The Steam Machine may have a higher price than consoles, but PC games are getting cheaper
Valve has dashed hopes that the Steam Machine price would match consoles like the PS5. Even so, while the system may cost $700 or more, Steam games have become more affordable. The GameDiscoverCo newsletter looked at the cost of the top 50 titles to debut each month on Valve’s marketplace. Since February 2023, the median price of these games has fallen from $19.50 to $15.64.
The typical Steam title is affordable, but many AAA games have also found success. In September 2025, despite slower-than-expected sales, Borderlands 4 finished third in total copies sold. Dying Light: The Beast, EA Sports FC 26, and Silent Hill f were other $60+ purchases that made the list. Still, none could match the sales pace of the $20 Hollow Knight: Silksong or $10 Megabonk.
A trend noted by GameDiscoverCo was that Steam games priced between $25 and $55 struggled. Buyers see value in cheaper titles, even if they don’t offer extensive playtimes. The most expensive games that benefit from name recognition and extensive marketing can also find support. However, those games caught in the middle don’t have the same appeal on Windows or Linux machines.
Console and Steam gamers save money in different ways
When considering the entire marketplace, the study presents only a partial picture. Console owners would argue that Steam is full of indie games with lower development costs. Meanwhile, many AAA projects are highly successful on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. In fact, it’s often easier to find discounts on these titles in physical form, which aren’t options on gaming PCs.
Another problem aspiring PC gamers currently face is the rising cost of components. Even before DDR5 RAM costs skyrocketed, assembling a rig with comparable performance to the PS5 was challenging. It’s not yet clear whether Valve will raise the Steam Machine price as a result. Either way, to run indie and demanding AAA games equally as well, a desktop or laptop requires a serious investment.
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