I Bought a Steam Machine – Here’s Why (and How It’s Going)

To purchase a Steam Machine, one must first join a waitlist. Initially, I had no intention of buying one, as I had planned to play PC games on my TV through my Steam Deck. However, I decided to join the waitlist for the 512GB model with a Steam Controller. After waiting roughly ten weeks, I received an email informing me that my purchase was complete, giving me just three days to place my order or forfeit the opportunity.

At first, I was not interested in buying a Steam Machine, considering its high price and the fact that I could play nearly any game on my other consoles. Nevertheless, I found myself contemplating the purchase during the allotted three-day window. I researched reviews, weighing the pros and cons, and ultimately decided that it might be worth investing in.

Since purchasing a Steam Deck in 2022, it has become my preferred gaming platform. I have amassed a significant library of Steam games over the years, and I found it frustrating that more demanding games did not perform well or look as good when played on a TV via the docked Steam Deck. However, I appreciated the PC platform for its extensive backward compatibility and ease of emulating older consoles.

SteamOS, which combines the convenience of a console with the versatility of a PC, is an impressive achievement that addresses the shortcomings of Sony and Microsoft.

Both Sony and Microsoft have recently faced criticism for their handling of gamers. Their limited first-party games, frequent employee layoffs, and closure of studios, alongside the monthly fees for online play, have led to dissatisfaction among gamers. Sony's decision to halt disc production in January 2028 further fueled this discontent. In contrast, Valve, despite not being flawless, has demonstrated a more consumer-friendly approach.

Before my purchase window expired, I ordered my Steam Machine and have been thoroughly enjoying it. While I encountered some initial issues with older games that lacked Steam cloud saves, I quickly downloaded newer games like The Witcher 3 Remastered, The Order of the Sinking Star, and ARC Raiders. The Steam Machine runs my extensive game library on my 4K TV with remarkable results. The Steam Controller has quickly become my preferred gaming controller, surpassing the Xbox controller I had previously favored.

In conclusion, while the Steam Machine is undoubtedly expensive, it is not suitable for everyone. However, it is an ideal choice for gaming enthusiasts like myself, who primarily use PC and Switch for gaming. With my Steam Machine and Steam Deck, I am no longer planning to purchase games from Sony or Microsoft in the future.