Steam Machine reservations are being resold on eBay for as much as $235 above retail price, as demand for Valve’s new hardware continues to outstrip supply. The scalping trend highlights the intense interest in Valve’s return to the living room PC space.
The Resale Market Heats Up
Since reservations opened, listings on eBay have been appearing at significant markups. Some sellers are asking $235 or more over the original reservation price, with buyers apparently willing to pay the premium to avoid the wait. The pattern is reminiscent of the GPU scalping crisis of 2020-2021, though on a smaller scale.
Valve’s Steam Machine represents the company’s latest attempt to bring PC gaming to the living room. Built around SteamOS and the Steam Deck’s proven hardware architecture, the device has generated enormous buzz among gamers who want console-like simplicity with PC gaming’s flexibility.
Valve’s Response
As of now, Valve hasn’t officially commented on the resale situation. The company has historically been cautious about hardware launches, and the Steam Machine’s reservation system was designed partly to manage demand. However, the scalping suggests that even with reservations, Valve underestimated the level of interest.
The scalping phenomenon also raises questions about Valve’s production timeline. If the company can ramp up manufacturing quickly, the markups will likely fall as supply catches up with demand. But if production remains constrained, the secondary market could stay inflated for months.
For gamers caught in the middle, the situation is frustrating. Many are holding off on paying scalper prices in hopes of securing a direct reservation, while others are weighing whether the convenience of an eBay purchase is worth the premium. Either way, it’s clear that the Steam Machine has struck a nerve in the gaming community — and Valve’s hardware ambitions are far from over.
Sarah Chen is a staff writer at SteamGamer.net covering RPGs, indie games, and the stories behind the studios that make them. When she is not dissecting game narratives, she is probably modding her Skyrim load order for the tenth time.
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