The first wave of Steam Machines reached customers this week, sparking celebrations online even as many remain on the waitlist. Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida shared his initial impressions after receiving one.
Deliveries began Tuesday evening in Asia and spread to regions including the UK, Australia, and the Netherlands. Buyers posted unboxing photos and size comparisons on the Steam Machine subreddit, with one noting it was "so much smaller than I expected" beside a banana for scale and another calling it "whisper quiet."
Shuhei Yoshida posted his review on X after a few hours of use. He praised the easy system UI, changeable face plates, and ability to play Steam games on a living room TV, but criticized 3D performance as "meh," default 1080p resolution, and long boot times. He found the Steam Controller sticks too loose and the touchpad overly sensitive.
The device sold out quickly, leaving others refreshing emails for order confirmations. Valve has noted the high price stems from market factors, with Yoshida calling it "very unfriendly" except for research purposes.
