Valve has officially announced that reservations are open for its highly anticipated console, the Steam Machine, featuring an AMD chipset, up to 2TB storage and more from USD1049 (~RM4352). Alongside this major hardware drop, Valve is rolling out the stable SteamOS 3.8 update. This software update adds system optimisations and allows you to install the operating system on your own custom desktop setup, provided you use an AMD graphics card.
Pricing and Availability
For your information, the new Steam Machine features a six-inch black cube design with a magnetic, replaceable faceplate. However, the price tag might surprise some gamers. Due to the ongoing component crisis, Valve has priced the hardware significantly higher than initially intended.
Here is the official price:
- Steam Machine (512GB Storage): USD 1049 (around RM4352)
- Steam Machine (512GB Storage + Steam Controller Bundle): USD 1128 (around RM4667)
- Steam Machine (2TB Storage): USD 1349 (around RM5598)
- Steam Machine (2TB Storage + Steam Controller Bundle): USD 1428 (around RM5926)
The higher-end 2TB model also includes premium walnut and red fabric custom faceplates. To combat scalpers and automated bots, Valve is utilising a randomised queue system for reservations. You can sign up on Steam until 25 June 2026, and the first randomised purchase invitations will be sent out starting 29 June 2026.
Why is it so expensive?
Furthermore, Valve openly addressed the pricing in a blog post, explaining that skyrocketing memory and storage costs over the last six months changed their initial plans. The high demand for AI has forced data centres to buy up global supplies of RAM and SSD parts, this caused component prices to rise sharply. Valve noted that there were even times when sourcing certain parts at any price was impossible.
Build Your Own Steam Machine with SteamOS 3.8
If the official hardware is outside your budget, there is a backup plan for you. The SteamOS 3.8 update helps you download and install the same code and operating system on your own living room gaming PC.
Moreover, the main requirement right now is that your system must have an AMD graphics card, as Nvidia graphics cards are not supported at this time. Custom PC installation is currently labelled as a beta feature since third-party hardware configurations can vary wildly.
What else is new in SteamOS 3.8?
Aside from supporting the new hardware cube, SteamOS 3.8 brings a host of under-the-hood updates for Steam Deck and third-party handheld owners:
Desktop Mode upgrade: The desktop interface now defaults to Wayland, which fixes previous performance drops when switching out of Gaming Mode. It also brings better scaling on televisions, external HDR support, and improved Variable Refresh Rate frame pacing.
Steam Deck OLED battery indicator: The charging LED will now match your custom battery health limits. If you cap your charge at 80%, the light turns green once it hits that threshold.
Third-party handheld support: The update reduces controller latency down to microseconds and adds improved support for devices like the Lenovo Legion Go 2 and ASUS ROG Ally series.
As of now, the Steam Machine is still unavailable in Malaysia or this region. Personally, we would get one if we could afford it. So, that Malaysian release date for this console would be one to watch for us. What do you think of the new Steam Machine pricing? Would you consider building your own SteamOS rig instead? Feel free to leave your comments below.
Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates like this.
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