Join The Community
Believe me when I say I'm itching to get my hands on a Steam Machine, but my bank account says no to its $1,049 price tag. Sure, everything gaming-related is upsettingly expensive right now, and Valve's 512GB model MSRP isn't even a worst-case scenario amid RAMageddon. However, it's still high enough to put my tiny living room cube aspirations on the back burner right now, and the situation has prompted me to revisit an 11-year-old Steam feature.
Those of you into gaming PCs over a decade ago will no doubt remember the first Steam Machines. They ultimately crashed and burned due to the limited abilities of Linux at the time, a lack of one singular first-party system, and price points that make the new SteamOS-powered cube look semi-reasonable. While the original idea fizzled away, though, it did arrive alongside Steam Link, a service that lets you stream your games locally to a bunch of lower-spec devices.
In the early days of Steam Link, the service was in fact baked into a tiny TV box with the same name. The gadget packed a Marvell DE35-A1 single-core processor, 256MB RAM, and 4GB storage, but that was more than enough to ping games to your screen at 1080p 60fps over Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
These days, the feature exists as a standalone app that works on various devices, ranging from affordable gaming handhelds to mini PCs and a bunch of other Android and Apple devices with access to the Play Store.
It's frankly staggering how many gadgets you potentially already have at home that can mimic a Steam Machine. That's thanks to the fact that Steam Link puts your PC into Big Picture Mode and lets you control your rig using a controller via a streamed image. Yes, you'll need a pretty solid internet connection, especially if you opt for a Wi-Fi-only device like a retro handheld. But the interface is going to look nearly identical to the new Steam Machine since SteamOS uses the same console-inspired design.
I'll admit that I'm not the biggest fan of streaming games, be it locally via Steam Link or using a cloud service. In the past, I've instead proposed grabbing a Steam Deck OLED or an alternative Windows portable alongside a Steam Deck dock. However, Valve's powerhouse and its rivals aren't really financially approachable right now, and since Prime Day gaming deals are happening this week, you could grab something that'll let your desktop rig enter the living room for a fraction of the price.
You're probably wondering just how little you can spend and still beam your gaming PC from afar to your living room. The Steam Machine's big arrival had me asking the same, so I powered up some of the portables and gadgets I had to hand to see what they could do.
Perhaps the most surprising "Steam Machine alternative" I have kicking around here is the Anbernic RG ARC-D, a Sega Saturn-inspired handheld that can dual-boot into Linux and Android. The latter OS support is vital, as it means it has access to the Steam Link app, and you won't even need a dock since it has mini HDMI at the ready, not to mention it'll happily connect to PC controllers via Bluetooth.
Effectively, you could spend well under $100 on the RG ARC-D, pair it with a Bluetooth gamepad (or even an actual Steam Controller if you're not on the new waiting list), and tap into a faux Steam Machine experience using Steam Link. You could even get away with just using your gaming phone if you've got the means to connect it to your TV, and some Google-powered screens even have the app built in already.
The catch is that, depending on the device you use and the quality of your Wi-Fi connection, you may have to stick to 1080p. Don't get me wrong: you don't need a powerful compact rig, or even something like the Ayaneo Mini PC AM02, to hit 4K 60fps, but cheaper Android doodads will be limited due to their floaty light specs.
The drum I'm trying to bang here is that while I'm sure we'd all love a remarkably small console-alternative that locally runs big PC games supposedly at 4K 60fps, there are ways to get a Steam Machine taster. I'm sure Valve's new box is swell, but I know at least some of you out there will have a rig that's capable of running the latest romps and will happily buddy up with smaller devices to deliver a couch experience.
What's that? Are you playing at your desk? Well, then you're in luck, as traditional rigs exist. Okay, I'll stop being facetious and simply say that if you're not too fussed about size, you could find a system within this year's Prime Day gaming PC deals that will blow the Steam Machine out of the water for a little more than Valve's asking price.
Building your own Steam Machine alternative? Swing by the best CPU for gaming and the best RAM for crucial components tested by our team.
