Is Console Gaming Finally Dead?

Back in November of 2025, Valve announced a brand new version of the Steam Machine. While there is still some debate over things like price, I think that this new hardware is especially exciting. I’ve grown to love PC gaming since I bought my first real machine about five years ago.

However, I still would love to have a console-like experience without having to deal with some of the baggage that comes with the modern gaming industry. Nintendo is charging $80-$90 for physical games. Meanwhile, every new generation pushes the boundaries of graphical performance and file sizes, and more expensive hardware is constantly required. Furthermore, it seems that more and more games require online connectivity to function, and often titles are shipped in poorly optimized or unfinished states.

Now, in the past, these things weren’t as big an issue. Every new console used to offer generous backwards compatibility, and AAA titles were more often highly polished. However, now these features have become almost a rarity. In the case of backwards compatibility, it seems like companies would rather sell remasters, slight performance upgrades, or subscription services to force players to repurchase games they already own. For me, this is the biggest plus of the Steam Machine. I don’t have to rebuild my game library, and I can centralize all my games on one platform rather than purchasing multiple consoles to play certain games.

Of course, Steam doesn’t have everything, but it certainly has most things. The majority of Sony and Microsoft first-party titles are there, alongside PC exclusives, and new releases are constantly being added. To be honest, you could easily spend an entire lifetime gaming and still not complete everything in the Steam library.

It was this year that I finally realized that was enough for me. Sure, the Steam Machine might lack the power of a custom-built high-end machine, but I’ve never been a performance junkie, and from what I’ve seen and heard, Steam OS provides a great user experience while optimizing games better than some more powerful devices.

Given these factors and more, I truly think the Steam Machine could be the thing that finally kills consoles. Microsoft/Xbox has all but given up on producing games and consoles. Recent first-party titles from the publisher are virtually nonexistent, and recent remarks from executives hinted that Microsoft’s next hardware would be more in line with a PC anyway.

Sony’s PS5 has also been somewhat of a misstep when compared to its predecessor. No doubt this is due to the rocky launch, but also because of a general lack of first-party games when compared to the PS4 at this point in its lifecycle. Additionally, both Xbox and Sony have recently increased the price for both of their systems, putting them closer to a budget-built PC. Considering the original point of consoles was to offer a more affordable option to PC’s, this is a big deal.

Also, as mentioned previously, the Switch 2 has been a big letdown for longtime fans like myself, due to the price increases, general business practices of Nintendo, and a mixed bag of launch titles, making it not worth the investment.

In contrast, Valve has hinted that the Steam Machine will be just as customizable as a Steam Deck, allowing users to expand storage and install their own OS to do things like dual-boot. Not only that, but the machine launches with an immense catalog of desirable, high-quality new and retro titles, on top of PC functionality. Given that everything runs online these days, this built-in connectivity is more cost-effective as you don’t need to buy online services as well as hardware.

Even if you don’t have a Steam account upon purchase, it is still incredibly easy to build up a library due to frequent, generous sales. Which have become almost a rarity for physical titles, and especially for games made by Nintendo.

Now, even though I’m all for the success of the Steam Machine, I do think we will lose a little bit of charm if consoles do fade away. Nothing beats owning a game physically, and I don’t like the idea of corporations controlling where and how we play, Valve included. Nonetheless, times change, and while the Steam Machine might not be perfect, I do think it is the best successor that console players could hope for.