Steam Machine reservations are already being resold for nearly $2,900 as scalpers move in
Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine has not even officially reached store shelves yet, but scalpers are already trying to cash in on the hype. Reservation spots for the new gaming system have started appearing on eBay at extremely inflated prices, with some listings asking more than $2,700 for a place in line.
The Steam Machine is scheduled to launch on June 29, 2026, and Valve has opened reservations ahead of release. Because supply is expected to be limited, some users appear to be selling their reservation access instead of waiting to buy the device themselves. That has created a frustrating situation for gamers who simply want a fair chance to purchase the hardware at its official price.
According to current resale listings, some Steam Machine reservations are being offered for around $2,700, while another listing is priced close to $2,899. These prices are far above Valve’s expected retail pricing for the 2 TB model, which is believed to be around $1,349 to $1,400. In other words, buyers may be paying nearly double the official price just to secure a reservation.
The situation highlights a familiar problem in the gaming hardware market. Whenever a popular product launches with limited availability, scalpers often rush in, buy up access or inventory, and resell it at much higher prices. This has happened many times with graphics cards, gaming consoles, special-edition processors, and other high-demand PC components.
What makes this case especially frustrating is that the Steam Machine itself is not yet in buyers’ hands. These listings are not for the actual device, but for reservations tied to the opportunity to purchase one later. That means buyers are paying a huge premium before even receiving the product.
For many gamers, the resale prices are difficult to justify. At nearly $2,700 or more, a buyer could build or purchase a powerful gaming PC with strong modern hardware, 32 GB of RAM, a 2 TB SSD, and a high-end graphics card capable of delivering excellent gaming performance. Such a system would likely offer more flexibility, upgrade options, and raw power than a compact Steam-focused machine.
Scalping continues to thrive because some buyers are willing to pay inflated prices to avoid waiting. However, as long as people support these resale listings, the practice is likely to continue. The best way to discourage scalpers is for buyers to avoid overpriced reservations and wait for official availability through legitimate retail channels.
The Steam Machine may still attract plenty of interest from players who want a streamlined PC gaming experience built around Steam. But with resale prices already climbing before launch, early demand is clearly being exploited. For now, patient buyers may be better off waiting rather than paying hundreds or even thousands above the expected retail price.
