Valve Unveils New Steam Machine and Steam Controller for PC Gaming on the Big Screen
In a move to bring PC gaming to the living room, Valve has announced a new Steam Machine and Steam Controller that aim to replicate the console experience. The devices are set to launch in early 2026 and promise to deliver a seamless gaming experience with stunning visuals.
The Steam Machine is essentially a compact PC running Linux-based SteamOS, which means it can be customized with user-friendly interfaces and features like customizable front plates and LED light strips. This device boasts impressive specs, including a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU and a semi-Custom AMD RDNA3 GPU, along with 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, and storage options of either 512GB or 2TB SSD.
Valve claims that the Steam Machine has roughly six times the horsepower of its portable counterpart, the Steam Deck, allowing it to support 4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR. The device can also be used to stream demanding games to the Steam Deck or other devices running Steam Link.
However, this is not the only new addition from Valve - a sleek and feature-rich controller has been unveiled as well. Dubbed the Steam Controller, it offers an array of control methods, including sticks, face buttons, grip buttons, triggers, bumpers, trackpads for mouse controls, and gyro controls. The device can be paired with Bluetooth or connected via wirelessly using a charging dongle that doubles as a transmitter.
Innovative features like customizable input methods for each game and profile sharing are also part of the Steam Controller experience. It's clear that Valve is pushing the boundaries of gaming peripherals to create an immersive experience for users.
Despite the impressive specs, Valve has not yet announced official pricing for the devices, which may impact their competitiveness with equivalent PCs and game controllers. While early hands-on impressions suggest a competitive price point, some are questioning whether these devices will be as affordable as the $400 Steam Deck at launch.
The Steam Machine and Steam Controller offer a promising future for PC gaming on the big screen. With Valve's innovative approach to hardware and software, enthusiasts can look forward to an unparalleled gaming experience that blurs the lines between console and PC.
In a move to bring PC gaming to the living room, Valve has announced a new Steam Machine and Steam Controller that aim to replicate the console experience. The devices are set to launch in early 2026 and promise to deliver a seamless gaming experience with stunning visuals.
The Steam Machine is essentially a compact PC running Linux-based SteamOS, which means it can be customized with user-friendly interfaces and features like customizable front plates and LED light strips. This device boasts impressive specs, including a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU and a semi-Custom AMD RDNA3 GPU, along with 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, and storage options of either 512GB or 2TB SSD.
Valve claims that the Steam Machine has roughly six times the horsepower of its portable counterpart, the Steam Deck, allowing it to support 4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR. The device can also be used to stream demanding games to the Steam Deck or other devices running Steam Link.
However, this is not the only new addition from Valve - a sleek and feature-rich controller has been unveiled as well. Dubbed the Steam Controller, it offers an array of control methods, including sticks, face buttons, grip buttons, triggers, bumpers, trackpads for mouse controls, and gyro controls. The device can be paired with Bluetooth or connected via wirelessly using a charging dongle that doubles as a transmitter.
Innovative features like customizable input methods for each game and profile sharing are also part of the Steam Controller experience. It's clear that Valve is pushing the boundaries of gaming peripherals to create an immersive experience for users.
Despite the impressive specs, Valve has not yet announced official pricing for the devices, which may impact their competitiveness with equivalent PCs and game controllers. While early hands-on impressions suggest a competitive price point, some are questioning whether these devices will be as affordable as the $400 Steam Deck at launch.
The Steam Machine and Steam Controller offer a promising future for PC gaming on the big screen. With Valve's innovative approach to hardware and software, enthusiasts can look forward to an unparalleled gaming experience that blurs the lines between console and PC.