Many gamers find PC gaming too expensive nowadays and are calling for an alternative. The Steam Machine could reach thousands of players here, if the price is right in the end. But this time the chances look good for the Steam Machine.
In 2017, the first Steam Machine from Valve failed. In 2025, the system is being revived and aims to offer modern hardware in a small format for a wide range of players.
In a time when companies like AMD and Nvidia are increasingly focusing on AI and server chips, the Steam Machine could become a real alternative for many gamers – if the price is right in the end.
Many gamers have affordable and older graphics cards
What is the general situation? The largest proportion of players on the Steam platform tend to use older or cheaper graphics cards. These primarily include models like the RTX 3060, RTX 3050, and sometimes even slower models like the GTX 1650.
The GeForce GTX 1650 is still among the top 5 graphics cards, even though it only has 4 GB of memory, which is very limited for many games. Following it is the RTX 3050. High-end models like the RTX 5090 are represented by only 0.30%.
The Steam Hardware Survey regularly reflects the situation, even if their data may currently be distorted by bugs and incomplete data collection (especially for AMD cards). The trend that the average user does not use high-end components remains.
No real alternatives for budget gamers on the market
For mid-range graphics cards, prices are often demanded above 300 euros, and real alternatives under 200 euros in new condition are rare. Even a modern RX 9060 XT costs at least 270 euros. Used goods often remain the only affordable option, offering no modern features or driver updates.
Additionally, the current price developments in the market are making gaming PCs for beginners increasingly unattractive. Even game consoles, which were often considered alternatives, now cost over 500 euros.
For AMD and Nvidia, AI is currently more important: At the same time, companies like AMD and Nvidia are increasingly less interested in providing gamers with an attractive offer in the budget sector, which is largely due to the AI boom: Both AMD and Nvidia are currently heavily focusing on AI innovations and shifting many resources from the gaming to the data center and AI GPU segments (via PCGamesHardware.de).
The profits in the AI sector are significantly higher for both companies than in the classic gaming market, leading to the urgently requested price reductions and gaming innovations receiving less attention.
Demand for affordable alternatives
The demand for affordable alternatives continues to exist among gamers. The rising prices for graphics cards, memory, and other components have made PC gaming more expensive and less attractive for many users.
Particularly for entry-level and budget-conscious gamers, the Steam Machine could thus become a real alternative at a time when there are hardly any genuine alternatives, aside from streaming services like GeForce Now or the current Steam Deck. Even gaming handhelds, which were often considered alternatives, are getting more expensive and now cost as much as a mid-range PC: For the Lenovo Legion Go Gen 2, for example, the best configuration now costs around 1,300 euros.
Steam OS is accessible, but it will ultimately depend on the price
The Steam Machine could reach a relevant target group, provided it actually offers adequate performance and remains competitively priced. Many Steam games do not require high-end graphics cards, so even cheaper hardware is sufficient. Steam OS is also simple and accessible software that is easy for beginners to understand.
Moreover, the Steam Machine, as Valve emphasizes, is an open platform: Those who do not want to use Steam OS can also install Windows or other operating systems. Therefore, with the Steam Machine, you get performance and accessibility without the restrictions of a console like the PS5.
If Valve sets the price fairly, manufacturers like AMD and Nvidia could potentially lose many buyers, who might then prefer a Steam Machine over a new, expensive graphics card.
MeinMMO explains what you should consider when buying a graphics card. Because there are several things you should keep in mind before purchasing a new graphics card. The most important points are presented in detail in our article: What you should consider when buying a graphics card
