Valve has surprised the gaming community by announcing the return of the Steam Machine and unveiling a completely redesigned Steam Controller, signaling its ambition to take on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Building on the success of the Steam Deck, the company aims to merge the flexibility of PC gaming with the streamlined experience of a console.
Steam Machine makes a comeback
Originally introduced in 2014, the first Steam Machine failed to gain traction due to its high cost and limited Linux game support. A decade later, Valve is reviving the concept with a smaller, more powerful system that inherits many of the ideas behind the Steam Deck.
The new Steam Machine sports a compact cube-shaped chassis, roughly the size of a mini Xbox Series X, measuring about 15 cm on each side and weighing 2.6 kg. The case features a magnetic front panel for customization and an LED strip that shows system activity like download progress. Inside, it runs on custom AMD hardware, including a 6-core, 12-thread Ryzen processor (Zen 4 architecture) and a Radeon RDNA 3 GPU with 28 compute units and 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. Paired with 16 GB of DDR5 memory, the system supports 512 GB or 2 TB of NVMe storage, with room for future SSD upgrades.
Performance-wise, it’s expected to sit just below the PlayStation 5 in graphics power but outperform it in CPU processing and efficiency. The device includes Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ethernet, multiple USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 supporting up to 4K at 240 Hz with HDR and adaptive sync. Running SteamOS 3, it offers a console-style interface while still allowing access to a full Linux desktop environment, enabling both gaming and productivity use.
A new take on the Steam Controller
Valve’s new Steam Controller takes clear inspiration from both the Steam Deck and Xbox design language. Larger and more ergonomic, it introduces magnetic TMR analog sticks that prevent drift and provide smoother input. The controller also includes high-definition haptic motors similar to those in Sony’s DualSense, touch-sensitive grips that activate a gyroscope for motion aiming, and the signature Steam trackpads for precision control.
Connection is handled via a low-latency wireless puck with an 8 ms response time, which also serves as a magnetic charging dock. Bluetooth support allows it to pair with PCs, smartphones, and tablets, while the 8.39 Wh battery offers up to 35 hours of use on a single charge.
Launch window
Valve plans to release the new Steam Machine and Steam Controller in early 2026. Pricing has not been confirmed, but the company says it will be competitive with similar gaming PCs, emphasizing performance, flexibility, and affordability.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 6-core, 12-thread (Zen 4), up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP |
| GPU | Radeon RDNA 3, 28 Compute Units, up to 2.45 GHz, 8 GB GDDR6, 110W TGP |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 512 GB or 2 TB NVMe M.2 2230 (upgradeable to 2280) |
| Networking | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, RJ-45 1 Gbps Ethernet |
| Video Outputs | DisplayPort 1.4 (up to 4K 240Hz HDR VRR), HDMI 2.0 (up to 4K 120Hz HDR VRR) |
| USB Ports | 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB-A 2.0, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Operating System | SteamOS 3 with console and desktop (KDE Plasma) modes |
| Dimensions | 156 x 152 x 162.4 mm |
| Weight | 2.6 kg |
| Design Features | Customizable magnetic front panel, RGB LED strip |
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