Valve has announced a new lineup of gaming hardware, including a Steam Machine console, a Steam Controller, and a wireless VR headset called the Steam Frame.
The Steam Machine is a home console designed to play PC games on a television, with a launch targeted for the first half of 2026. Multiple sources report that the announcement was made in November 2025.
Steam Machine Hardware Specifications
The new Steam Machine is a desktop-sized PC with the following reported dimensions: 5.98 x 6.39 x 6.14 inches. It features a removable faceplate and a customizable LED light strip.
Internal components, as reported by multiple sources, include:
- Processor: Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU with six cores, capable of up to 4.8GHz.
- Graphics: Semi-custom AMD RDNA 3 GPU.
- System Memory: 16GB of DDR RAM.
- Video Memory: 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM.
- Storage: Options of 512GB or 2TB.
Connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E, and an integrated 2.4GHz adapter for the new Steam Controller. Ports include DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, four USB-A ports (two USB 2.0, two USB 3.2 Gen 1), and one USB-C port.
Software and Game Compatibility
The Steam Machine will run on Valve’s Linux-based SteamOS operating system. Games designed for Linux will run natively. Windows games will run via Valve’s Proton compatibility layer, which translates game API calls.
Valve reports that the device is optimized for gaming, including the ability for the company to confirm game compatibility from its digital storefront before purchase.
Valve stated that "the majority of Steam titles play great at 4K 60FPS" using AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) upscaling technology. The company also noted that some titles might require more upscaling or a lower framerate with variable refresh rate (VRR) at a 1080p internal resolution.
Digital Foundry, a technology analysis outlet, expressed concern that the 8GB of GDDR6 memory may be a limiting factor for modern triple-A games, potentially falling short of the VRAM and memory bandwidth available on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
Valve plans to extend its game verification program, currently used for the Steam Deck, to the Steam Machine and Steam Frame. This program categorizes games as Verified, Playable, Unplayable, or Unknown. According to reports, games verified for the Steam Deck will automatically be verified for the Steam Machine.
Valve is adding support for AMD’s FSR 4 upscaling technology to the Proton Experimental branch for SteamOS. A SteamDB entry indicates this integration is in development. AMD has confirmed planned FSR 4 support for its discrete RX 9000-series GPUs, with extensions to RDNA 3 (RX 7000) targeted for July and RDNA 2 (RX 6000) planned for next year.
Accessories and Peripherals
The Steam Machine will include a proprietary Steam Controller. The controller is reported to feature two large trackpads at the bottom, which function as a computer mouse, as well as gyroscopes and other input methods.
The device is designed to be compatible with various Bluetooth controllers and other wireless and USB accessories. Steam Link technology will allow streaming games from a Steam Machine to devices such as the Steam Deck, the Steam Frame, or the Steam Link app.
Valve also announced a wireless VR headset called the Steam Frame, expected to launch in 2026.
Pricing, Launch Date, and Market Positioning
Valve has not announced specific pricing or a precise release date. The company stated that the Steam Machine will be available for purchase in early 2026, though one source indicates the launch has been delayed within the first half of 2026.
Valve designer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the Steam Machine’s pricing will be comparable to a PC with similar specifications, suggesting it will likely cost more than the PlayStation 5 ($499).
The delay and a reevaluation of pricing are attributed, according to Valve, to "limited availability and growing prices" of critical components like RAM, driven by demand from the AI industry.
Valve may offer the Steam Machine at multiple price points or in bundle deals. The Steam Frame VR headset is reportedly aimed to sell for less than the $1,000 Valve Index.