The launch of the Steam Machine has led to some fallout on the internet as the $1,049 base price was confirmed. Gamers were quick to compare the Steam Machine to the $500 PS5 and declared it a misstep from Valve. To some extent, this does feel true, as for over a grand, you could buy a next-gen console, a couple of extra gamepads, and a stack of premium software t**les. However, realistically, the Steam Machine isn’t a console; it’s a small form factor PC. While on the surface, Valve’s $1,050 pricing looks like highway robbery, comparing it against the DIY desktop landscape makes it clear that it’s potentially an engineering marvel.