Valve has invented time travel and brought back the Steam Machines. Jokes aside, the company is trying again with the concept that failed in 2015, although the situation is different.
When Valve first launched the original Steam machines, they didn’t have the SteamOS ecosystem primed by the Steam Deck, so it’ll be interesting to see whether this new attempt will actually work out.
While pricing has not been announced, the new PC-meets-consoles box will launch in early 2026, boasting “six times” the power of a Steam deck.
Looking at the actual specs, they look comparable to a mid-tier gaming PC.
General
- CPU: Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP
- GPU: Semi-Custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs 2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP
- RAM: 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Power: Internal power supply, AC power 110-240V§
- Storage: Two Steam Machine models
- 512GB NVMe SSD
- 2TB NVMe SSD
- Both models include a high-speed microSD card slot
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi: 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna
- Steam Controller: Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter
I/O
- Displays: DisplayPort 1.4
- Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz
- Supports HDR, FreeSync, and daisy-chaining
- HDMI 2.0:
- Up to 4K @ 120Hz
- Supports HDR, FreeSync, and CEC
- USB: Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the front, Two USB-A 2.0 High speed ports in the back, One USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in the back
- Networking: Gigabit ethernet
- LED Strip: 17 individually addressable RGB LEDs for system status and customizability
Size and Weight
- Size: 152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, 156 mm wide
- Weight: 2.6 kg
Software
- Operating System: SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
- Desktop: KDE Plasma
Below you can check out a diagram of the box.
It’s worth mentioning that you’re not stuck with the SteamOS if you don’t want to use Valve’s operating system, but you can install Windows or whatever PC-compatible OS you prefer.
Same as the Steam Deck, Steam Machines will have their own “verified” status for games on Valve’s storefront, so you’ll be able to make sure a title runs on your little box before buying it.
Valve isn’t just launching the Steam Machine, but a whole ecosystem with a VR headset named Steam Frame and a redesigned Steam Controller.
