I’m finally caught up after being on the mend from food poisoning and saw the ridiculous Steam Machine launch prices that spell disaster for the future of the games industry (and for S’moa Joe at Sackerfice.)

According to Valve via our friends at RockPaperShotgun, the 512 GB base model system will cost $1,049, while the 2TB model will cost $1,349. Adding the Steam Controller adds $79 to both bundles, which will raise the prices to $1,128 and $1,428, respectively.

So what Valve probably intended to be a sort of bridge between console-only gamers and PC gamers has now become this bloated mess that seemingly only Valve diehards, who likely already own at least one gaming PC, will purchase. I can’t imagine anyone who already owns a console seeing a four-digit price tag and thinking now is the time to get into PC gaming, which is a shame because Steam Machines are really cool tech.

Steam Machines will primarily be used for gaming, sure, but Valve said they’re flat out PCs in a little cube case. You can browse the internet with them, file your taxes, make something in Canva, then tab back and grind some “Street Fighter 6.” Only one of those will crush your soul worse than the others (the last one.) Valve even promises additional faceplates to customize your unit. They’re cool! But not “a four-digit price tag” cool.

These ridiculous prices stem from the AI industry scooping up any RAM, already-built or theoretical, to power their ridiculous copyright infringement hallucination machines. In many cases, AI companies are making deals with RAM manufacturers to guarantee themselves hardware, skipping the line and leaving PC users left to fend for overpriced scraps. I’ve already talked about my disdain for the AI industry and will continue to do so as long as it exists.

But seriously, what the hell are we doing here? When are we going stop allowing parasitic entities to ruin our lives with their endless greed and shamelessness? When will we stop gratifying these burdens on our lives who offer nothing in return? When will we, as a collective society, finally pull the leeches from our arms and grind them into the dirt once and for all? This paragraph is about AI companies.

Steam Machines start shipping on June 29 but are subject to a lottery system. To enter, visit Steam’s website or apply directly through your Steam client.