Valve has begun sending out emails to customers regarding the Steam Machine, its upcoming living room PC, and the process for preordering the device, which is slated for release on June 29. However, the terminology and structure of these initial communications have led to widespread confusion among potential buyers.
The emails are the result of a randomized drawing for which customers could sign up. Crucially, the first email received is not an immediate order confirmation but rather a notification about a customer's place in either a "queue" or a "waitlist." Those in the "queue" will receive a subsequent email allowing them to place an order within a three-day window. Failure to complete the purchase in this timeframe will result in the reservation being canceled and offered to the next person in line.
Valve's communication explicitly states, "When your Steam Machine 512GB becomes available, we will send you a separate email with the option to purchase. You'll then have 3 days to complete the purchase before we cancel your reservation and move on to the next person in the queue. This is the only email you will receive about the results of the randomization." It also notes that individuals allocated a reservation for more than one model will only be able to purchase the highest-end model for which they were selected, and will be removed from the reservation list for other configurations.
Conversely, customers placed on the "waitlist" received a different message. This indicates that their initial place in the randomization fell beyond the number of units available for the current production run. These individuals may be moved into the reservation queue if customers ahead of them cancel their orders. The email to waitlisted customers reads, "When we did the one-time randomization of the list, your place in line ended up beyond the number of units we'll have in this production run. As we work our way through the reservation queue, some customers may cancel their reservations. If that happens, you may be moved into the reservation queue, and you'll be notified via email that you have a reservation after all. This is the only email you will receive about the results of the randomization. If you ended up with a waitlist spot for one or more models, you'll be placed on the waitlist for the model that you were closest to the front of."
Despite the confusing preorder rollout, early impressions of the Steam Machine suggest it functions effectively as a PC designed for the living room, offering a potentially novel entry point into PC gaming. Reports indicate it operates quietly and compactly, though its price point is substantial, ranging from $1050 to $1430.