Steam Machine Release Date, Price, And Everything We Know About Valve’s Next-Gen Living Room PC

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Over twelve years ago, Valve, the company behind Steam, tried to challenge Microsoft’s dominance in PC gaming with the original Steam Machine. It didn’t succeed, largely because it used Linux and didn’t have strict requirements for the hardware inside. Now, Valve is trying again, and they’re better prepared. The new Steam Machine is a small, powerful computer for use anywhere in the home, and it benefits from everything Valve learned while creating the popular Steam Deck.

We’re collecting all the details about Valve’s new gaming console, including its technical specs, when it’s expected to launch, how much it might cost, and other important information. We’ll continue to update this article with any new announcements from Valve as the release date in 2026 approaches.

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Steam Machine Release Date

Valve plans to launch the Steam Machine in the first three months of 2026. While announcing new hardware – including the Steam Machine, a Steam Controller, and the Steam Frame VR headset – Valve didn’t initially give a specific release date. They’ve now clarified that the Steam Machine should be available by March 31st, 2026, barring any unexpected issues.

Steam Machine Price

One key detail Valve didn’t reveal about the Steam Machine was its price. Because it’s a PC rather than a traditional console, it could end up costing more than people anticipate. Valve hardware engineer Yazan Aldehayyat hinted at this, explaining that the Steam Machine will be priced similarly to other PCs with comparable performance.

Experts are estimating the new device will cost between $400 and $500, with $400 being the ideal price point to challenge competitors like Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X. Valve currently offers the Steam Deck, which starts at $400 for the basic LCD version and goes up to $650 for the 1TB OLED model.

Steam Machine Specifications

Valve hasn’t announced the price or release date yet, but they’ve shared details about the Steam Machine itself. It will be a small PC available with either 256GB or 2TB of storage, and it’s designed to be easily upgraded with larger SSDs later on.

Every Steam Machine will be the same except for the amount of storage it has. Inside, each one has a powerful AMD Zen processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, capable of reaching speeds up to 4.8GHz. It also includes 16GB of DDR5 memory that can be upgraded later. Instead of combining the processor and graphics into one chip like many modern consoles, the Steam Machine uses a separate graphics card. This card is an AMD RDNA 3 GPU with 28 compute units and 8GB of GDDR5 memory – its performance is similar to the AMD RX 7600 released a few years ago.

Similar to the Steam Deck, the Steam Machine uses SteamOS – a customized version of Linux that makes Steam’s Big Picture mode the main experience. While designed for Steam, SteamOS also allows users to switch to a standard Linux desktop, letting them install other game stores like the Epic Games Store and GOG, or even programs like emulators and word processors. Ultimately, it’s a fully functional PC.

You can find the full list of specifications below.

Category Specification
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 and 2TB) NVMe SSD. MicroSD card slot for additional storage expansion
Wi-Fi 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna
Steam Controller Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter
Display 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 frontTwo USB-A 2.0 High speed ports in the backOne 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 152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, 156 mm wide
Weight 2.6 kg
Operating System SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
Desktop KDE Plasma

The Steam Machine performs similarly to today’s game consoles, likely falling between the Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5 in terms of power, according to Richard Ledbetter from Digital Foundry. While the processor is strong enough for modern games, the graphics card’s limited memory is a potential concern. Many recent games struggle with graphics cards that have 8GB or less of video memory (VRAM), and even the more powerful Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 offer more memory bandwidth (around 10GB each) for developers. This limitation could affect the Steam Machine’s ability to store detailed textures, especially when trying to achieve high-resolution 4K gaming at 60 frames per second – a capability Valve claims for the device.

The performance relies on upscaling technology, specifically AMD’s FSR 3, because the Steam Machine uses an older AMD graphics architecture (RDNA 3) compared to the newer RDNA 4. This means it can’t take advantage of the improved FSR 4 upscaling or AMD’s latest frame generation features, which would enhance the visual experience at higher resolutions. Valve appears to be carefully considering the price of the Steam Machine and setting it up to be competitive, making the official announcement particularly important for its success.

Steam Machine Peripherals

The Steam Machine will work with most game controllers available now, such as those for Xbox Series and PlayStation DualSense. Valve is also releasing an updated version of its own Steam Controller alongside the PC.

Based on everything Valve learned designing the Steam Deck’s controls, the Steam Controller feels like they simply took the Deck’s layout, removed the screen, and made it more compact. This is a positive thing – the Steam Deck is surprisingly comfortable to hold, and early impressions suggest the Steam Controller offers the same comfortable experience.

This updated controller differs from Valve’s older model with the addition of two symmetrical thumbsticks. It uses new TMR modules, which Valve claims offer the precision of hall-effect technology along with improved durability. Below the sticks are two touchpads that make playing games designed for a mouse easier, and can also be customized with extra functions. The controller also supports motion control, using sensors that detect your grip. A common use is gyro aiming, which can be quickly turned on and off simply by how you hold the controller.

This new controller offers enhanced vibrations compared to the Steam Deck, thanks to upgraded rumble motors. It includes the same responsive analog triggers and four customizable grip buttons on the back. For the quickest and most reliable connection to your Steam Machine or desktop, it uses a unique magnetic connector. This connector also allows for convenient charging when you place the controller on it. You can also connect the controller wirelessly via Bluetooth or with a traditional wired connection for added versatility.

Valve plans to include the Steam Controller with the Steam Machine when it releases, and will also sell the controller on its own. Detailed specifications are available below.

Category Specification
Gamepad controls A B X Y buttonsD-padL & R analog triggersL & R bumpersView & Menu buttonsSteam & QAM buttons4x assignable grip buttons
Thumbsticks 2x full-size magnetic thumbsticks (TMR) with capacitive touch
Haptics 4x haptic motors

  • 2x LRA haptic motors in trackpads for HD tactile feedback
  • 2x High output LRA haptic motors in grips for HD game haptics including rumble
Trackpads 2x 34.5mm square trackpads with haptic feedbackPressure-sensitive for configurable click strength
Gyro 6-axis IMU
Grip Sense 2x capacitive areas along back of Steam Controller handles
Steam Controller Puck 2.4GHz Wireless connection~8ms full end-to-end, 4ms polling rate (measured at 5m)Up to 4 Steam Controllers per Steam Controller PuckSteam Controller Puck connects to PC via USB-C
Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.2 minimum, 5.0 or higher recommended
USB USB-C tethered play
Charging Steam Controller Puck charging interfaceUSB-C connector
Battery 8.39 Wh Li-ion battery35+ hours of gameplay*Battery life for tracked gameplay with Steam Frame is reduced
Size Steam Controller: 111mm x 159mm x 57mmSteam Controller Puck: 50mm x 28mm x 9mm
Weight Steam Controller: 292 gSteam Controller Puck: 16 g

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2025-11-18 13:15