Valve Rules Out Steam Machine Exclusives, Citing 100,000-Plus PC Games as Launch Edge
Updated
Updated · Rock Paper Shotgun · Jul 18
Valve Rules Out Steam Machine Exclusives, Citing 100,000-Plus PC Games as Launch Edge
3 articles · Updated · Rock Paper Shotgun · Jul 18
Summary
Valve said the Steam Machine will ship with no hardware-exclusive games, arguing its draw is immediate access to Steam’s full PC catalog rather than a locked software lineup.
Valve engineers told Bloomberg that openness is the point: other manufacturers should be able to build similar devices with better performance or different features, expanding the broader PC ecosystem.
That approach also fits Valve’s business model, since more PC-compatible hardware means more potential Steam customers and more room for innovations that can spread across the platform.
Pricing remains a hurdle. Valve said retail conditions are worsening, with shelf prices lagging bulk-supply trends by three to six months, signaling little near-term relief for buyers.