Skip to content

Valve creates a surprise and unveils its own home console, the Steam Machine, with a new VR headset and a controller


The Steam Machine, a new home console that looks like a PC

Like the arrival of the Steam Deck, it is a small earthquake that we are experiencing today with Valve which wants to invest in the field of home consoles with its Steam Machinewhere Nintendo, Xbox and PlayStation have reigned supreme for years.

The principle of the Steam Machine is simple, it is here a console resembling a small black cube that allows you to access your Steam libraryby running the games natively, with a power 6 times greater than the Steam Deck. Because yes, this is not a console dedicated to cloud gaming, but indeed a traditional console, except that it does not have a disc reader. Instead, we can note the presence of a light bar, which tells you when the console is reached, or when it is downloading.

We find there SteamOS, 512 GB of Storage (or 2 TB), and components to play up to 4K/60 FPS with FSR, all directly on your TV. And the architecture promises to remain quite open, with the possibility of installing another operating system. Valve wants to send the message here that this is a hybrid console mixed with a PC, which brings together the best of both worlds.

Technical characteristics of the Steam Machine

Here are the technical characteristics of the Steam Machine :

  • Processor : Partially custom AMD Zen 4 6c/12t up to 4.8 GHz, 30 W thermal envelope
  • Graphics processor : AMD RDNA3 28CU partially tailor-made
    • Maximum sustained clock frequency of 2.45 GHz, thermal envelope of 110 W
  • RAM : 16 GB DDR5 + 8 GB GDDR6 (video memory)
  • Food : Internal power supply, 110-240 V AC
  • Storage : Two models of Steam Machine:
    • 512GB NVMe SSD
    • 2TB NVMe SSD
    • Both models feature a super-fast microSD card slot
  • Connectivity :
    • Wifi 6E 2×2
    • Steam Controller Dedicated Bluetooth 5.3 Antenna
    • Built-in 2.4 GHz wireless adapter for the Steam Controller
  • Screens :
    • DisplayPort 1.4
      • Up to 4K at 240 Hz or 8K at 60 Hz
      • Compatible with HDR, FreeSync, and daisy-chaining
    • HDMI 2.0
      • Up to 4K at 120Hz
      • Compatible with HDR, FreeSync, and CEC
  • USB : Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the front Two ultra-fast USB-A 2.0 ports on the back One USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port on the back
  • Network : Gigabit Ethernet
  • Light bar : 17 configurable RGB LEDs for system status indication or customization
  • Height : 152 mm (148 mm without feet).
  • Length : 162.4mm.
  • Width : 156mm
  • Weight : 2.6 kg
  • Operating system : SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
  • Burwater : KDE Plasma

A new, very complete Steam Controller

Steam machine 8 3

And to play on a large TV while sitting comfortably on your sofa, it’s better to have a controller. Valve presents its new Steam Controller, a controller that can work via Bluetooth as well as via a USB cable connectionin order to satisfy all desires.

This controller also includes new generation magnetic joysticks which use TMR technology, which offers better sensations and better reaction. There are also high definition vibrations, as well as a gyroscope which can be activated by pressing the handles.

The touchpads are still present to imitate your PC’s mouse, and four buttons are available on the back that you can customize as you wish. We are promised an 8.39 Wh Li-ion battery, which should give access to approximately 35 hours of battery life. Here are its dimensions:

  • Dimensions : 111mm × 159mm × 57mm
  • Weight : 292 grams

This Steam Controller is not only linked to the Steam Machine. Anywhere you have access to Steam, you can enjoy this controller.

A new standalone VR headset, the Steam Frame

Steam machine 10 6

Latest announcement from Valve today, a new VR headset with the Steam Frame. The advantage of this headset is that it is self-contained, letting you enjoy it without the need for a compatible PC. Here you can enjoy your entire Stream library, even non-VR games.

It has dual stereo speakers for good sound reproduction, four high-definition monochrome cameras, and thin lenses with two 2160p LCD screens and a refresh rate that ranges from 72 to 144 Hz. Inside, a Snapdragon 8 processor that runs SteamOS is present, with 16 GB of RAM.

Technical characteristics of the Steam Frame

Here are the technical characteristics of the Steam Frame:

  • Processor : 4nm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3, Architecture: ARM64
  • RAM : 16 GB of unified LPDDR5X RAM
  • Storage :
    • 256GB/1TB UFS storage options
    • microSD card slot for even more storage
  • Food : 21.6 Wh rechargeable Li-ion battery
    • A USB-C 2.0 port on the back, for charging and data transfer
    • 45W USB-C charger
  • Cross strap weight : 245 g
  • Screen : LCD 2160 × 2160 (per eye)
  • Refresh rate : 72 to 120 Hz (144 Hz experimental)
  • Custom Pancake Lentils : Glass and non-glass optical elements, Large field of view (up to 110 degrees)
  • Pupillary distance : Between 60 mm and 70 mm
  • Maximum width of internal lenses : 140mm
  • Cameras :
    • 4 outward-facing monochrome cameras for controller and headset tracking
    • 2 interior cameras for eye tracking and foveal transmission
    • Exterior view
    • Outward-facing monochrome cameras
    • Compatibility with dark environments
    • Outdoor infrared illuminator for tracking and outdoor viewing in dark environments
    • Freely accessible expansion slot
    • High-speed dual camera interface (8-lane MIPI at 2.5 Gbps) and 4th generation PCIe (1-lane)
  • Connectivity : Wifi 7, 2×2, Instant dual-band transmission at 5 GHz (wifi) and 6 GHz (VR broadcast)
  • Wireless adapter included : Wifi 6E (6 GHz), Direct and low latency link between the headset and the PC
  • Bluetooth 5.3
  • Speakers : Two speakers per ear, integrated into the cross strap
  • Microphone : Dual microphone array
  • Dimensions : 175 mm × 95 mm × 110 mm (main unit and face interface)
  • Weight : 440 g for the main unit with the cross strap 185 g for the main unit alone
  • Operating system : SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
  • Desk : KDE Plasma

When will the Steam Machine be released?

At this time, Valve has not given a specific release date for the Steam Machine and the other accessories listed here. It is simply indicated that they should arrive sometime in 2026, rather at the beginning of the year.

It will also be noted that Valve hasn’t released pricing for anything announced today. The Steam Machine giving access to mid-range PC equipment, we imagine that everything will be a little more expensive than the current Xbox and PlayStation consoles (for the basic models), but who knows.