Steam Machine Price Leak: Alza & Smarty Reveal Costs

• Key takeaways:
• Czech retailers Alza and Smarty.cz listed pre-VAT prices for Valve's Steam Machine, with 2TB models near $1,050–$1,200 and 512GB around $950.
• With VAT, the 2TB listing could approach $1,300–$1,440 in Europe, making the Steam Machine more expensive than many expected.
• Regional pricing and placeholder listings mean US launch prices could still differ; analysts caution these may be provisional retailer entries.

What the leaked listings show

Two Czech online stores — Smarty.cz and Alza.cz — published product pages that include prices for Valve's upcoming Steam Machine. The listings surfaced in site source code and were shared publicly on social media.

Retail listings and numbers

Smarty.cz reportedly listed the 2TB Steam Machine at just over $1,050 (pre-VAT) while Alza.cz showed a price just under $1,200 (pre-VAT). The 512GB model appears around $950 pre-VAT.

Alza's Slovak site lists the 2TB model at €1,010 pre-VAT and €1,239.90 with VAT — roughly $1,440 at current exchange rates. Those figures are consistent with an expensive European retail position.

VAT and regional impact

Adding VAT pushes European retail prices significantly higher than pre-tax listings. With typical VAT rates applied, the 2TB model could land near $1,300 in many EU markets, and the 512GB SKU around $1,150.

Why prices may look high

There are two main explanations: regional markup and placeholder pricing. Consumer electronics often retail for more in Central Europe than the U.S., and retailers sometimes use conservative price estimates before an official MSRP is published.

Component costs and recent RAM shortages also raise the base cost of compact gaming PCs. Analysts note that building an equivalent desktop with similar parts might cost comparably today.

What this means for buyers

If these listings reflect final pricing, the Steam Machine will be less of a budget entry into PC gaming than the original Steam Deck was for handhelds. It could still offer competitive value versus custom PCs, but expect higher entry costs in Europe.

Until Valve confirms official MSRP and regional pricing, consider these figures provisional. Watch for Valve announcements and major retailer updates ahead of the "Early 2026" release window.

Sources

Initial reporting surfaced on SteamDeckHQ and was traced to shared retailer source-code screenshots and a social post highlighting the entries. The community discussion originated on X (Twitter) and was relayed by tech outlets.