Steam Machine Review: Why I Stopped Caring About Specs

I've been struggling a bit to understand what the Steam Machine really is, and especially who it's for. And don't get me wrong: one of the main reasons I bought this little thing was the channel. I kept convincing myself that I needed it. What kind of tech channel would this be if I didn't feature the Steam Machine?

I was lucky enough to have friends who made the cut and could buy one right away (my own Valve email arrived less than a week later), so the story was already written. It arrived, I did the initial setup, recorded the mandatory unboxing and first impressions video, and then… I just took a step back.

It's complicated (in a good way)

How do I explain this? The more I used the Steam Machine, the more I realised I actually love it a lot more than I expected. At the same time, my need to make a big, fancy review about it dropped day by day. You see why I say it's complicated?

Now, I know what you think I'll say next: "The Steam Machine is great, but it's not for everyone, it's hard to recommend, blah blah blah." You know, the typical YouTube response. And sure, to some extent that's true. But I'm not trying to convince you this device is for you, or that you need to come up with a specific use case to make it worth it.

Yes, you could build a cheaper PC

Let's get the obvious out of the way. Can you build a more powerful PC for a bit less money? Gaming components are quite expensive right now, which explains the Steam Machine's price, but yes, you'll still be able to build one for less.

I don't even care about the compromises of it being smaller than whatever PC you could build, or about the HDMI-CEC feature that lets you power it on with your TV remote, just like a console. (To be honest, at least for now, CEC has been such a miss for me that I actually disabled it on my Steam Machine.)

I'm not saying there aren't people who will build a PC instead of buying a Steam Machine. But how many people do you think actually decided to build a PC because of the Steam Machine's price? Maybe you're one of them. For the most part, though, building a PC because the Steam Machine exists isn't something that really happens.

That's because the Steam Machine brings something that most of us who bought one appreciate a lot more than tinkering: no hunting for PC components, waiting for them to arrive, building the PC, and then tinkering even more with the operating system, whether that's Windows or SteamOS.

Why simplicity beats tinkering

I've been a console gamer for a very long time. I had my fair share of PCs before, and I loved that experience too. But the simplicity of using a console is something most of us really appreciate. At one point in my life, building a PC from scratch gave me a great feeling. Now, I just want to sit down and play a game in the small amount of time I have.

"Now, I just want to sit down and play a game in the small amount of time I have."

Look, I know this is a convenience, and I'm in a lucky position where I can pay a little extra for it. Again, it doesn't have to be for everyone, but I'm so thankful it exists.

The Steam Deck effect, all over again

Funny enough, another Valve device had the same effect on me a few years ago: the Steam Deck. Back then I was a PlayStation and Nintendo player, and I didn't want to bother with Windows anymore. The Steam Deck changed that. I knew which games would be playable before even downloading them, and the operating system felt easy, like a console, while still letting me tinker like on a PC. It opened a whole new world for me, and probably for many others.

I do have an ROG Ally as well, and sure, a lot of games run better on it than on the Steam Deck. But the overall experience creates more friction, sometimes so much that I don't even feel like picking it up. If a game is playable on the Steam Deck, I'll sacrifice the power and skip the ROG Ally. Still, I'm thankful we have options. Heck, we even have powerful handhelds like the Legion Go, or whatever the newest MSI is called. Would I ever buy them at that price? Heck no! But I'm glad they exist, because choice is a good thing.

Living with the Steam Machine

Getting back to the Steam Machine: in the end, it's all about the experience. I'm willing to give up a bit of money and power for simplicity. The Steam Machine is the console of PC gaming, and there isn't an easier way into this world.

Setup really is two cables

Setting up the Steam Machine is as easy as plugging in two cables, and you're pretty much done. OK, you also need to connect a controller or keyboard, just like on a PS5 or Xbox, and scan a QR code to log in. But that's basically everything.

It sits right next to my PS5

I genuinely see my Steam Machine the same way I see my PS5. I know it's there, ready to play. And to be honest, I'm not even that worried about newer titles. I'm fine lowering the graphics settings to play them. The best part is that developers embrace it, just like they did with the Steam Deck. They're willing to invest the time to make their games run well on this device… again, just like a console.

Desktop mode is a bonus

To me, extras like desktop mode really are just that: extras. I love that it's open and I can use it as a standard Linux PC. You can even install Windows on it, but that would defeat the whole purpose for me. But you do you.

The controller? Chef's kiss

I love everything about the controller: the weight, the shape, and the trackpads, which come in really handy the few times I need them. It's the perfect companion for the Steam Machine, and it made me reach for a mouse and keyboard a lot less than I expected. If you've used a Steam Deck, you'll feel right at home, and I think you'll love it.

512GB is enough (for now)

I'm using the 512GB version. Download speeds are very good, so I can keep swapping games in and out. I do plan to upgrade to a 1TB SSD I've had lying around for a while. With current prices, I'd probably just keep deleting and reinstalling games rather than buying a new SSD, but since I already have one, I'll migrate at some point. It just hasn't been a big enough issue to make me spend the time yet.

What about performance?

You've probably noticed I didn't talk about performance or compare game settings with other devices. I just didn't feel the need to, even for myself. The overall experience was good enough that I didn't care.

There are plenty of benchmark videos out there that can help with that. If raw performance is the key factor for you, sure, do as much research as you can. But I can tell you that if that's what you're after, you most likely won't pull the trigger on a Steam Machine anyway.

Final thoughts

The Steam Machine isn't the most powerful thing you can buy for your money, and it was never trying to be. It's the easiest way to sit down on the couch and play your Steam library, and for me that's worth more than any spec sheet.

If you've already got one, I made a simple video on the first things you should do with your Steam Machine. I know, it's not exactly plug and play, but if you want to tinker just a little, it's a good place to start.

And let me know what you think about the Steam Machine. Are you still thinking about getting one? Or do you know you want one but you're still waiting for that Valve email? Come chat with me in the comments of the video.