The Steam Machine knock-offs begin as Stim Machine attempts to offer a more powerful machine at the same price and shape
A French hardware retailer LDLC has launched a Steam Machine competitor, initially branded as the Stim Machine before being reportedly rebranded as the PC Box or PC Box Kit. Priced at €1,039, the device matches the base price of Valve’s Steam Machine while adopting a similarly distinctive cube-shaped enclosure. However, the two machines differ significantly in construction and performance characteristics. The Stim Machine is a pre-built PC assembled from off-the-shelf components housed in a compact form factor, with reports suggesting it offers performance advantages over Valve’s proprietary hardware. The cheeky original branding—an obvious pun on “Steam Machine”—proved controversial enough that LDLC quietly altered the product name, though the exact final nomenclature remains somewhat unclear. This launch represents the first notable third-party attempt to compete directly in the Steam Machine market, offering consumers an alternative at an identical price point with different underlying hardware specifications and potentially superior performance.