Steam Machine review roundup: critics are torn on Valve's pricey PC

The first reviews for the Steam Machine are in, and critics aren't entirely sold

After a long wait thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis, the Steam Machine is finally ready for launch. Valve's console-like PC will begin shipping next week, and the base 512GB model will cost $1,049. There are a few pricier options too, including a 2TB model bundled with a Steam Controller that will cost you a whopping $1,428. Is it worth fighting with scalpers for the privilege of spending a small fortune on a new gaming device? Early reviews suggest the answer is a resounding "maybe," if you have some disposable income. But don't expect a high-end gaming rig for your money.

In an 8/10 review from IGN, Jacqueline Thomas hammered home the appeal of the Steam Machine. You're getting a plug-and-play PC that's as easy to boot up as a console. The setup is simple, so you can start playing games quickly without fiddling with settings. Thomas argues that the real appeal, though, is in its Linux integration.

"While it’s true that the PS5 and Xbox have a slew of different apps that extend their utility, a lot of those boil down to watching Netflix or something similar," Thomas wrote. "The Steam Machine, on the other hand, is just a Linux PC that launches in Steam Big Picture mode, so the possibilities are basically endless."

But what really matters for a device like this is performance. Digital Foundry’s video review dives into extensive benchmark testing that provides a sense of how powerful the Steam Machine is. Cyberpunk 2077 runs at an average of 64 frames per second at 1440p. That's respectable, but the numbers aren't so favorable for newer games. Crimson Desert runs at a 27 fps average at 1440p. If you're looking to use Valve's little cube to play the latest AAA PC games, you'll likely be disappointed.

That data is leading to some underwhelming reviews from major hardware outlets. PC Gamer scored the device a 62, noting that it's simply not up to snuff for the four-digit price point. The site's benchmark testing revealed that PCs like the AtomMan G1 Pro wipe the floor with the Steam Machine in games like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

"You could save some money with a weaker CPU and (slightly) cheaper RAM, and get very similar gaming performance," PC Gamer's Andy Edser wrote. "Again, the RTX 4060, Intel Core i5 14400F-toting Legion Tower 5i powers ahead of the Steam Machine in Black Myth (with upscaling enabled) quite convincingly. That's a budget gaming PC with last-generation components, no two ways about it. And it's got the little Steam Machine thoroughly licked across almost all of my benchmarks."

Major outlets like The Verge echoed that assessment, labeling the Steam Machine as an ambitious project that just isn't quite worth the price right now. Key to Sean Hollister's complaints is that games have to be manually configured currently, as Valve "set the entire console to 1080p as a precaution." Hollister likened the experience of using it to the early, experimental days of the Steam Deck, offering some hope that it will improve with updates.

Though critics are mixed, many agree that there's still a place for the Steam Machine. Eurogamer's Chris Tapsell praised the device as a niche gaming solution, even if he agreed that it's too costly right now: "For flexibility and breadth and cheapness over time, and something you'll love people asking about when they come round — something that you can genuinely carry with one hand (LAN parties! If only it had a handle…) and which looks normal or dare I say it even cool next to a nice set of speakers or a stack of coffee table books or something you actually want to see in your home - the Steam Machine absolutely has a place."

So, is it worth it? It depends on what you want. If your goal is to get a high-end gaming console that can replace a PC, Steam Machine isn't worth it. But if you just want an easier way to access your PC games, there's still value in it — so long as you're willing to part with at least one grand.