The Steam Machine has made a comeback, not as a platform for manufacturers to build living room PCs backed by Valve, but as a new home console alongside the Steam Deck. Valve unveiled its second attempt to dominate the living room with a surprise announcement of new hardware in November 2025, which includes the Steam Machine, a revamped Steam Controller, and a wireless VR headset known as the Steam Frame. As is typical of Valve, specifics about these products are still somewhat unclear.
While we await the 2026 launch of this hardware lineup and more concrete information, here’s what we know so far about the Steam Machine’s hardware, software, and pricing.
What are the hardware specifications of the Steam Machine?
The Steam Machine, much like the Steam Deck, is rugged and tailored. It is a compact black box measuring 5.98 x 6.39 x 6.14 inches (152 x 162.4 x 156mm), featuring various ports, a fan grille at the back, a removable faceplate, and a customizable LED light strip on the front. Internally, it boasts a “semi-custom” AMD Zen 4 CPU with six cores running up to 4.8GHz, along with a “semi-custom” RDNA3 AMD GPU, 16GB DDR RAM, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, and options for either 512GB or 2TB of storage.
With these specifications, the Steam Machine outperforms the older Steam Deck, which launched in 2022. Valve has been cautious in promoting its capabilities, mentioning in a blog post that most Steam titles can be played at 4K 60FPS using AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution technology, but some games may perform better at lower framerates and 1080p resolution.
What games will be compatible with the Steam Machine?
Any game designed for SteamOS, Valve’s Linux-based operating system, will be compatible with the Steam Machine, given that its specs can support them. Steam Machine will install the Linux version of any game that runs natively on Linux, and for Windows games, it can utilize Steam’s built-in Proton compatibility layer to run them on Linux, just like the Steam Deck does.
What is the expected price and launch date for the Steam Machine?
Currently, Valve has not revealed the price or release date for the Steam Machine or any of its new hardware. However, it hints that the pricing might be comparable to a PC with similar specifications and positioned at the lower end of the PC market, suggesting it could be more expensive than $499. Memory costs and shortages are also influencing its pricing structure, with Valve acknowledging that these factors are essential in determining the final price.
What accessories will be compatible with the Steam Machine?
The Steam Machine is designed to accommodate a variety of Bluetooth controllers and wireless accessories, along with any devices connected via its USB ports. With a built-in 2.4GHz Steam Controller dongle, Valve’s controller is poised to be a primary choice for gaming control due to its diverse control options. Additionally, the Steam Machine supports Steam Link, allowing users to stream games to other devices like the Steam Deck or Steam Frame.
