As Valve prepares to open pre-orders for its Steam Machine, some individuals are already listing their secured spots on eBay. Despite the official pre-order window not yet being open, and some confusion surrounding Valve's "queue" versus "waitlist" system for initial access, a number of eBay listings have surfaced for the device. These listings, described as "confirmed reservations," are being sold at a substantial markup.
The Steam Machine is slated to launch with various models, with expected retail prices ranging from approximately $1050 to $1430. However, the eBay listings observed are asking for roughly double these amounts. Some sellers indicate they will ship the unit to the buyer as soon as they receive it, potentially in early July. One such listing, which has since been sold, was priced at $1363.70, while others are reaching as high as $3200. The Steam Machine is being marketed by some sellers as a "piece of gaming history," reflecting the intense interest in Valve's unconventional approach to living room gaming.
This phenomenon echoes similar situations with highly sought-after hardware, including the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Valve's own Steam Deck, where initial scarcity led to inflated prices on secondary markets. Early impressions of the Steam Machine describe it as a compact yet powerful piece of gaming hardware, contributing to the speculative market activity surrounding its impending launch.