We thought the project was buried, but Valve is not finished with the show. The Steam Machine returns, more powerful than ever, and the promise is clear: to offer better performance than 70% of PCs currently used by players on Steam. A bold announcement, confirmed by engineer Yazan Aldehayyat, during a demonstration relayed in a video published by Adam Savage’s Tested.
This target performance did not come out of nowhere. It is based on the results of hardware surveys conducted by Valve among its user base. The objective: to offer a machine that is a real alternative to average configurations, without aiming for the elite of PC gaming.
A compact monster under SteamOS
Designed to run SteamOS 3, based on Arch Linux, the Steam Machine will feature a six-core/twelve-thread AMD Zen 4 processor, capable of going up to 4.8 GHz with a TDP of 30W. If the price remains unknown to date, the specifications clearly place it above the majority of current player setups on Steam.
“And the Steam Machine is as good, if not better, than 70% of the machines that people have in their homes,” Yazan Aldehayyat said in the video. A figure which underlines Valve’s ambition to return to the race without targeting an elitist segment.
This time, the approach seems better thought out: no more preconfigured PCs sold by partners, but a machine designed directly by Valve, with complete control of the hardware and software.
The hope of a real, accessible product
It remains to be seen whether this Steam Machine will be able to appeal to an audience who, today, are used to playing on laptops, Steam Decks, or classic consoles. Everything will depend on the price. Because if the technical promise is attractive, price accessibility will be decisive.
As it stands, this Steam Machine could become a very solid option for players wishing to access the PC catalog without breaking the bank on a high-end gaming PC. The release is scheduled for 2026. Until then, Valve has time to convince… or miss the boat a second time.