Valve is trying again. After the success of the Steam Deck, the company is now introducing three new hardware products: the Steam Machine, the Steam Controller, and the... Steam Frame VR HeadsetAll three are scheduled to be released in the same regions where the Steam Deck is available, starting in early 2026.
The Steam Machine – PC power for the living room
The new Steam Machine is not a nostalgic throwback to old mistakes, but Valve's attempt to finally make PC gaming mainstream. According to Valve, the six-inch, cube-shaped device offers... Valve "over six times the power of the Steam Deck“and is designed for 4K gaming at 60 FPS.”
Technically, the Steam Machine uses a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU (6 cores, 12 threads, up to 4,8 GHz) and an RDNA3 GPU with 28 compute units. It also features 16 GB of DDR5 RAM plus 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. Two models with either a 512 GB or 2 TB SSD are expected to be available at launch.
With HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, Gigabit Ethernet, and four USB-A ports, the device is clearly aimed at gamers who prefer to enjoy their Steam catalog on their TV. An internal power connector without a bulky power supply feels almost luxurious. The Steam Machine can stream games to other devices, such as the Steam Deck, the new Steam Frame, or any other device with Steam Link.
A new label called "Steam Machine Verified" will also clearly show which titles run optimally – similar to the Steam Deck.
The new Steam Controller – more precise, modular, hybrid
The redesigned Steam Controller combines familiar Xbox and PlayStation layouts, enhanced with Valve's signature features. The analog sticks are located at the bottom, similar to a DualSense, while two large trackpads provide mouse-like control for PC games.
New is the Grip Sense feature – gripping the controller more firmly activates gyro aiming. The built-in magnetic TMR sticks are said to be more precise and durable than classic models. Four programmable back buttons, capacitive touch recognition, and infrared LEDs complete the package. The included Steam Controller Puck – a combination of charging base and wireless dongle – allows for wireless connection and magnetic charging of the controller.
Ironically speaking, Valve got everything right this time, whereas the first Steam Controller (2015) seemed like a prototype.
Steam Frame – Valve's entry into wireless VR
The third new device is the Steam Frame, a wireless VR headset primarily designed for streaming. It works with an included 6 GHz wireless adapter, which, according to Valve, enables "a fast, stable connection" for both VR and non-VR content.
Inside is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. The focus is on foveated streaming – thanks to eye tracking, only the area of the image the player is actually looking at is transmitted in full sharpness. This reduces bandwidth and improves image quality.
The headset itself weighs 440 grams (with head strap) and features LCDs with 2160×2160 pixels per eye, up to 144 Hz, pancake lenses, and a field of view of approximately 110 degrees. It also comes with new Steam Frame controllers featuring precise finger tracking and magnetic joysticks.
Valve emphasizes that while the Steam Frame is primarily intended for streaming, it can also run light games standalone as a fully-fledged mini-PC with SteamOS.
The return of the Steam Machines, this time with a plan
The new Steam Machine isn't Valve's first attempt to conquer the living room. Back in 2015, they tried a similar concept, but without standardized hardware, relying instead on overpriced partner PCs and confusing communication. The result: hardly any sales, and a lot of ridicule.
This time everything is centralized, from a single source, and above all, backed by the success of Steam Deck. Over the years, Valve has built a functioning ecosystem of SteamOS, Proton compatibility, and cloud saves – and that could be the crucial difference.
Whether the Steam Machine becomes a true console alternative depends less on the hardware than on the software. If developers optimize their games for SteamOS and the system runs as stably as the Deck, Valve could be the first manufacturer to truly bring PC gaming into the living room – without any tinkering required.
A hardware trio with ambitions
Valve plans to ship the new devices starting in early 2026; prices are still pending. This time, the strategy seems clearer: SteamOS is the foundation that connects all devices, from handhelds to VR headsets.
A complete reboot then? Perhaps. But one that shows Valve has learned from its mistakes. And anyone who knows Gabe Newell knows that when he talks about being "super happy," it's rarely just PR.
That… could be interesting…
Finally, I can play my Steam library on the TV…
What's stopping you from connecting your PC to your TV with an HDMI cable?
According to PS fanboys, this shouldn't work; mouse and keyboard can only be used via cable, there's no controller support, the device doesn't have HDMI 2.1, and it doesn't have a built-in screen. It's not plug and play.
*This comment may contain traces of sarcasm*
I don't need the device, but I'd be super excited to have the OS for my PC.
Install Bazzite; it's supposed to be almost the same as Steam OS.
A direct competitor to the Xbox Next, which will certainly be even cheaper. Many Sagnagel products are already being made available for the Next.
Competition? This thing is on par with the PS5. Honestly, I don't see any competition. After six years, I would have expected significantly more. But at €399, it's perfectly acceptable.
So, to write it down again...
-A wireless VR headset
-A controller whose battery lasts longer than 4 hours
-A handheld that can also play games natively
-A console case that is not only small but also has straight edges, making it easy to place and eliminating the need to buy a separate stand.
My PS5 controller lasts much longer than your stated "4 hours".
And you can set up the PS5 relatively stably even without a stand; you don't HAVE to buy anything as you claim.
Well, my DualSense also lasts 16 hours, but I installed the battery myself, and even then the original battery doesn't last 35 hours.
Who says the controller battery should last 35 hours? My DualSense controllers last 7-8 hours, by the way. I don't know what you do with your controller, but if you keep it vibrating constantly, that's actually a pretty good battery life.
I say that the longer the battery, the better.
Sure, if you want to risk it tipping over, go ahead, but the Steam Machine can tip over compared to the PS5 because it's a cube ;)
The Steam Machine certainly won't tip over unless you knock it over.