Bellevue, Washington-based Valve Software has surprised the gaming world with the announcement of three new physical gaming devices designed to complement its popular digital storefront, Steam. These devices are slated for release in early 2026 and represent a significant return to form for the company.
The lineup includes the Steam Machine – a compact 6-inch cube intended for use in living rooms, the Steam Frame – a standalone virtual reality headset, and a new Steam Controller, boasting advanced interfaces similar to the Steam Deck.
‘We’ve been super happy with the success of Steam Deck, and PC gamers have continued asking for even more ways to play all the great titles in their Steam libraries,’ said Gabe Newell, president of Valve, in a press release. ‘Our work over the years on other hardware and even more importantly on SteamOS has enabled the Steam Controller, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame to do just that.’
The Steam Machine is designed to quietly run games from the Steam library, featuring a removable front panel for decoration and an LED indicator. It runs on a Linux-based operating system built around Steam and can operate as a standalone PC with a KDE Plasma desktop environment when connected to a monitor and keyboard.
The Steam Frame offers standalone VR streaming from a user’s Steam library. It functions as its own PC, eliminating the need for a connected desktop. The Steam Controller, ‘sharing DNA’ with the Steam Deck, is described as high-performance and ergonomic, featuring magnetic thumbsticks, trackpads, a gyroscope, and buttons on the grips. It’s compatible with PCs and laptops in addition to the Steam Machine.
This news follows rumors and leaks, spurred by an accidental release by one of Valve’s partners. Valve hopes to share release dates and prices after the first of the year. This marks a full-circle moment for Valve, which previously attempted to break into the controller and living room markets. Previous editions of both the Steam Controller and Steam Machine were released in 2015 and discontinued in 2019. Valve still sells its high-end Valve Index VR system, released in 2019.
The Steam Deck’s success has reignited Valve’s ambition to reshape the face of PC gaming, particularly given Newell’s long-standing criticism of Windows as an unsuitable environment for computer games. This return to hardware development represents a quiet shot across Microsoft’s bow, focused on expanding Linux’s role in the PC gaming landscape.