Valve’s newly announced Steam Machine has become the latest gaming hardware targeted by scalpers, with reservation confirmations already being resold on eBay for thousands of dollars before the console has even launched. Despite Valve introducing several restrictions to discourage reselling, completed listings suggest that demand for early access is fueling inflated prices well above the official retail cost.
The Steam Machine officially launches on June 29, 2026, but buyers fortunate enough to receive reservation emails are now flipping their purchase opportunities online. Several completed eBay listings indicate that some customers are willing to pay almost twice the official price simply to secure a place in Valve’s limited launch queue.
Steam Machine reservation spots are selling for nearly double the retail price
Valve’s reservation system differs from a traditional preorder process. Rather than allowing unlimited purchases, eligible Steam users were randomly selected and given 72 hours to complete their purchase before the reservation passes to another customer. However, that system has not stopped resellers.
Completed eBay listings show reservation confirmations for the 2TB Steam Machine selling for as much as $2,899, while other completed sales reached approximately $2,700. According to Valve, the official price of the 2TB Steam Machine starts at $1,349, or $1,428 when bundled with the Steam Controller.
Lower-capacity models are also attracting inflated prices. Some completed listings for the 512GB model sold for around $1,950, while another bundled version with a controller reached $2,800. By comparison, Valve lists the 512GB Steam Machine at $1,049, or $1,128 with the optional Steam Controller.
Unlike many recent hardware launches, Valve attempted to reduce scalping through several eligibility requirements before reservations opened.
To qualify, customers needed a Steam account in good standing, at least one Steam purchase made before April 27, 2026, and were limited to purchasing one Steam Machine per household.
Valve also avoided a traditional first-come, first-served preorder system by introducing randomized reservation invitations. Buyers selected through the lottery-style process have only three days to complete their purchase before losing their opportunity.
While these measures likely prevented automated bulk purchases, they have not eliminated resale activity entirely.
Why buyers are paying so much for reservations
Demand for the Steam Machine has remained exceptionally strong since reservations opened, largely because Valve confirmed launch quantities would be limited.
Unlike traditional scalping, many eBay sellers are not reselling the hardware itself. Instead, they are selling their position in Valve’s reservation queue, allowing buyers to purchase the console sooner than they otherwise could.
Several completed reservation sales exceeded $2,700, demonstrating that at least some buyers are willing to pay substantial premiums despite not receiving the console immediately.
The trend highlights how reservation systems, while effective at slowing automated bots, can still create opportunities for secondary-market speculation when demand significantly exceeds supply.
