Much like every other notable piece of tech that has launched in the past few years, Valve’s Steam Machine is now being scalped on eBay for eye-watering, absurd prices. Valve opened reservations for the Steam Machine on June 22 and promptly sold out of pre-orders despite some controversy over the Linux-based console’s value.
The Steam Machine officially starts shipping on June 30 for everyone who placed a reservation earlier in June, but it hasn’t exactly been the launch that many fans envisioned. Due to rising manufacturing costs and the state of the global economy, Valve’s Steam Machine is currently priced at $1,050 USD for the base 512 GB model without a controller—a far cry from the price many fans expected. The highest-priced Steam Machine, with a 2 TB SSD and a controller, costs $1,428 USD, which is almost $500 more than a PS5 Pro with less performance. Regardless, Valve’s entry-level mini PC still sold out in minutes. Now, scalpers are trying to get in on the craze.
Why Valve’s $1,049 Steam Machine Is a Better Long-Term Investment Than a PS5
The Steam Machine’s heartbreaking price point might understandably turn some people off, but it’s still a better investment than a console.
The Steam Machine Is Selling for over $3,000 on eBay
Despite Valve implementing safety measures such as an account age check to prevent scalpers from hogging Steam Machine reservations, it seems that multiple resellers have secured pre-orders and are now trying to sell their spots on eBay for more than double the price of the PC. The highest-priced Steam Machine on eBay is currently listed at a whopping $3,699.99 USD for a 2 TB model with a controller, representing a 159% increase over the retail price. Bids for a base 512 GB model with a controller are currently starting at twice the machine’s value, with “Buy It Now” options going for $3,250 USD.
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Anyone who has tried to purchase any notable piece of tech in recent years has probably seen how egregious scalpers get with pricing. The Nintendo Switch 2 was scalped for double the price last year, and most recently, resellers are posting listings for GTA 6 at a markup, as if a download-only game is ever going to sell out. While some wealthier, and perhaps impatient, gamers may go ahead and purchase tech at resale prices if they really need or want it, the Steam Machine at this level of markup can leave many scratching their heads as to why anyone would pay these prices.
At $1,050 USD, the Steam Machine is already a tough sell. Many reviews state that the Linux-based PC is great but has significant limitations and sometimes struggles to match the performance of a PS5, for what it’s worth. Valve has even gone ahead and reworded its Steam Machine marketing to reflect the PC’s actual 4K capabilities. At over $3,000, it probably makes more sense to buy a PS5 or gaming PC, leaving money for an Xbox Series X, too, if fans really have that kind of money to spend.
Unfortunately, it seems the current price inflation and scalping craze across all tech won’t be easing up any time soon. Lenovo has already stated that these RAM prices are the new normal; however, that claim remains to be validated in the volatile world of home computing. What is certain, though, is that customers aren’t biting on these rising prices, and certainly aren’t clamoring to buy scalper prices either. May 2026 saw the worst console sales in recent memory for both PS5 and Xbox Series X, raising questions about how the Steam Machine will fare as it launches in such a volatile market at such a high price. That remains to be seen, as the Steam Machine launches on June 30.
