Scalpers Are Already Listing the Steam Machine for Up to $3,200 Ahead of Launch
Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine is not even officially out yet, but the resale market is already heating up. With the device scheduled to launch on June 30, reservation emails have begun reaching selected users, giving them the chance to secure a unit early. Unfortunately, the limited supply has also opened the door for scalpers looking to cash in on demand.
Valve previously confirmed that the Steam Machine would be available in limited quantities at launch. That scarcity has quickly turned the device into a target for resellers, with listings already appearing on third-party marketplaces at massively inflated prices.
Some sellers are asking around $1,700 for the Steam Machine, which is already far above the official retail cost. However, certain listings go much higher. The base 512GB Steam Machine bundle, which includes the Steam Controller, has been spotted with asking prices as high as $3,200. That is nearly three times Valve’s official price of $1,128 for the same bundle.
What makes the situation even more surprising is that some buyers appear willing to pay these inflated prices. At least one listing priced at around $2,800 has reportedly been marked as sold, suggesting that demand for the Steam Machine is strong enough for some users to pay a steep premium just to get one early.
This kind of reseller activity has become increasingly common in the gaming and PC hardware market. Limited launches often attract scalpers, especially when the product has high demand and restricted availability. Similar situations have happened in the past with gaming consoles, graphics cards, handheld devices, and accessories.
For anyone who missed out on a Steam Machine reservation, the best move may be to wait rather than pay extreme resale prices. Valve has not yet confirmed when the next wave of reservations will open, but there is a strong possibility that more units will become available after launch.
The Steam Machine is shaping up to be one of Valve’s most talked-about hardware releases, and early demand clearly reflects that. However, paying two or three times the official price is a risky move, especially when additional stock could arrive later. Buyers hoping to get the device should keep an eye on official availability instead of feeding the resale market.
