Steam Machine Scalpers on eBay Selling Reservations at Double Price

Valve has opened Steam Machine reservations, leading to scalpers selling the new tech on eBay for over double the retail price.

Valve allowed buyers to sign up for a chance to purchase one of four Steam Machine reservation options. Stock for the pricey gaming device was limited, prompting a randomized reservation system to reduce friction. However, scalpers still gained access, with eBay listings showing mark-ups of up to double the original price.

Listings on eBay include the 512GB model selling for $1,500, a $400 increase from Valve's price. The 2TB model was sold for $2,899 without a controller, more than double Valve's $1,349 price. This trend is not new for Valve products, as similar scalping incidents occurred during the Steam controller pre-orders.

Buyers waiting for their turn to purchase at the standard price are uncertain when Valve will notify them. As Valve works to increase availability, interested buyers can refer to IGN's 8/10 review of the device.