PC gaming fans may want to start saving their cash for the upcoming release of the Steam Machine.
17:57, 16 May 2026Updated 18:26, 17 May 2026
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Valve’s Steam Machine is undoubtedly one of the most hotly anticipated new hardware releases of the past few years.
Offering the versatility of a PC and the accessibility of a games console, the Steam Machine will offer a gaming experience that’s on par with the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The only problem is that nobody knows exactly when it will launch and how much it will cost.
Fortunately, however, it looks like we might find out soon, especially if the frequency of all of these leaks are anything to go by.
Steam Machine Price Leak
The latest report suggests that the upcoming Steam Machine console will cost more than a thousands Euros when it launches in 2026.
Fans made the discovery following an update to the Steam source code, which shows that at least one hardware bundle will exceed €1,000. Based on the current conversion rate, this means that UK customers can expect to pay at least £875.
What’s unclear is whether the pricing refers to the Steam Machine or Steam Frame virtual reality device. The optimists among you will also be hoping that the hefty price tag is for the 2TB version of the Steam Machine. Likewise, fans on Reddit are hopeful that this same bundle will also come with a Steam Controller.
What Does This Mean for the Steam Machine Release Date?
While fans are unsurprisingly a tad concerned by the high cost of the Steam Machine, the good news is that the source code update suggests a release date is imminent.
Similar discoveries were made ahead of the release of the Steam Controller. The Steam Controller release date was announced days after the discovery of a backend update that referred to unboxing videos. A leaked video review went live just days later, followed by the official announcement at the end of April.
Assuming it’s legitimate, the latest source code leak suggests that a Steam Machine or Steam Frame announcement will be made shortly, and that Valve may make good on its aim to launch the device in the first half of 2026.
What Has Valve Said About the Steam Machine Release Date?
The Steam Machine was originally pencilled in for an early 2026 launch, although ongoing RAM shortages would see the release date delayed. The RAM shortages are also why we could be looking at a higher price point than previously expected.
Valve would then confirm plans to release the Steam Machine in the first half of 2026.
This was outlined in a blog post for fans: “Our goal of shipping all three products in the first half of the year has not changed.
“But we have work to do to land on concrete pricing and launch dates that we can confidently announce, being mindful of how quickly the circumstances around both of those things can change.”
With the end of June still roughly six weeks away, Valve could still make good on its plan to release within the first six months of the year. The sudden release of the Steam Controller is proof that the company doesn’t mind making a surprise announcement, so fingers crossed we hear something soon.
