The Steam Machine is the start of an even more expensive future for game consoles

It’s no secret that just about every aspect of video games is getting more expensive. Game consoles are getting regular price hikes , PC components are spiking in cost , and the golden age of affordable handhelds is over , all largely due to the global RAM shortage , which has had a similarly costly impact on PC gaming, including portable devices like the Steam Deck . This all led to some trepidation around the Steam Machine, Valve’s latest attempt to bring the breadth and openness of PC gaming into a form factor designed for your living room. The fact that the device was delayed in February due specifically to the memory crisis only exacerbated this feeling. Now, Valve has finally revealed the Steam Machine’s price tag. And while it may not be quite as expensive as some feared, it’s definitely not cheap, pointing to an increasingly costly future for the console space. First, here are the details. The most basic Steam Machine, with 512GB of memory, costs $1,049, and bundled with a Steam Controller that price jumps to $1,128. If you want the 2TB version it’ll cost you $1,349, or $1,428 with a controller. That’s not necessarily egregious by PC gaming standards, but the Steam Machine isn’t just competing with other gaming PCs. It’s a device specifically designed to create a console-like experience, and even in the increasingly expensive world of gaming consoles, the Steam Machine costs quite a bit more than its closest competition, up through the higher-end options. …