Valve Announces New Steam Machine, VR Headset, and Steam Controller - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 12 November 2025 / 8,140 Views
Valve has announced three hardware devices that includes a brand-new Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset and controllers, and a new Steam controller.
All three products will ship to regions that the Steam Deck is currently available in, which includes the US, Canada, UK, Europe, and Australia, as well as regions covered by Komodo - Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan
Prices for the Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset and controllers, and new Steam controller have not been announced. However, the goal is to start shipping them in "early 2026."
Read details on the Steam Machine via Steam below:
- SteamOS - Steam Machine runs Valve’s gaming-first operating system. SteamOS is designed to provide a plug-and-play user experience, while keeping the power and flexibility of a PC. Experience SteamOS in the same way as other Steam hardware, like Steam Deck and Steam Frame.
- Steam Machine Verified - We are expanding our Verified program to include ratings for Steam Machine, so customers can understand how their games will run.
- Small form factor - Put it under your TV. Set it on your desk. Hide it under a banana. It's powerful PC gaming packed into a roughly 6-inch (~160mm) cube.
- I/O for days - Ready for all the peripherals and monitors you can throw* at it: 1 Gigabit Ethernet. DisplayPort 1.4. HDMI 2.0. One USB-C and four USB-A ports.
- Cool & quiet - Steam Machine keeps cool and runs whisper-quiet, even while running the most demanding games.
- CPU & GPU - 4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR, thanks to a discrete semi-custom AMD desktop class CPU and GPU.
- Storage - Available in two storage sizes: 512GB and 2TB. Both come with expandable storage via microSD.
- Power - No giant brick! Steam Machine's power supply is built right in.
- Connectivity - 2x2 Wi-Fi 6E, plus Bluetooth 5.3 with a dedicated antenna. Steam Controller's wireless adapter is built right into Steam Machine for direct pairing.
- ...and it's a PC - Yes, Steam Machine is optimized for gaming, but it's still your PC. Install your own apps, or even another operating system. Who are we to tell you how to use your computer?
- Made for Steam Controller - Steam Machine comes with a built-in wireless adapter, just for pairing with Steam Controller. (Up to four with a single adapter!) This means you can pair your Steam Controller without its puck, and you can wake your Steam Machine without leaving your couch.
- Great for Streaming With enough horsepower to take on the most demanding games, Steam Machine is the perfect host PC for streaming to other devices. Easily stream to your Steam Deck, Steam Frame, or any other device running Steam or Steam Link.
Steam Machine Specs:
- CPU - Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T - up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP
- GPU - Semi-Custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs - 2.45GNz max sustained clock, 110W TDP
- RAM - 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
- Power - Internal power supply, AC power 110-240V
- Storage - Two Steam Machine models - 512GB NVMe SSD and 2TB NVMe SSD - Both models include a high-speed microSD card slot
Read details on the Steam Frame VR headset and controllers via Steam below:
- VR and non-VR gaming - Steam Frame is a streaming first, wireless VR headset + controllers that can handle your whole Steam library. Step into immersive VR, or lean back and enjoy your non-VR catalog. And it support stand-alone play too.
- A high quality streaming-first experience - Streaming can be highly variable, so we prioritized making Steam Frame a stable, high quality streaming experience
- Wireless Adapter and Dual Radios - The included plug-and-play 6GHz wireless adapter provides a dedicated link for both VR and non-VR streaming. Steam Frame's dual radios make this connection even more stable: One radio is dedicated to streaming the audio and visuals, and the other connects to your Wi-Fi. Two dedicated links, no competition for bandwidth.
- Introducing Foveated Streaming - Foveated Streaming is a new feature that optimizes detail where your eyes are looking, and typically offers over a 10x improvement in image quality and effective bandwidth. Behind the scenes, we're using low-latency eye tracking data to steer the best quality pixels only to where you're looking. This is all happening without you noticing, and works for your entire Steam library.
- It runs SteamOS - Quick suspend/resume. Cloud saves. All the features of SteamOS that make for a great user experience are now available in VR. Just like any SteamOS device, install your own apps, open a browser, do what you want: It's your PC.
- Steam Frame Verified, for stand-alone games - Just like Steam Deck and Steam Machine, Steam Frame will have a verified program that helps you see which games in your library (VR and non-VR) will work stand-alone.
Steam Frame Specs:
- Processor - 4 nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Architecture: ARM64
- RAM - 16GB Unified LPDDR5X RAM
- Storage - 256GB / 1TB UFS storage options. microSD card slot for expanded storage
- Power - Rechargeable 21.6 Wh Li-ion battery. One USB-C 2.0 port in the rear, for charging and data. Charge with USB-C, 45W
- Modular Headstrap - Headstrap includes integrated dual audio drivers and and rechargeable battery on rear. Headstrap weight: 245g. Core module can be separated from headstrap, for other headstrap solutions.
- Display - 2160 x 2160 LCD (per eye). 72-144Hz refresh rate (144Hz experimental)
Read details on the Steam Controller via Steam below:
- Plug and play with the Steam Controller Puck - One puck, two jobs: It’s a wireless transmitter that provides a fast, stable connection for your Steam Controller. It's also a charging station, connecting to your Controller magnetically with a satisfying click. Prefer using Bluetooth or USB? Steam Controller supports those too.
- Next-generation magnetic thumbsticks - Steam Controller comes with magnetic thumbsticks using TMR technology, designed for improved feel, responsiveness and long-term reliability. They also support capacitive touch to enable motion controls.
- High definition rumble - Steam Controller's powerful motors are capable of handling complex waveforms for immersive, accurate haptics.
- Grip-enabled gyro - We're calling it Grip Sense, and it's a new input for Steam Controller that enables gyro with capacitive touch. Hold and release to enable and disable gyro aiming. You can also map it like any other button.
- Control & comfort - Steam Controller is built for comfortable extended play, with thumbsticks, buttons, bumpers, and triggers positioned for hands of all sizes.
- Trackpads - Use Steam Controller to play even your favorite mouse and keyboard games. With increased precision and customizability, it's another way to enjoy fast-paced FPS games.
- Motion control - Aim more naturally with gyro, capacitive touch thumbsticks, and the new grip-sense feature, to achieve even more precision.
- Grip Buttons - Four buttons on the back; you choose how to use them, all while leaving your thumbs on the trackpads or thumbsticks.
- Steam Button - The Steam button is both the power button and the quickest way to navigate to your library, the store, game controls, settings, and more.
- Quick Access Menu - Easily access notifications, friends list, Steam Chat, and more. Press and hold to get a handy list of shortcut options in Steam.
- Customizable for Steam Input - Steam Controller was designed with all the inputs for all your games. Paired with Steam Input, it’s the ultimate customizable controller. Thanks to its input parity with Steam Deck, Steam Controller will be pre-populated with community configurations for thousands of games from day one, or you can make and share your own.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.
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GabeCube
This is like 2-3 years too late and the GPU is slower than base PS5 and XSX + only 8 GB of VRAM and 16 GB of RAM (some games already hit 15.5 GB like TLOU 1)
Sure but 3rd parties will likely optimize for the SMach the same way they already do for the SDeck...
Plus you get access to a far larger library of games, pc exclusives, and mods
yah the specs are not so good... It is a bit surprising
But looking at the success of the Steam Deck, I think this will sell.
Just like the Steam Deck I think Valve is going for affordability with this. This is obviously not meant for those already with high end PC, it's for those looking for a more mainstream experience to play PC games. Looking at the specs it's between a Series S and PS5, which for modern games is fine as long as developers properly optimize their games (and stop using UE5).
Whatever helps to dethrone Windows, I'm all for it
Maybe just me, but I don't understand who the Steam Machine is made for. The steam deck, I get, but this?? Why not just buy/build a decent gaming pc? It would either be on par or far outperform this. And I'd think any optimization for the steam machine would also benefit on the PC side.
Buying/building a decent gaming PC comes with gaming PC headaches such as technical issues/drivers. This is a static PC on the hardware front, so it's plug and play. But with it also coming with much more powerful specs than a Steam Deck, means more people can use it more akin to a console on their TV since it can run games at up to 4K/120fps. I've never liked hooking up my desktop to my TV lol too big and cumbersome. This would solve that, and I can keep my beefy rig at my desk.
Eh.. I don't buy that. Consoles with static specs makes sense but a static PC box is just being severely handicapped from the jump. Devs and publishers aren't going to optimize for such a fragmented sector or prioritize what will soon be a hardware locked/limited upgradeable low spec pc. I felt what killed the original steam box is the result of the same stuff that's going to happen with this.. getting dusted by ever improving and new tech. As for PC at the tv, sffs do exist. I have a fairly decent 5L itx (Densium4, i7-13700k, 32gb ram, 3060ti) I built 2 years ago that is a powerhouse for its size, and it's about the size of a lunchbox. I just don't see the value this steam machine brings when any PC can do the same thing in big picture mode. Pricing will matter, but fairly certain with the specs given, PCs with similar or better specs can be had for similar costs.
Most casual gamers do not want to "build" a PC and there are A LOT of casual gamers on steam with outdated devices...
Buying a decent gaming PC typically isn't cheap (<499) and the form factor is typically not TV friendly. So if Valve can get in with a very accessible price that's a clear selling point.
I think this is really targeted at very casual steam gamers who want to keep updating their library, have flexibility of easy TV play and their gaming not being tied to their laptop for example, whilst also benefitting from the OS efficiencies that make the device even more bang for buck & competitive against the consoles whilst offering a wider library.
The audience is clear IMO, it's just not for everyone.
Pick one:
- It's a PC for console gamers. No fuss, no knowledge required. Plug, create an account and play.
- It's a console like machine for PC gamers, who also like TV - couch - controller experience (like me), but don't want to double dip into a completely new ecosystem. Even if it costs more than PS5, all my library and progress is already there.
- It's a mini PC, so it's for everything else that other mini PCs are used for. You can use it for an actual work, as an emulation machine, server .. whatever you like without worrying about the details of your build.
So why did the first iteration of the steam box fail as it hit the check boxes you've pointed out at the time. Convenient, plug and play, non obtrusive looking PC console at the TV? There were similar sentiments about making it for the casuals, but then people quickly realized you could easily build or buy a pre built PC equivalent that would be better hardware and performance wise. Steam is PC gaming at its core. Creating a console for PC gaming with locked or limited hardware just doesn't make sense. Consoles can get away with it because it forces devs to optimize for the hardware limitations. PC is a whole different ball game. How often do consoles come out with hardware already generations behind current hardware at release time? If the steam machine is a still very much a PC at its core, it will suffer from the same issues as a console. The only difference is PC game devs aren't going to optimize for such a small group when PC hardware is already as fragmented as it is.
The deck works because it's PC gaming on the go. The steam machine as a PC will release underpowered. The steam machine as a console will lack console like optimization from devs. Just not seeing it.
"but then people quickly realized you could easily build or buy a pre built PC equivalent that would be better hardware and performance wise."
That's not at all why it failed, the reasons it failed were:
1 - Too many options made by 3rd party PC vendors instead of a real, Valve made hardware like the Steam Deck
2 - Proton didn't exist, so the game library available for those machines depended on game companies actually porting their games to Linux, and we know how that went
To add to that, console gaming has lost some of the pull factors it had ten years ago (exclusives, physical media, price). You would never have gotten me to to buy a steam machine in 2015 - but today, seeing where Xbox goes, seeing Playstation putting more of their games on PC anyway, seeing physical media inevitably going away- the new Steam Machine is a valid proposition for me, giving me the console-like experience I want with the benefit of the Steam library. If it provided the equivalent to a (mid-)generational leap in performance over my Series X and PS5 it would be my next "console" (also at +1000 USD), no hesitation. But since I own both of these, I don't see the reason to buy this iteration of the Steam Machine. Still, I think it is a great concept and form factor.
Honestly... For a mini-PC its kind of a beast
Maybe I'll check it out if the price isn't crazy.
PC parts are exempt from the current tariffs so hopefully it wont be too bad.
Dimensions:
GameCube (150mm / 161mm / 110mm)
S-Machine (156mm / 162mm / 152mm)
I don't believe this was an accident
Mind blown that the GameCube wasn’t actually a cube.
You'll need Steve Jobs for that
Ah yes the Mac G4 Cube. Didn’t have one, looked sleek in its day but apparently wasn’t any good.
The Steam Machine is a little crap on the specs, I was hoping for something better.
16GB of System Ram as we enter 2026 is highly limiting... Needed to be 24-32GB.
Not to mention only a 6-core CPU when 8-core is the norm... Which isn't as big of a deal as one would think, modern Zen4 6 core CPU at a healthy clock will beat the consoles lower clocked 8 core chips, the extra 2 cores would have been good for system longevity.
...But the real poor aspect is the GPU. It's basically a Radeon RX 7400. Not even a Radeon RX 9000 class with FSR4 support.
It's not a true 4k, 60fps machine unless it's older or simpler titles.
Nah. 16GB is terrible. I am finding some games exceed that. Indeed the VRAM is a problem, but probably a good match considering how weak the GPU is, there comes a point where diminishing returns sets in... I doubt a desktop Radeon RX 7400 equivalent GPU is powerful enough to manage a data set greater than 8GB effectively.
Valve taking their knowledge from the Steam Deck and doing Steam Machine again is a good step. More competition. Hope they invest in the VR though, both them and Sony seem to want to get it to work but VR needs killer apps on there and as most big publishers just aren't doing it, it's up to Valve and Sony to do it.
Benefit that Valve has here is that it's fully compatible with your entire Steam library rather than it only being useable with VR-only games the way the Valve Index was. Nice incentive for users since it's running the exact same version of SteamOS that the Steam Deck/Machine uses.
The included 6GHz dongle is nice to have as well if the headset isn't powerful enough to run a AAA game natively, so you can stream it from your much more powerful PC. Almost defacto future proofs the headset.
Valve released a killer app years ago, Half-Life Alyx. I might finally get a VR headset now to play it.
Game breaker
Valve and steam getting ready for the next gen and taking up the arms race!
Hopefully its much more powerful than a series s
My honest pricing prediction:
$399 - 512GB Steam Machine, no Controller
- I am thinking Valve will drastically undercut both PS5 and Xbox Series X with the base model, but not include a controller. This is because part of the appeal of a SteamOS/Linux box is openness - how many customers of it will already have a DualSense, Xbox Controller, or other PC controller lying around that can work with the Steam Machine just fine? This helps keep costs down especially in the face of unpredictable tariffs.
$599 - 2TB Steam Machine, with Steam Controller - And for the other model, Valve will include the controller, but have a big $200 difference in price. The extra cost to Valve between 512GB and 2TB of NAND is probably like ~$40, and then the included controller adds on to that, but still at $200 more it should be profitable and with some buffer margins built-in for tariffs. Nobody likes having to raise the price of something two months later.
Come on $199.99
My money is on 189.99
Hail Gaben! End the age of Windows!
The original Steam Controller was quite honestly one of the worst controllers I've used, so it's a guaranteed improvement if nothing else. Still looks a bit akward but I guess they learned something.
Basically a Steam Deck without the screen lol
Curious what the battery life and price will end up being but this looks very promising.
