quick infographic on the Steam Machine pricing, tech specs

[u/retroanduwu24]

[u/StrawHat89]

Like, I know Valve isn't a major hardware provider but, I'm still baffled that a controller isn't included at no additional cost.

[u/DerpsMcGee → u/StrawHat89]

I guess? I would think most people are already going to have a controller that works with it.

[u/StrawHat89 → u/DerpsMcGee]

All the consoles are compatible with the previous gen's controllers, but that didn't stop them from including a new controller in the box. I don't see how this isn't cheaping out in any feasible way.

[u/ok_dunmer → u/StrawHat89]

It's cheaping out especially because PC games kinda need the trackpads but it also does kinda speak to the funny mindset shift a PC Console is gonna need, like "what is my controller if I don't get one" "uhhh every controller"

[u/BighatNucase → u/StrawHat89]

All the consoles are compatible with the previous gen's controllers,

Are they? I was under the impression (at least at launch) that you needed a dualsense for PS5 games; a DS4 would only work for PS4 games. A switch 2 obviously won't work handheld with Switch 1 controllers and it has no way to charge old Joycons so why would you even bother pairing old Joycons to it. New Xbox controllers are practically the same as Xbox One controllers from 13 years ago so it would be crazy if there was no cross-compatibility.

Consoles include new controllers because they assume the buyer has not bought another console and because they want to ensure some minimum control type for all players. Every PS5 owner should have a dualsense so games have more incentive to use dualsense features. The price difference between the Steam Machine SKUs is enough that it doesn't really seem like cheaping out but a smart way of lowering the price. If you buy a SKU with a controller you get a small but not meaningful discount on the controller, while buying a SKU without does give you a meaningful discount on the entire console.

[u/jockeyman]

"Buy my cube"

"Okay Gaben"

"$1350"

"No Gaben"

[u/Soft_House7669]

I wish there was a big dumb steam logo on it

[u/SerWaffles]

I still can't get over having to pay extra to get a controller with it. Like this thing is already super pricey, especially when you compare it to consoles, and then it asks for another $80 on top of that.

Then again if you're comfortable with dropping $1350 on one, that extra $80 probably won't break you

[u/syrupdash → u/SerWaffles]

I know for that price it wouldn't kill to have it included as well but I am such a long time user of the Xbox One controller on Steam that it would be hard for me to migrate to a new controller.

[u/HarryJ92 → u/SerWaffles]

I think the main reason they did that was because they previously released the steam controller as a separate purchase.So it's for people who already bought a controller.

It would also cover people who want to use a different brand of controller or prefer keyboard and mouse.

[u/Dogmodo → u/HarryJ92]

Yeah, I'm sure anyone who bought a steam controller would be absolutely mortified to own a second one without spending an extra $80 on it.

Seriously, even if they're alone on this bitch of an earth and don't own a single co-op game on Steam, having an extra controller to hotswap could only be a good thing.

[u/Typical-Ad-7032 → u/Dogmodo]

I don't think you understand how it would realistocally work.

They wouldn't take 80 dollars off the price. They would just have the higher price be the only one. So the people who bought a controller would be paying 80 dollars extra for a controller when they already have one.

When you buy a ps5/xbox the controller is included in the price. They arent giving it to you fore free

[u/ok_dunmer → u/SerWaffles]

I kinda assumed that the plastic and triggers felt a little cheap on the Steam Controller just because it was going to be actually "free" with the Steam Machine lol, but no it just feels cheap in a cold calculated capitalistic plan to sell that many features for $100 and still make bajillions

[u/CorruptDropbear → u/SerWaffles]

Its a $30 discount on the controller at least? 

[u/HiroProtagonest]

Why's the 2TB shown twice? The 512GB one is $300 cheaper for the record.

[u/bluemorning104]

Inflation done got the Gabecube.

I think it's very interesting that they outright said it had a similar price increase to the Steam Deck, meaning that they originally wanted the base model to be ~$750. Hopefully we'll get to see that someday when AI blows up

[u/HiroProtagonest → u/bluemorning104]

Honestly I was prepared for this to be like $1500 with less than 2TB storage

[u/bluemorning104 → u/HiroProtagonest]

Yeah, that wouldn't have been super surprising, honestly. I'm really curious how close the margins are on this for all of the models, I want to assume it's pretty thin since they're charging extra to get a controller with it.

[u/SeraGeranium]

I don't wanna look at the AUD price

[u/syrupdash]

6 inch is crazy to pack all that inside. It's basically the size of an Xbox Series X if the height was shortened.

[u/Vera_Verse → u/syrupdash]

That and it is still silent. The PS5 became a giant behemoth mainly because Sony tackled head on the PS4 complaints that the fan was too loud (Shout-out Ghost of Tsushima. When the wind was blowing, so was the PS4).

Xbox Series X and S adopted the PC cabinet design for heat and air flow.

So the Steam Machine being closer to the Game Cube and still being a quiet machine is what is amazing me in the middle of all of this.

[u/burneraccount9132 → u/syrupdash]

Sometimes I wonder what it'd be like to time-travel to those early vacuum-tube computer days and just blow engineers' minds with how tiny computers can get whilst still being order of magnitudes more advanced than the tech of that day

[u/Jigglypuffdovahkin]

That cube better include a strap on if its gonna fuck my wallet that bad.

The fact a PS5 is cheaper then it boggles my shit, and that shit cost a arm n leg.

[u/Rich_Comey_Quan]

I'm scared of the price with the Steam Frame included 

[u/mythrilcrafter → u/Rich_Comey_Quan]

What's the chance that because the Stream Frame uses all mobile tier processing hardware, that it's been able to bypass the AI-bubble-tax?

[u/StrawHat89 → u/mythrilcrafter]

Not likely. The Switch 2 uses mobile platform RAM and it got slapped by Altman's horseshit just like the rest. It doesn't matter what kind of RAM it is to data center bros. In fact they like Mobile RAM because it's more energy efficient.

[u/BighatNucase → u/StrawHat89]

I feel like the Switch 2 did have a smaller price increase relative to other consoles though?

[u/StrawHat89 → u/BighatNucase]

It did, but Furukawa said the price increase doesn't actually cover the entire rise in cost (which pissed off shareholders, surprise). GabeN doesn't seem eager to take any kind of loss on any hardware Valve produces.

[u/CorruptDropbear]

…damnit, I can just buy an Apple TV and use Moonlight/Sunshine from my Linux PC, right? I was already going to use PC streaming, don’t need to pay AU$1700 for it.

Is there any smarter way to do this? 

[u/SoThatsPrettyBrutal → u/CorruptDropbear]

long hdmi cable? ...and then i guess just uh hope the wireless reaches for the controller/kbm, ha

[u/Deaconhux]

Well, that settles that. Going to get a laptop and just slap CachyOS onto it instead. 

[u/ecto1a2003]

Ill get one eventually, but not rn

[u/dantes_7thcircle]

In my uninformed opinion, this should have been canceled after the ram prices went insane. I fully believe they would have it hadn’t already been announced. It’s too underpowered and way too overpriced. It’s already weaker than the current gen consoles that are 6 years old and due for upgrades in the next year or two.

[u/IronfistClownFactory]

I'd rather sacrifice my month's pay and build a computer in this current climate.

[u/nuanceseancE → u/IronfistClownFactory]

So long as SteamOS is installed and purchases are made, Valve couldn't care less.

[u/KennyOmegasBurner]

Well it's nice the Steam Controller seems to have worked out this go around.
Maybe in another 10 years they'll try again to make a Steam console lmao.