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Journalism of Courage
Valve is entering the console wars with the Steam Machine, a cube-shaped video game console designed to play PC games in the living room.
The device is a sequel to a console of the same name, which failed to live up to the hype when it was released in 2014. At the time, the Steam Machine faced tough competition from consoles made by Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft.
The new Steam Machine will go on sale in early 2026, Valve said, though pricing has yet to be announced. The company added that more details will be shared closer to launch, the exact date of which remains unknown.
In a video announcement, Valve described the new console as “a powerful gaming PC in a small but mighty package.” While the Steam Machine is optimised for gaming, it can also be used as a standalone PC.
Valve argues that the device is “optimised for gaming” compared to other PCs because it can identify which games on its massive digital storefront will work on the machine before a user purchases them.
The new console uses the SteamOS interface, an offshoot of Linux that debuted three years ago on the Steam Deck, the popular handheld gaming device that has sold millions of units. The Steam Machine is powered by AMD graphics processors and will support 4K resolution and 60 frames per second.
The Bellevue, Washington–based company is best known for developing first-person shooters such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike. However, Valve became a household name with Steam, launched in 2003, which has since grown into the world’s largest distribution platform for PC gaming.
In a surprise move, Valve also announced two new hardware products: its Steam Frame virtual-reality headset and a dedicated controller.
The headset is entirely wireless and described as a “streaming-first” device, but it is also a standalone PC running SteamOS. Valve says it is “powered by a Snapdragon processor.” Like the Steam Machine, games will receive verification ratings to indicate which titles will work “standalone” on the headset. Users can visit the Steam Frame page for full specification details, as well as information about the new controller.
Valve’s new Steam Controller is also joining the Steam Machine and Steam Frame. Steam Deck owners will notice the familiar trackpads on either side of the controller, a feature that works especially well for games typically played with a mouse and keyboard, such as first-person shooters or real-time strategy titles.
For years, gamers have primarily bought systems from PlayStation or Nintendo. Now, Valve is once again trying to take over consumers’ living rooms. Experts say the new Steam devices put Valve back in the hardware game, which is currently dominated by Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. However, what Valve has done differently this time is offer three products, one for the TV, one for the hands, and one for the face, targeting several different segments of the gaming industry. The company has already hinted that more SteamOS-powered hardware may be coming in the future.
Analysts believe that if the new Steam Machines are priced affordably, they could become an attractive option for consumers looking for alternatives to the PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. However, some experts also argue that the Steam Machine is a better alternative to a gaming PC than to a PlayStation 5 or Switch 2.
