'Piston' Steam Box Console Accepting Pre-Orders, for $1000

Xi3 Corporation has started taking taking pre-orders for its modular PC Steam Box, the Piston. But if you're looking for a replacement for a home console, you should start saving up those pennies - the Piston will set you back $999.99.

Pre-orders began this past weekend at the start of the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. Anyone who puts down an order between now and the end of the festival (March 17) will get a $100 discount off the price.

Jason Sullivan, founder of Xi3, said that the reason for the pre-order initiative was to ensure that the gamers who want a Piston will be able to receive one. "Given the amount of awards, media attention and gamer interest the Piston Console has generated since it was unveiled at CES 2013 in January, we've become seriously concerned that we will not be able to meet the demand for PISTON Consoles this year. That's why we have decided to begin accepting pre-orders on our PISTON Console."

The Piston will be shipping "in time for the 2013 Holiday Season," according to Xi3's press release, meaning that it will likely go head-to-head with Sony's PlayStation 4. If you're interested in the modular PC option, hit the pre-order page here.