It would be surprising if it was the other way around. Companies like Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony make the really big bucks from the publishing fees of the ga

It would be surprising if it was the other way around. Companies like Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony make the really big bucks from the publishing fees of the games, the hardware is sold basically at cost (or at loss if we consider production, design and software costs). Third party Steam Machines sellers can save on software, but they need to have some margin on the hardware itself, unless Valve cuts them a percentage on the actual sales. I don´t think price will ever be the selling point of Steam Machines.