On Wednesday, Valve announced not one, not two, but three new pieces of video game hardware: The console-like Steam Machine, the Steam Body VR headset, and the Steam Controller. All of these items launches someday in 2026 (price unknown) and works collectively, alongside the Steam Deck, to create what’s shaping as much as be a formidable Steam ecosystem that rivals something from Xbox, PlayStation, Apple, or Nintendo.
However saying three items of gaming {hardware} in at some point means there are plenty of data and interviews floating round. So I’ve learn via all of it, in addition to all of Valve’s personal posts, to slim down 16 attention-grabbing, cool, necessary, and enjoyable particulars concerning the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller.
The Steam Machine is bringing again Xbox 360-like faceplates
Valve’s new Steam console incorporates a detachable faceplate that jogs my memory plenty of the Xbox 360 faceplates from again within the day. Sadly, the corporate doesn’t sound dedicated to promoting totally different plates, however they are going to be sharing all of the recordsdata wanted to 3D print your personal. So I count on plenty of third-party plates can be obtainable after launch. Oh, and Valve, you need to completely promote this e-ink plate, please!
Valve desires each recreation working at 4K60 on Steam Machine
“Our benchmark has always been that it should have enough performance to play every game on Steam at 4K60 when you do some sort of upscaling like FSR,” Yazan Aldehayyat, a Valve engineer engaged on the Steam Machine, told PC Gamer. That’s a reasonably large promise and sure will imply some newer, Unreal Engine 5 video games might want to have their settings lowered lots. However video games from just a few years in the past, indie titles, and different related titles ought to run like a dream on the machine.
You’ll be able to simply increase Steam Machine’s storage and even change the RAM
Valve has designed the Steam Machine to allow you to add extra SSD storage simply should you so need. You can too slap in a quick, high-performance SD Card so as to add extra storage. And for these prepared to open the console up a bit extra, you’ll be able to even exchange the RAM, although Valve says this can be tough and sure not one thing most individuals do.
The Steam Machine is reportedly very, very quiet
In response to PC Gamer, the Steam Machine could be very quiet. Even whereas enjoying Cyberpunk 2077 and standing near the Steam console, it barely made any noise.
It’s additionally simply a pc, if you’d like
Much like the Steam Deck, Valve has designed the Steam Machine to be usable as a pc. Hook it as much as a monitor, join a mouse and keyboard, and you’ve got a beefy little Linux-powered desktop PC that may run Steam and different software program simply.
You’ll be able to wirelessly join 4 Steam Controllers to the Steam Machine
Need to play a recreation along with your friends on the Steam Machine? Properly, excellent news: It helps 4 Steam Controllers without delay without having any further dongles. Nifty stuff!
Steam Machine can run Home windows, should you like that form of factor
Should you’re somebody who prefers gaming on Home windows, you’ll be able to swap out SteamOS for Home windows 11 and run that working system as an alternative. I wouldn’t suggest doing this, however hey, I’m not your dad.
The Steam Machine can be obtainable in each nation the place the Steam Deck is bought
Should you can legally purchase a Steam Deck the place you reside now, you’ll be capable to purchase a Steam Machine, Body, and Controller after they launch globally in 2026. Right here’s the listing of nations the place the Steam Deck is presently on the market:
- USA
- Canada
- UK
- Germany
- France
- Australia
- Japan
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Hong Kong
The Steam Deck, Controller, and Body VR headset all work collectively
Valve is making an enormous deal about how all of those new Steam gadgets work collectively and join in numerous methods. So you’ll be able to, for instance, stream a more moderen recreation out of your Steam Machine to your Steam Deck. Or play a Steam Deck favourite of yours natively on the Steam Body headset whereas utilizing the Steam Controller fully wirelessly. And naturally, all of your Steam video games and progress hop round seamlessly between each machine.
Steam Controller’s thumbsticks sound very fancy
The Steam Controller contains Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) thumbsticks, that are even higher, extra dependable, and extra exact than Corridor Impact sticks. “They’re super responsive, meaning that we’re able to lower the default dead zone by more than half. And super reliable. They’ll keep drift at bay much, much, much longer. These things are super great,” Steve Cardinali, an engineer at Valve, told PC Gamer.
The Steam Controller totally helps gyro aiming
Here’s a fun story: The Steam Controller options full gyroscopic management as a result of one particular person at Valve is means into gyro aiming and moved his desk into the identical place the machine was being designed to assist get the characteristic within the gamepad. All you followers of gyro aiming ought to thank that particular person should you get the possibility.
Steam Body is principally a Steam Deck in your face
Whereas they don’t run on the identical {hardware}, the Steam Frame VR headset runs the identical OS because the Steam Deck and may really feel acquainted to anybody who has performed Valve’s moveable PC. And since it’s a standalone machine that runs SteamOS natively, all of your Steam Deck video games might be performed on it in an enormous digital theater.
The brand new VR headset is constructed for streaming, so no extra wires
Whilst you can plug a Steam Body into a pc, Valve has designed the device to be totally wireless. It makes use of a devoted 6 GHz connection through an included USB dongle to ensure your recreation is streamed completely to the headset. Those that have tried it out say it’s flawless, and the shortage of cables is liberating in video games like Half-Life: Alyx.
All Steam Deck Verified video games will immediately be Steam Machine Verified
Valve is increasing its Verified program with the launch of all this new {hardware}. So now video games might be Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and/or Steam Body Verified. And since the Steam Machine is a lot extra highly effective than the Steam Deck and helps a controller expertise, Valve is mechanically marking all Steam Deck Verified video games as Steam Machine Verified. Which means this machine will launch in 2026 with a shit-ton of video games that ought to, in principle, simply play with out situation on it.
You’ll be able to stream video games from the Steam Machine to the Steam Deck
Whereas somebody is watching TV, you need to use the Steam Machine to play a more moderen, extra taxing recreation in your Steam Deck wirelessly through streaming. It’s just like the Wii U is again, however truly good.
