting, this wonderful paint powered adventure should do nicely"
4. 4This enthralling team board game is perfect for playing with family this Thanksgiving
5. 5Kirby Air Riders review: "This racer is also equal parts fighting game, minigame collection, and roguelike – and I'm shocked at how well that works"

1. 1Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
2. 2Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
3. 3The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
4. 4Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
5. 5Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"

1. 1Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”
2. 2Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
3. 3The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
4. 4IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
5. 5Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"