Home NewsValve Announces “Console-PC” Steam Machine, New Controller and VR Headset

Valve Announces “Console-PC” Steam Machine, New Controller and VR Headset

by Carlos Mendoza

Key Takeaways

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  • Valve is introducing the Steam Machine, a console for living rooms running SteamOS, designed to deliver 4K gaming at 60 fps with FSR and ray tracing, offering six times the performance of the Steam Deck.
  • The new Steam Machine features an AMD Zen 4 semicustom CPU with six cores and twelve threads, running up to 4.8GHz, and an AMD RDNA3 semicustom GPU, with a maximum of 28 CUs clocked at 45GHz.
  • The Steam Machine is compatible with modern peripherals, supports game streaming to other Valve devices or via Steam Link, and has a Steam Machine Verified certification program for optimal game performance on the platform.
  • Alongside the Steam Machine, Valve introduced an updated Steam Controller, designed for seamless transitions between couch gaming and precise PC gameplay, featuring magnetic thumbsticks, two large touch-sensitive trackpads, motion sensors, programmable grip buttons, wireless connectivity, and a dedicated puck hub for charging and connecting up to four controllers.

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New Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR Unveiled by Valve for Living Room and VR Gaming

Valve is expanding from PCs into living rooms and the virtual reality world with three new hardware products: the Steam Machine, a redesigned controller, and the Steam Frame VR headset. These releases build on the success of the Steam Deck by blending hardware and software within a unified platform. The Steam Machine is a console designed for the living room, running SteamOS to provide console-style ease and power for the entire Steam game library. Valve states that it delivers six times the performance of the Steam Deck, targeting 4K gaming at 60 fps with FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) support. It also features quiet operation, compatibility with modern peripherals, and game streaming to other Valve devices via Steam Link. Like the Steam Deck, it includes a Steam Machine Verified certification program to identify games that run best on the platform.

Enhanced Steam Machine: Revolutionary 4K Gaming Power with Zen 4 CPU and RDNA3 GPU

Powered by SteamOS Designed for living room console experience Six times the performance of Steam Deck Supports 4K at 60 fps with FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) Redesigned controller and VR headset, Steam Frame Quiet design Compatibility with modern peripherals Game streaming to other Valve devices or via Steam Link Steam Machine Verified certification program for optimal game performance on the platform The Steam Machine features an AMD Zen 4 semicustom CPU with six cores and twelve threads, running up to 4.8GHz at 30W TDP. Its GPU is an AMD RDNA3 semicustom, with a maximum of 28 CUs clocked at 45GHz with a 110W TDP. This configuration enables 4K gaming at 60fps with FSR and ray tracing, delivering over six times the Steam Deck’s performance. Memory specifications include 16GB of DDR5 VRAM and 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. Storage is expandable via a microSD slot, and the device is powered by an internal supply with CA 110-240V input.

For display connections, it supports DisplayPort 1.4 up to 4K at 240Hz or 8K at 60Hz, and HDMI 2.0 up to 4K at 120Hz (compatible with HDR and FreeSync). Networking features include 1Gbps Ethernet and USBC at 10Gbps. The front panel includes four USBA ports, while the back panel has two USB 2 ports, plus WiFi 6E 2×2 and a dedicated Bluetooth antenna. It also has an integrated Steam Controller.

Enhanced Steam Machine and Updated Controller with Advanced Connectivity and Custom Features

The Steam Machine is designed for seamless integration with other PC gear and can be powered on via the Steam Controller to launch SteamOS. It supports game-centric features like suspend/resume and cloud saves through Steam, along with standard Steam features. A customizable LED bar provides status updates, such as downloads or updates. Alongside the Steam Machine, Valve introduced an updated Steam Controller, designed for smooth transitions between couch gaming and precise PC gameplay. This new controller improves upon the original with magnetic thumbsticks to prevent drift and extend lifespan. It also features two large touch-sensitive trackpads, motion sensors, programmable grip buttons, and wireless connectivity via a dedicated puck hub that supports up to four controllers. The puck wirelessly charges the controllers and enables connections via USBC or Bluetooth. The Steam Frame is described as a streaming-first headset, primarily for PC-streamed games, but capable of playing content independently. It is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and uses pancake lenses and internal tracking.

Redesigned Steam Machine and Advanced Controller Debut with Steam Deck and VR Headset in Early 2026

The Steam Deck, Valve’s handheld gaming PC, runs a Linux-based operating system with a customizable user interface, providing access to a wide range of games. Equipped with a quad-core Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU from AMD, the Steam Deck delivers high-performance gaming in a compact form factor. It features a 7-inch touchscreen display with 1280×800 resolution, dual trackpads, and four application buttons. Designed for seamless integration with Steam, it offers access to thousands of games, including triple-A titles optimized for the system’s hardware. Valve is aiming to launch the Steam Machine, redesigned controller, and Steam Frame VR headset in early 2026. While pricing is still tentative, Valve intends to price the Steam Machine around $500, similar to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles. This multi-platform approach seeks to deliver a more cohesive gaming experience, with the Steam Deck enabling portable PC gaming, the Steam Machine extending that experience to the living room, and the Steam Frame providing VR capabilities.

In Case You Missed It

Jonathan Dubinski has been sharing some thrilling news in his recent blog posts. First, he unveils the Steam Frame, an independent VR headset running Steam on ARM architecture using Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, packed with foveated streaming technology for remote game rendering and high-resolution gameplay Steam Frame: The Long-Awaited Independent VR Headset Running Steam on ARM. Then, Sophie Laurent dives into Valve’s latest projects in her insightful article, including an updated Steam Machine console with 4K resolution and expandable storage, as well as a standalone VR headset called Steam Frame with wireless adapters for screen transmission Valve Announces Tabletop Steam Machine Console. Lastly, Dubinski explores Valve Corporation’s ambitious plans to enter the console market with their upcoming Steam Machine, Gaming Commander, and Steam Frame VR headset, offering gamers a more customizable experience Valve to Challenge PlayStation and Xbox with New Steam Machine Console, Gaming Commander, and Steam Frame VR Headset. It’s an exciting time for gaming enthusiasts, with these innovations set to reshape the landscape of virtual reality and console gaming!

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