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Valve Announces New Steam Machine: Features, Release Date, and Potential Price

Valve, the company behind Steam and the successful Steam Deck, is preparing to release a new set of hardware: the Steam Machine, alongside a refreshed Steam Controller and a new Steam Frame VR headset.


Features and Specs

The Steam Machine is designed as a compact gaming PC that feels console‑like but runs on SteamOS, giving players access to Steam’s massive library. Under the hood, it packs a six‑core AMD Zen 4 CPU and a semi‑custom RDNA 3 GPU, capable of 4K gaming at 60 FPS with AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR).


Valve claims this setup is more than six times as powerful as the Steam Deck, which is a huge leap for anyone who’s been gaming on the handheld.


Steam Machine Specs:

Steam Machine.
Steam Machine. | Image Credit: Valve

Models

  • 512GB SSD model

  • 2TB SSD model

  • Bundled option with Steam Controller


CPU

  • Semi-custom AMD Zen 4

  • 6 cores / 12 threads

  • Up to 4.8 GHz clock speed

  • 30W TDP


GPU

  • Semi-custom AMD RDNA 3

  • 28 Compute Units

  • 2.45 GHz max sustained clock

  • 110W TDP

  • Supports 4K gaming @ 60 FPS with FSR

  • Ray tracing supported

  • Over 6× more powerful than Steam Deck


Memory

  • 16GB DDR5 system RAM

  • 8GB GDDR6 VRAM


Storage

  • 512GB & 2TB SSD options

  • microSD card slot for expanded storage


Power

  • Internal PSU

  • AC 110–240V


Display Outputs

  • DisplayPort 1.4: Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K @ 60Hz; HDR, FreeSync, daisy-chaining

  • HDMI 2.0: Up to 4K @ 120Hz; HDR, FreeSync, CEC


Networking

  • Ethernet 1 Gbps

  • Wi-Fi 6E (2×2)

  • Dedicated Bluetooth antenna


USB Ports

  • 1× USB-C (10 Gbps, 3.2 Gen 2)

  • 2× USB-A (USB 3 front)

  • 2× USB-A (USB 2 rear)


Controller Integration

  • Integrated Steam Controller 2.4GHz radio

  • Wake function with Steam Controller

  • Compatible with other controllers and PC peripherals


Operating System

  • SteamOS (same as Steam Deck)

  • Gaming-first UX

  • Fast suspend/resume

  • Steam Cloud saves + full Steam features


Extras

  • 17 Customizable LED bar with colors & animations (reflects system status: downloads, booting, updating)


Size

  • 152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, 156 mm wide

  • Weight: 2.6 kg


Steam Controller Specs

Steam controller.
Steam controller.  | Image Credit: Valve

Supported devices

  • Windows, Mac, Linux PCs; PC handhelds; iOS/Android (Steam Link); Steam Deck; Steam Machine; Steam Frame


Controls & Input

  • Gamepad controls: A, B, X, Y buttons

  • D-pad

  • L & R analog triggers

  • L & R bumpers

  • View & Menu buttons

  • Steam & Quick Access Menu (QAM) buttons

  • 4× assignable grip buttons


Thumbsticks

  • 2× full-size magnetic thumbsticks (TMR technology)

  • Capacitive touch support


Haptics

  • 4× haptic motors

  • 2× LRA haptic motors in trackpads (HD tactile feedback)

  • 2× high-output LRA haptic motors in grips (rumble + HD game haptics)


Trackpads

  • 2× 34.5mm square trackpads with haptic feedback

  • Pressure-sensitive with configurable click strength


Gyro & Grip Sense

  • 6-axis IMU gyro

  • 2× capacitive areas along back handles (Grip Sense input)


Connectivity

  • Steam Controller Puck:

    • 2.4GHz wireless connection (~8ms end-to-end, 4ms polling at 5m)

    • Supports up to 4 controllers per puck

    • Connects to PC via USB-C

  • Bluetooth: 4.2 minimum, 5.0+ recommended

  • USB-C tethered play


Power

  • Charging via Steam Controller Puck interface (USB-C connector)

  • Battery: 8.39 Wh Li-ion

  • 35+ hours of gameplay (reduced when tracked with Steam Frame)


Size & Weight

  • Steam Controller: 111mm × 159mm × 57mm, 292g

  • Steam Controller Puck: 50mm × 28mm × 9mm, 16g


Steam Frame Headset Specs

Steam Frame Headset and controller.
Steam Frame Headset and controller. | Image Credit: Valve

General

  • Processor: 4 nm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 (ARM64)

  • RAM: 16GB Unified LPDDR5X

  • Storage: 256GB / 1TB UFS options + microSD slot

  • Power: 21.6 Wh rechargeable Li-ion battery

  • Charging: USB-C 2.0 rear port, 45W charging

  • Modular Headstrap: Integrated dual audio drivers + rear battery (245g); detachable core module


Display & Optics

  • Display: 2160 × 2160 LCD per eye

  • Refresh Rate: 72–144Hz (144Hz experimental)

  • Optics: Custom pancake lenses, glass/non-glass elements

  • Field of View: Up to 110°

  • IPD Range: 60–70mm

  • Eyeglasses Max Width: 140mm


Cameras & Tracking

  • Tracking: Inside-out camera-based system

  • Cameras:

    • 4× outward-facing monochrome (controller + headset tracking)

    • 2× interior (eye tracking + foveated streaming)

  • Passthrough: Monochrome passthrough via outward cameras

  • Low-light Support: IR illuminators for dark environments


Expansion

  • Front expansion port (user accessible)

  • Dual high-speed camera interface (8 lanes @ 2.5Gbps MIPI)

  • PCIe Gen 4 interface (1 lane)


Connectivity

  • Wi-Fi 7 (2×2) with dual radios for 5GHz + 6GHz VR streaming

  • Wireless Adapter (included): Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz) for low-latency PC link

  • Bluetooth 5.3

  • USB-C rear port


Audio

  • Dual speaker drivers per ear (integrated in headstrap)

  • Dual microphone array


Size & Weight

  • Size: 175mm × 95mm × 110mm (core + facial interface)

  • Weight: 440g (core + headstrap), 185g (core only)


Software

  • OS: SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)

  • Desktop: KDE Plasma


Steam Frame Controller Specs

Controls & Input

  • Motion: Full 6-DOF tracking + IMU support

  • Gamepad: A, B, X, Y buttons (right), D-pad (left)

  • Thumbsticks: Full-size magnetic (TMR) with capacitive touch

  • Triggers: L & R analog triggers

  • Bumpers: L & R bumpers

  • Other Buttons: View, Menu, Steam

  • Grip: Dual-stage grip buttons


Haptics & Finger Tracking

  • Haptic motor in each controller

  • Capacitive sensing on all input surfaces

  • Capacitive finger tracking


General

  • Connectivity: 2.4GHz link to dedicated headset radio

  • Size: 126mm × 73mm × 87mm per controller

  • Weight: 130g (with battery), 107g (without battery)


Power

  • Battery: One replaceable AA per controller

  • Battery Life: ~40 hours


Release Date

Valve is targeting early 2026 for the Steam Machine and its companion devices. That gives the company a few months to finalize pricing and navigate potential supply chain challenges.


Potential Price

Valve hasn’t announced official pricing yet, but we can make educated guesses based on past launches. The Steam Deck debuted at $399 for its base model, prioritizing affordability over cutting‑edge specs. With the Steam Machine using Zen 4 and RDNA 3 hardware, both a generation behind AMD’s latest, it’s likely Valve will aim for competitive pricing rather than premium.


Window Central expects the Steam Machine to debut between $650 and $750, putting it in line with consoles like the Xbox Series X Digital Edition ($599) and the PS5 Pro ($749). Bundles with the new Steam Controller could push the price higher, though Valve may offer discounts to encourage adoption.


Final Word

The Steam Machine represents Valve’s second attempt at small‑form‑factor hardware after its first Steam Machines fizzled out in 2018. With the Steam Deck proving that Valve can deliver compelling devices, this new launch could bridge the gap between console convenience and PC flexibility. If Valve nails the price point, the Steam Machine might just become the go‑to option for gamers who want the best of both worlds.


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