Shuhei Yoshida, former president of SIE Worldwide Studios, has offered his initial impressions of Valve's Steam Machine, describing the device as "meh" and "hard to recommend" due to its high cost and inconsistent performance. Yoshida shared his thoughts on social media platform X on July 2, shortly after receiving his unit following the June 29 launch.
Yoshida noted that the system's default setting of 1080p performance brought back memories of the PlayStation 4 era. He also experienced lengthy game boot times, questioning the system's activity during these periods. While he acknowledged that he had only spent a few hours with the Steam Machine at the time of his comments, its retail price, which exceeds $1,000, was a significant point of contention. He concluded that the device does not justify its cost.
Despite his criticisms, Yoshida did find some positive aspects. He commended the Steam Machine's small form factor and quiet operation. The ability to customize its faceplate and the user-friendly interface were also noted as beneficial features. Crucially, the capability to play Steam games on a living room television was highlighted as a strong selling point, making it "reason enough" for him to keep the device. However, these positives did not outweigh his overall dissatisfaction with Valve's offering.
The Steam Machine has begun shipping to customers, though pre-order communication from Valve was reportedly confusing, potentially leading to delays for some. Units are also appearing on resale markets like eBay, often at double the original price.