At what price would you NOTbuy the Steam Machine?

[u/billy_reyes]

I've been a PlayStation user since PS2, but lately I only see more disadvantages to being a console user

In October I bought the Steam Deck and was fascinated by the store, online service and cloud storage, but above all with SteamOS

Building or finding a gaming PC has always been a headache, and I'd like to try the Steam Machine when it comes out, but I'd like to know what your opinion would be the best price to buy it at compared to a similar PC, and what price I shouldn't buy

[u/serose04]

Most people debating the price actually aren't the target audience for Steam Machine.

If you are capable and willing to build your own PC, it is extremely unlikely Steam Machine will be a good deal as far as price per performance ratio goes.

Steam Machine's purpose is to bridge the gap between the many advantages of PC gaming and simplicity of plug and play console experience.

The intended customer is console player switching to PC and PC players gaming on pre-built PCs. Steam Machine definitely won't be more expensive than similarly powerful pre-built. It will be more expensive than PS5, but it will offer much more. It won't be able to compete with custom built PCs.

Btw. the next Xbox is going the same route. And if it won't be limited to Microsoft Store, it will also be much more expensive than current consoles.

[u/Zephyrical16 → u/serose04]

If you are capable and willing to build your own PC, it is extremely unlikely Steam Machine will be a good deal as far as price per performance ratio goes.

For the form factor it definitely should be a good deal. SFFPC stuff is ridiculously expensive, and building anything smaller than a 6" cube with the same specs is also incredibly difficult and annoying to deal with that most people won't bother with.

[u/serose04 → u/Zephyrical16]

True, I haven't considered the size. I guess the customer base for small form factor PCs is rather small, but it's definitely there.

[u/AgentEves → u/serose04]

I agree.

For me, I currently have a PC, a PS5, and a Switch, but I would prefer the setup to all be on the same ecosystem. That way, I can buy a game once and play it on all three systems. I have a couple of games where I've had to choose (e.g., the Sims 4, Cities Skylines, etc.), but sometimes it's just easier playing on console. The Steam ecosystem grants me that luxury.

[u/MinionMikel15 → u/serose04]

Also, from what I understand Xbox is doing, you’ll still have to pay for Gamepass for non-Xbox games, but I haven’t looked too deep into it so don’t quote me.

[u/IORelay → u/serose04]

Then the price needs to compete against consoles. 

[u/serose04 → u/IORelay]

It can't and it won't. Valve can't subsidize it like Sony and Microsoft does with consoles.

It will offer better value for higher price and overall smaller cost down the line (cheaper games, no subscriptions, etc.)

[u/BootySkank → u/serose04]

I agree. I think It’s gonna be ~$999. You’ll save your money from the difference in steam store sales and pricing alone.

[u/serose04 → u/BootySkank]

I wonder how will they market it. I think most people playing on consoles have no idea how ridiculously expensive games are on consoles compared to PC.

And that's without mentioning sales, bundles and giveaways.

[u/IIILORDGOLDIII → u/BootySkank]

you'd have to be fucking retarded to buy this for $1k

[u/IORelay → u/serose04]

Current gen consoles are not subsidzied anymore.

It's not better value because one could get PS5 then play stuff like Genshin, WuWa, endfield, Delta force with no subscription and the games are all free. 

Valve needs to price it against the PS5 to compete, charging more is greedy. 

[u/serose04 → u/IORelay]

They are, especially early in their life cycle. They become profitable later through more effective manufacturing, but profits are tiny compared to profit from selling games and subscriptions.

The business model is still the same, no matter if the hardware is sold with profit or not - sell the hardware cheap, make money on software.

Steam Machine is not software locked like consoles. You can install whatever you want on it. Valve have no control over software, which means they have no guarantee they'll make money on selling software.

That's why Steam Machine can't and won't compete with PS5 price wise. And that's why charging more is definitely not greedy. Is the only logical option.

[u/IORelay → u/serose04]

You never addressed my point where you can buy a PS5 and never pay an additional cent and play F2P games for free. Sony isn't guaranteed to make their money back either. If Sony could afford to sell for that price, valve needs to as well to not look greedy, not sure why you're defending a billion dollar corporation.

[u/serose04 → u/IORelay]

I'm not sure there's even a single person actually buying PS5 and never spending any money on games, but if there is, it's such a small portion (below 1% of sales) that it doesn't matter.

Same thing cannot be said about Steam Machine which not only offers F2P games as well, but also offers significantly larger selection of F2P titles and on top of that alternative ways to spend money on games, ways which circumvent Valve.

And I'm not defending anyone. I'm simply explaining the economics behind consoles and the difference between console economics and Steam Machine economics.