The video game market has just received a major confirmation about the future of home entertainment planned by Valve. After months of intense speculation, the creator of the most famous virtual store in the world revealed its latest desktop device, a device that promises to deliver the firepower of a traditional computer with the ease of use of a video game, all operating under a Linux-based system.

The final value of the product, however, has been severely impacted due to the current global crisis in the supply of electronic components. The most basic version of the device, which has 512 GB of storage, will hit shelves costing US$1,049 (approximately R$5,403 at current prices), a significant jump justified by the manufacturer as a direct consequence of the difficulty in obtaining memory chips on the international market.

To prevent malicious resellers from inflating prices, the company decided to centralize all sales on its own digital platform. The strategy adopted will be a virtual queue system with a random draw, replicating the same security mechanism that proved extremely effective and praised during the pre-sale phase of the acclaimed Steam Deck portable.

Learn more: Price of the new Steam Machine reflects global chip crisis and equals desktop computers

Consumers who choose the entry-level edition will pay the US$1,049 exclusively for the NVMe SSD-equipped flagship hardware. However, the technology giant has made a special package available for US$1,128 (around R$5,809) that already includes the desired Steam Controller in the box, guaranteeing a slight financial advantage, given that purchasing the controller separately would cost the player’s coffers US$99.

For enthusiasts who have a vast collection of titles and need a lot of space, there will be a high-performance alternative with a 2TB NVMe SSD. This top-of-the-line model will be sold for US$ 1,349 individually, or for US$ 1,428 in combo with the joystick, also offering an exclusive cosmetic difference: a pair of customized side panels to change the external design of the machine.

Costing more than twice as much as a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, which cost around US$499, the new hardware does not seek to compete directly with traditional consoles. Unlike what happened in 2015, when the first attempt failed due to the lack of compatible games, the current scenario is driven by Proton technology, a translation tool that allows almost the entire Windows library to run natively and fluidly on the living room television.

Despite this impressive advancement in software, the high acquisition cost should keep the device away from the casual player. The significant increase in manufacturing expenses, particularly for RAM memory modules, not only raised the final price, but also drastically reduced the volume of units that the factory will be able to deliver in this initial launch window.

On the same topic: Price of the new Steam Machine reflects global chip crisis and equals desktop computers

The calendar released by the company defines June 25th as the deadline for customers to register interest in the digital store and try to get a chance at the first batch. After registration closes, an automated system will draw lots among participants, sending emails with purchase permission to the lucky ones and placing the others in a waiting list for the next shipments.

Valve executives were quite frank in communicating that logistical problems in the global supply chain had severely affected the pace of production. As a result, the brand is unable to guarantee the exact number of computers available on the launch day, warning the community that the wait to get their hands on the new product could last for several months.

More on this story: Shortage of components pushes price of new Steam Machine to $800

What’s Inside Valve’s New Desktop Hardware

• Central processing: Equipped with an exclusive chip developed in partnership with AMD, using the Zen 4 architecture, the component has 6 cores and 12 threads, reaching peaks of 4.8 GHz with an energy expenditure of 30 W.
• Graphics power: Visual rendering is thanks to an integrated AMD GPU based on RDNA 3, which offers 28 computational units, a maximum speed of 2.45 GHz and a consumption limit set at 110 W.
• Unified memory: The system is powered by 16 GB of RAM in DDR5 format, working together with 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM aimed specifically at image processing.
• Gaming space: Users can choose between 512GB or 2TB NVMe SSD drives, with both versions including a high-speed microSD card reader for easy storage expansion.
• Wireless and network connectivity: The device guarantees stable connections through Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, a physical input for Gigabit Ethernet internet and a dedicated 2.4 GHz receiver designed for instant pairing with the Steam Controller.
• Physical ports and connections: The front offers two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 inputs, while the rear panel offers two USB-A 2.0, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, as well as DisplayPort 1.4 video connections (for resolutions up to 8K at 60 Hz) and HDMI 2.0 (focused on 4K at 120 Hz).
• Extra features: The device supports high dynamic range (HDR), AMD FreeSync frame synchronization, daisy chaining of screens via DisplayPort, TV commands via HDMI (CEC) and features a lighting system with 17 configurable RGB LEDs.
• Operating system: The entire interface is managed by the third generation of SteamOS, a robust software based on Arch Linux that uses the KDE Plasma desktop environment for navigation.
• Size and weight: The compact cabinet measures 156 x 152 x 162.4 mm (or 148 mm in height without the lower base) and weighs around 2.6 kg, making it easy to place on any TV rack.