Steam Machine Leaked Price Is Good News For Xbox's Project Helix

Valve’s Steam Machine is one of the most exciting pieces of gaming hardware we’ve seen for quite some time, and it measures up to Xbox’s next-gen console better than you’d think.

There’s always been a divide between console and PC gamers as for the longest time, the latter has been perceived as some sort of ‘master race’ to use Reddit's terminology.

High-end PCs can pump out graphics and performance most consoles can only dream of, but the next-generation aims to go toe-to-toe like never before.

Xbox’s Project Helix will apparently be a console and PC hybrid system and is expected to cost a small fortune to own, making the Steam Machine’s leaked price music to our ears.

Valve’s Steam Machine Will Be Reasonably Priced

Like Project Helix, the Steam Machine will offer a console-like gaming experience but for PC games. It’ll support Steam but also any other operating system you can think of.

It’ll come packaged in with one of Valve’s shiny, new Steam controllers but if you snagged one yesterday, you’ll be able to purchase a Steam Machine separately.

According to tech YouTuber Moore’s Law Is Dead, the console should cost around $600 to $650 which is expensive, for sure, but reasonable when you take Project Helix’s supposed price into account. Perhaps this signals, though, that the comparative Project Helix may actually be cheaper than insiders are anticipating.

Moore’s Law Is Dead previously stated that Xbox's next-gen console could be looking at a price point of $1,200 which the company will justify by marketing the hardware as being more in-line with a $2,000 PC rig. The Steam Machine's competitive pricing could, however, drive this down.

So for consumers wanting what’s essentially a game console that can also function like a PC, you have two options. Project Helix will be a winner in performance but the more expensive choice, or the Steam Machine could cater to those on a budget.

Moore’s Law Is Dead speculates that if the Steam Machine is priced any higher than $650, its sales will suffer as potential owners would be better off with their currently owned consoles.

For reference, the Steam Machine’s specs place it on the level of an Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5 in terms of power and performance. However, that's not taking into account all of the games you can play on Steam that you can't play on Microsoft or Sony's consoles.

Valve

Choosing between the Steam Machine and Project Helix will all depend on how much money you’re willing to spend, but in this difficult economy, it’s no surprise gamers are looking to save money whenever they can. Project Helix will at least have Xbox Game Pass to make its price easier to swallow, as you likely won’t be buying too many games for it. Plus all of your currently owned games will be playable on the next-gen system.

The Steam Machine, however, is looking more and more appealing for those looking to get involved in PC gaming.

From its simple look to the new Steam Controller, its design philosophy seems very consumer-friendly and that plug-and-play aspect will be perfect for those who like the idea of PC gaming but don’t want to get bogged down with the logistics of it.

READ MORE: Steam Machine Release Date Gets Positive Update Following New Valve Hardware