The Steam Machine: A Review of Valve's $1,000 Gaming Console
I recently had the opportunity to test out Valve's Steam Machine, a $1,000 gaming console that aims to bring the Steam library to your living room. After two weeks of testing, I can say that the Steam Machine is a fascinating device, but it's not without its flaws. In this review, I'll share my experiences, insights, and opinions on what makes the Steam Machine a compelling (or not so compelling) option for gamers.
The Steam Machine: A Console for the Steam Library
Valve's Steam Machine is designed to be a simple, plug-and-play console for playing Steam games. It's a small, quiet device that connects to your TV and allows you to download and play games from your Steam library with minimal tinkering. The machine comes with a 2TB hard drive, which is plenty of space for most gamers.
My Testing Process
For my testing, I loaded up a mix of games from my library, including new and old titles, 3D and 2D games, indie and AAA titles, and some random games that I was curious about playing on the Steam Machine. I left the default settings on for most games, which means they were running at 1080p and upscaled to my 4K TV. I also didn't change the resolution or settings for most games, unless otherwise noted.
Games That Impressed
One of the first games I tried was Cyberpunk 2077, and I was impressed with its performance. It ran at 60 FPS and looked sharp, even with some light ray tracing. I was able to bump up the settings and still have a great experience. Another standout game was Mouse: P.I. for Hire, which ran great at 60 FPS and looked super sharp with default options.
Games That Disappointed
On the other hand, some games didn't perform as well on the Steam Machine. Silent Hill 2, for example, looked messy on the Steam Machine, even though it's still a messy-looking game on PS5. Similarly, Borderlands 4 looked and played fine after some tweaking, but it didn't compare favorably to my PS5 Pro.
Hidden Gems
Some of the games that stood out on the Steam Machine were the 2D and 2.5D titles. Vampire Crawlers, for example, looked sharp on a big TV and felt fantastic with a Steam Controller. Similarly, Hades 2 and Hades 1 ran great and looked great at default settings.
The Steam Machine vs. Consoles
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Steam Machine is how it compares to traditional consoles. In some cases, the Steam Machine performed well, like with Overwatch and Fallout 4. However, in other cases, it fell short, like with Control Ultimate Edition and Spider-Man 2. Overall, I think the Steam Machine is a great option for gamers who want to play their Steam library on a big TV, but it's not a replacement for a traditional console.
The Future of the Steam Machine
Valve has announced that the Steam Machine will no longer be supported after November, which means that it won't be able to play Grand Theft Auto 6. This is a significant blow to the Steam Machine, and it's unclear what the future holds for the device. Personally, I think the Steam Machine is a fascinating piece of hardware, but it's too expensive to recommend to most gamers. If it had shipped a year or two ago and was around $700, we'd be having a very different conversation.
In conclusion, the Steam Machine is a cool device that offers a unique way to play Steam games on a big TV. However, it's not without its flaws, and it's unclear what the future holds for the device. If you're a dedicated tinker or desperate for a quiet, tiny way to play most Steam games on your TV, the Steam Machine is an option. But for most gamers, it's not a replacement for a traditional console.
