Scalpers List Steam Machine Reservations at $1,700+ | TechPowerUp

Friday, June 26th 2026

Scalpers List Steam Machine Reservations at $1,700+

by Cpt.Jank

Friday, 20:37

Discuss (71 Comments)

Following a brief reservation period, prospective buyers of the Valve Steam Machine started reporting on June 26 that they had begun to receive reservation confirmation emails for the new hybrid console. However, on the same day, and almost predictably, apparent scalpers listed Steam Machine units on sites like eBay, with prices for the 512 GB version of the console without the Steam Controller starting at a whopping $1,700, which is a 61% increase over the already high launch price. One particular eBay listing for the Steam Machine has a 512 GB version of the console with a Steam Controller listed at $3,200—a 160% premium over the retail price, likely an attempt to capitalize on the added scarcity of the Steam Controller.

Given recent conversations about the value of the Steam Machine and Valve's own admission that the $1,049.99 launch pricing is significantly higher than it should have been, it goes without saying that a 70%+ increase over that launch price is bad value. It seems unlikely that anyone would pay that much for the Steam Machine, which offers mid-range PC performance at best, but scalpers previously also attempted, and apparently succeeded, to sell the Steam Deck in the same fashion for highly inflated prices, likely banking on the hype of the gaming handheld. The combination of limited supply and Valve's lottery system for the Steam Machine almost seems to encourage scalping, since it results in scarcity. Despite the price, the Machine also already sold out in Japan within 48 hours of launch. While Valve has provided an estimated June 29 shipping date, but there's no telling when the second batch of production units will start shipping.

Source:<br>eBay

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Ebay

hybrid console

hype

lottery

PC

production

retail

Scalping

Steam

Steam Machine

Valve

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Add your own comment<br>71 Comments on Scalpers List Steam Machine Reservations at $1,700+

#1

See, MSRP is a bargain after all.

#2

Ha ha jokes on the scalpers, not buying that for $1,700. I wonder if they will resort to stripping the RAM and SSD and sell it off separately for profit (even a bit below retail prices) then sell off the unit a bit below MSRP for easy $$$.

#3

It looks to me Valve's mistake was to have it for sale earlier in Japan. Presumably the ones for sale on eBay are from Japan.

#4

Gonna laugh if Valve aims the Account Recovery Team at the scalpers.

Suddenly finding out their particular account is no longer eligible for Steam Sales or Steam HW preorders, would be hilarious.

#5

Scalpers deserve to have their Steam accounts banned, nobody is going to buy these at nearly double the MSRP.

#6

A Computer GuyHa ha jokes on the scalpers, not buying that for $1,700. I wonder if they will resort to stripping the RAM and SSD and sell it off separately for profit (even a bit below retail prices) then sell off the unit a bit below MSRP for easy $$$.<br>Single 16GB stick of SO-DIMMs sells brand new for around $250 and SSD should be around $120 so not sure if they will even any profits off those 2 components anyway.

#7

A Computer GuyHa ha jokes on the scalpers, not buying that for $1,700. I wonder if they will resort to stripping the RAM and SSD and sell it off separately for profit (even a bit below retail prices) then sell off the unit a bit below MSRP for easy $$$.<br>Honestly, depending on how much below MSRP they sold it, it might not be a bad deal. A lot of us have excess RAM and SSDs or can source them separately for slightly lower prices.

#8

Scalpers scum of the earth

#9

Could the nepo kids please stop feeding the scalper craze?

#10

Very risky strategy by scalpers, this is not a limited edition item.

#11

@Fourstaff

And yet, the waiting list—which resembles a lottery—makes it possible. After all, having an eligible account does not automatically result in a successful purchase.

Regards,

Fred.

#12

FR3D1@Fourstaff

And yet, the...