Exploring the Versatile Fit of Steam Machines in Daily Life
WHO:
The Verge - The author is a senior reporter covering technology and gaming, who joined The Verge in 2019.
CNET - Valve is the company behind the Steam Machine.
WHAT:
The Verge - The author stated they would spend the $1,049 to buy a Steam Machine right now despite its drawbacks.
The Verge - The author mentioned that the Steam Machine is "basically silent" during gameplay.
The Verge - The author has received an offer from a friend to give them an RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a 1TB SSD for building a PC.
The Verge - The author expressed that they are looking into building a PC that could be "more powerful and more upgradable than a Steam Machine."
The Verge - The Steam Machine received a rating of 6 from The Verge.
The Verge - The Steam Machine is priced at $1,049.
The Verge - The Steam Machine is described as a 6-inch cube.
The Verge - The author has been playing games on the Steam Machine for two weeks.
The Verge - The Steam Machine is compatible with Valve’s Steam Controller and supports Steam’s cloud saves.
WHERE:
The Verge - The Steam Machine fits into the author's TV console and desk.
WHEN:
The Verge - The author signed up for a reservation to purchase the Steam Machine but did not get picked.
WHY:
The Verge - The author prefers the Steam Machine because it can play games from their Steam library, which their PS5 and Xbox Series X cannot.
HOW:
The Verge - The author noted that they can play games on their Steam Deck while hooked up to their TV, which they found to be "90 percent of the Steam Machine experience plus portability."
The Verge - The Steam Machine boots up quickly and allows the author to jump into games in a matter of seconds.
The Verge - The author has considered building their own PC after not being able to purchase the Steam Machine.
(UPDATED July 8, 2026 20:25 UTC)
An author from The Verge has expressed a willingness to spend $1,049 on a Steam Machine right now, highlighting its near-silent operation during gameplay despite some drawbacks. They are also considering building a more powerful and upgradable PC, especially after receiving an offer from a friend for an RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a 1TB SSD. In the meantime, the author enjoys gaming on their Steam Deck while connected to their TV, describing it as "90 percent of the Steam Machine experience plus portability."
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(UPDATED July 8, 2026 16:32 UTC)
The Steam Machine, a compact six-inch cube from Valve, has received a rating of six from The Verge and is priced at $1,049. The author, who has been playing games on the Steam Machine for two weeks, appreciates its compatibility with Valve’s Steam Controller and cloud saves, as it allows access to their Steam library, something their PS5 and Xbox Series X cannot do. After signing up for a reservation to purchase the Steam Machine but not being selected, the author is now considering building their own PC.