Steam Machine Rumors, Pricing Speculation, and Best Steam Christmas Sale Games

At the end of the year, we take another look at the latest Steam Machine rumors and conversations, as well as a new list of excellent game deals that will be available during the Steam Christmas sale. People are still very interested in Valve's growing hardware ecosystem.

There's a lot to talk about when it comes to pricing speculation, market trends, and the ongoing excitement around games that work with the Steam Deck.

We look at the reports that the Steam Machine may be delayed that have been going around.

Mike Straw, an analyst at Insider Gaming, recently said he was sure Half-Life 3 was supposed to come out at the same time as the Steam Machine. While it wouldn't be an exclusive launch title—since anything bought on Steam works on any gaming PC—the idea of pairing the Steam Machine with a major franchise release does make some sense as a strategic move.

The memory shortage is a major factor driving speculation. RAM and SSD prices shot up as AI data centers bought them in massive quantities, putting Valve in a tricky position. We consider how Valve must decide whether to subsidize the console, risk launching at a lower price and raising it later, or delay the launch entirely.

Another proposed theory is that Valve might sell the Steam Machine without RAM or an SSD. We don't think that makes sense. Even if Valve pays more during this shortage, they still buy components in bulk and can at least get some deals.

It wouldn't increase the device's value to sell it for $550 while asking you to buy the two most expensive parts yourself. On top of that, we assume Valve already has units assembled and ready for distribution, so stripping parts from finished products isn't realistic.

Some analysts linked the 27% year-over-year decline in console sales to a potential delay of Steam Machines. We don't understand that connection.

When you look at the PS5, one of the biggest reasons people aren't buying it this year is the price. The disc model launched at $500, and the disc-less model at $400; 5 years later, instead of dropping, both increased by $50. The PS5 Pro starts at $750, and adding a disc drive pushes it above $800.

Alongside rising console prices, major games have also risen to $70, which makes people more cautious about new purchases. Meanwhile, several successful games this year launched at lower prices, like Mafia: The Old Country at $50 and Art Graders at $40. Even though Battlefield 6 cost $70, it largely did well because the franchise came back, not because people expected it to be cheap.

We don't think it's fair to link the Steam Machine to falling console sales. The Steam Machine is not a console; it is a PC that works like one. You plug it into your TV, turn it on with a controller, enjoy free online play, use a fully functional browser, and install whatever apps you want. You can even install Windows if you choose.

When customers compare the price of a PS5 with paid online services and a pricey ecosystem to a Steam Machine that gives access to your entire Steam library and free online play, it's easy to see why many would lean toward investing in the PC ecosystem instead.

We maintain confidence in its eventual release. We still expect the price to land somewhere between $500 and $700. Even though that's a wide range, it's what we've predicted since the beginning. Valve has the advantage of launching with a fully matured and widely dominant storefront, along with flexibility across Steam Deck, Steam Frame, and potentially Steam on mobile in the future.

You shared great suggestions, and we found a few gems of our own. All these games run well on the Steam Deck and are available at excellent prices.

Ace Combat 7 is one of the best games we've played, both in general and on the Steam Deck. It's currently on sale for $4.79. It used to run only at 30fps on deck, but, whether through patches or Proton improvements, it now locks at 60fps with lower settings or 45fps on OLED models with higher graphics settings. For five dollars, you can't go wrong.

Armored Core 6, a FromSoftware title, rarely goes on sale. At $30, this is the lowest price we've seen. Running the medium preset keeps 30 fps consistent. We completed the entire game on Steam Deck, and Valve often uses it to showcase the deck's performance.

Dead Island 2 is on sale for $5. It's significantly better than the original, featuring strong story elements, a great map, and combat influenced heavily by Dying Light. On Steam Deck, you can usually hit 45fps at medium, or drop to 30fps if needed. This is its lowest price ever.

For $5, the Definitive Edition is a must-play. Running on the Source engine, it performs flawlessly on the Steam Deck. While Dishonored 2 has known PC issues, the original remains one of the best immersive sims of all time, complete with excellent DLC.

For $7.49, you get Metro 2033, Metro Last Light, and Metro Exodus. All run well on Steam Deck, but we recommend using the original version of Exodus instead of the Enhanced Edition, since it performs better on handheld hardware. The slower pace of the Metro games makes 30fps feel perfectly fine.

Monster Hunter: World is $9.89 and consistently appears in the top 100 most-played Steam Deck games.

As Capcom's bestselling title ever, it offers a massive world, deep combat, and fantastic co-op. It runs great on deck and remains one of the system's essential titles.

Rogue Trader is $20 and offers hundreds of hours of content. It plays like Baldur's Gate 3 set in Warhammer, complete with a massive crew, a cathedral-class ship, and standout characters like Argenta. Deck performance is excellent thanks to built-in presets.

Trapang2 is a spiritual successor to classic FPS titles like F.E.A.R. It's on sale for $10, plays smoothly at 40 fps on medium settings, and shines especially in its endless mode—perfect if you love mercenary-style survival challenges.

Bolt Gun is $8.79 and remains one of the most popular FPS choices on Steam Deck. It's a boomer shooter with Doom-style visuals, fast action, and extremely polished gameplay. A sequel is on the way, but the original is already a fantastic showcase of what the Steam Deck can do.

These nine games—seven of which are under $10—offer some of the best performance and value you can find during the Steam Christmas sale. We've completed all of them on the Steam Deck, and the few priced above $10 are well worth it.