People are putting their Steam Machine reservations on eBay, and one has already been sold with a $235 markup
Valve’s efforts to prevent scalpers from disrupting the Steam Machine launch have proven only partially effective. While the company successfully implemented measures to prevent bulk purchasing at launch, it cannot control what happens after: players are now listing their reservation queue positions on eBay, with at least one already selling for a $235 markup above its expected price.
The listings feature nothing more than screenshots of email confirmations from Valve showing the seller’s position in the purchase queue. Most are for the 512GB base model, which Valve indicated would be the most readily available option. This creative workaround mimics the energy of midnight game console launches, but operates entirely in the secondary market for future products.
The development highlights a persistent challenge in gaming hardware releases: while manufacturers can implement anti-scalping measures for initial sales, they cannot prevent players from treating their purchasing privileges as a commodity. Since the listed items are reservation slots rather than physical devices, existing consumer protections for tangible goods may not apply, creating a gray area for both buyers and sellers. Valve’s lack of action against these listings suggests the company may be accepting this market as inevitable, even if unintended.