Valve announces new Steam Machine for early 2026 with focus on gaming on TV

Valve announced in November 2025 three new hardware products that expand its gaming ecosystem. The Steam Machine stands out as a compact PC designed to sit under the TV and run Steam games with ease. The devices will be launched at the beginning of 2026, with no prices announced so far.

The products also include a new Steam Controller with configurable controls and a virtual reality headset called the Steam Frame. The company seeks to offer options to play in different formats, maintaining compatibility with the Steam library.

The Steam Machine represents a second attempt by the Valve at the home console market, following the failure of the previous version a decade ago.

Steam Machine Specifications

The Steam Machine adopts a cube shape with about six inches on each side. Ela uses a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 processor with six cores and twelve threads. The graphics card is based on the RDNA 3 architecture, offering six times greater performance than the Steam Deck.

On the same topic: Valve’s new Steam Controller optimizes the Steam gaming experience, but has limitations on other systems

The device supports 4K gaming at 60 frames per second, with the help of technologies such as FSR. Available Modelos include 512GB and 2TB storage options, with a slot for expansion via microSD.

• Mouse and keyboard compatible for general PC tasks.
• Designed for plug-and-play TV experience.
• Integration with streaming for other Steam devices.

New Steam Controller

The refreshed Steam Controller features an ergonomic design with haptic touchpads and traditional buttons. Ele works on multiple platforms, including PCs, Steam Deck and Steam Machine itself.

The Valve emphasizes highly customizable settings for different game genres. The control is sold separately or in a bundle with the Steam Machine.

More on this story: Valve announces launch of Steam Machine and Steam Frame for summer

It uses low-latency wireless protocol for stable connections.

Steam Frame as VR headset

The Steam Frame operates as a standalone headset with an Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 16 GB of RAM. Ele runs SteamOS and supports VR games natively or via streaming from a PC.

The device includes dedicated controllers and a focus on comfort for long sessions. Valve creates a specific verification program to ensure title compatibility.

Games verified on Steam Deck automatically transfer to new hardware.

Historical context of the initiative

Valve attempted to launch Steam Machines in 2015 with external partners, but the project was not commercially successful. The new version is manufactured in-house with fixed specifications.

Learn more: Valve’s Steam Machine and Steam Frame hit the market this summer

The announcement comes at a time of transition in the console market, with Microsoft betting on multiplatform games. The Steam Machine is positioned as an open option for an extensive PC library.

The company leverages lessons from Steam Deck to improve compatibility and usability.

Integration into the Steam ecosystem

The three devices integrate into the existing Valve ecosystem. Jogos checked on Steam Deck automatically works on Steam Machine.

The Steam Frame enables advanced streaming from the Steam Machine or PCs. The approach reinforces flexibility between handheld, living room and VR.

Read also: Valve prepares four versions of the Steam Machine with 512 GB and 2 TB of storage

Valve plans initial shipments for Estados Unidos, Canadá, Reino Unido, União Europeia, and Austrália.

The Steam Machine appears as an alternative for those looking for PC power with console simplicity. Seu success will depend on competitive pricing and availability.

The initiative expands options for millions of Steam users. Launch in Q1 2026 marks Valve’s ambitious return to home hardware.