By Arriving in 2026
- by Ben Kerry
In classic Valve style, the Steam proprietor has today unveiled a fresh collection of gaming equipment set to launch in 2026 – featuring the Steam Machine which appears to be gearing up to rival offerings from Microsoft and Xbox.
As highlighted in the video above, this new Steam Machine serves as a home console variant of its Steam Deck idea; combining PC and console in the guise of a living room device. It will launch alongside Valve’s fresh controller (with a distinct VR headset also in the pipeline), which similarly to the Steam Deck includes standard controller buttons along with mouse-like trackpads.
The design of the system resembles that of an Xbox Series X sliced in two, with Valve choosing a rather simple aesthetic here. The specifications are quite modest as well, with the Steam owner presumably relying on its optimized Linux-based OS to ensure modern games perform effectively – again, similar to the Steam Deck. It will surpass the company’s handheld device in power, yet seems to be more aligned with current-gen technology than offerings like Microsoft’s high-end next-gen Xbox.
Where the device will undeniably vie with the next-gen Xbox is in its PC-like characteristics. Valve’s ‘console’ is built around Steam – yet it essentially functions as a PC, and with some modifications, it will have access to a wide array of gaming content available on different PC platforms. We’ll need to observe how this performs in reality, and how the next-gen Xbox develops as well – but we are definitely going to monitor both strategies as they unfold in the upcoming years.
“The Steam Hardware family officially broadens in early 2026. Just like Steam Deck, all are optimized for gaming on Steam, and all are crafted to assist players in maximizing their Steam Library.”
“With over six times the power of Steam Deck, Steam Machine can handle your entire Steam library, including your beloved AAA titles. Just log in with your Steam account, and your entire collection is available.”
For now, you can review Valve’s complete Steam Machine spec sheet through a new blog post, and we’ll link to some comprehensive coverage from our colleagues at Digital Foundry below.
What are your thoughts on this, PXers? Discuss the new Steam Machine with us in the comments.
Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and he enjoys action, racing, and straightforward shooting in any Xbox game available. When he’s not gripping an Xbox controller as though his life depends on it, Ben dedicates his time to listening to music that’s way too old for him, watching football on the television, and likely dining somewhere.