The Steam Machine - the new console from Valve - is almost here! (Kind of. I'll get to that. Valve's little black box offers you the power to play your Steam libary on your television. For console players, it offers an alternative to the Steam Deck or a gaming PC. Before deciding whether this console is for you though, I recommend taking a look at Eurogamer's Steam Machine review and how to buy a Steam Machine.

Staying on this page, I'll take you through everything worth knowing about the Steam Machine: from the release date to the price to the specs. I've also taken a look at the new Steam Controller as well.

On this page:

  • Machine release date
  • Machine price
  • Machine trailer
  • Machine design and features
  • Machine specs
  • Controller design and features
  • Controller specs
  • Coverage roundup
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Steam Machine release date

The first batch of order confirmation emails for the Steam Machine will be released on Monday 29th June 2026.

That's right: first batch. Rather than having a traditional console release date, where all of the available units are released all at once globally, Valve has instead decided to release the Steam Machine in batches. If you're placed on the reservation list for a model in your region (a process being done via a one-time randomisation), you'll be notified when your batch has become available. You will then have 72 hours to purchase your Steam Machine or else it will be allocated to somebody on the waitlist.

Valve aims to get all of the Steam Machines assigned to the reservation list sent out by the end of 2026. So, even if you don't get to purchase your Steam Machine on the 29th June, you'll hopefully have one before the next year rolls around. The good news is that once you've received an order confirmation email and actually brought your Steam Machine, it will be sent to you. How long you wait just all depends on where you are in the reservation queue.

Valve has gone with this release method partially because it helps prevent scalpers from scooping up a large number of Steam Machines and selling them at a higher price straight away. (You can only buy one Steam Machine per household.) It also most likely helps control Steam Machine stock, meaning they hopefully won't over promise on the number of available units.

The downside is that you personally might not be able to purchase a Steam Machine any time soon depending on whether you end up on the reservation or waitlist. If you really want a Steam Machine, and can afford to do so, I recommend signing up for all of the units and bundles. Since each unit and bundle has its own reservation list and your final placement is decided upon which list you're highest on, doing so will increase your chance of actually getting a Steam Machine.

Just remember that you'll only be able to purchase one of the units or bundles (you'll be removed from the other reservation / waitlists after they've been organised). You may also end up having to pay more than you originally planned depending on which list you end up on. Still, this method is worth considering if you really want Valve's black box.

You have until Thursday 25th June at 6pm (BST) / 7pm (CEST) / 1pm (EDT) / 10am (PDT) to sign up for the Steam Machine. You can still sign up after this date, but you will be added to the back of the waitlist.

Image credit: Eurogamer

Steam Machine price

Valve has revealed the prices both the Steam Machine 512GB and 2TB. Along with this, the prices for two bundles - one for each Steam Machine model including the Steam Controller - have been announced as well.

GBP EUR USD CAD AUD PLN Steam Machine
512GB 879 1,039 1,049 1,509 1,609 4,389 Steam Machine
512GB and
Steam Controller 938 1,108 1,128 1,628 1,728 4,698 Steam Machine
2TB 1,149 1,359 1,349 1,919 2,109 5,739 Steam Machine
2TB and
Steam Controller 1,208 1,428 1,428 2,038 2,228 6,048

Note: If you purchase either the Steam Machine 2TB by itself or the 2TB controller bundle, then you'll also receive two additional faceplates - red fabric and solid walnut.

If you fancy this console, make sure you know how to buy a Steam Machine.

As you can see, the price for both models of the Steam Machine are a little higher than what people were expecting. The reason behind this, however, is an obvious one - the increased price of PC components. Namely how much the cost of RAM and storage components has risen over the past couple of years. Valve has described the decision to not subsidize the price of the Steam Machine as one done to protect open system.

When talking to Eurogamer, Lawrence Yang, Valve UX Designer, explained that Valve see the Steam Machine as a PC and that means it's "still part of the open PC ecosystem, which we [Valve] are huge believers in. We think that it's really important for people to have choice in what they play and how they play it. So, if they want to have a Steam Machine to play, that's great. If they want to build a different PC to play games in their living room, that's also great."

If you don't fancy a Steam Machine, but are looking for a PC build with similar specs then James Archer, deputy editor of our PC-focused site RPS, recommended a mini ITX rig ("something like Nvidia's RTX 5050") when answering our big tech questions about the Steam Machine.

Image credit: Eurogamer

Steam Machine trailer

Here's the Steam Hardware Announcement Valve released to reveal the Steam Machine, new Steam Controller and Steam Frame:

Steam Hardware Announcement Steam Hardware AnnouncementWatch on YouTube

Steam Machine design and features

The Steam Machine is a new console from Valve which will lets you to play your PC games on your television. It's essentially the answer to anyone who doesn't want to invest in a gaming PC nor really fancies buying a Steam Deck (or can't hold one because they have small hands like me). Though it shares the same name as the original Steam Machine released ten years ago, the new Steam Machine has been developed in-house by Valve.

While the Steam Machine may look like it's an Xbox Series X cut in half, size-wise it's actually more akin to the GameCube - being only a little taller and wider than Nintendo's sixth generation console (be it without the handle). This allows the Steam Machine to fit snugly beneath your television unlike other, slightly more unwieldy consoles, like the PlayStation 5.

Though the Steam Machine wasn't designed to resemble either the Xbox Series X nor the GameCube. Instead, when talking to Will Judd, Valve revealed that the console has been built around the fan with the laws of thermodynamics in mind. Valve then went on to explain that "if you know how much air you need, you can lock in a fan design pretty early on" and once you know "how big the fan is, everything else kind of falls from that."

The fan on the back of the Steam Machine. | Image credit: Eurogamer

The result is this sleek little black cube, with an LED bar running close to its bottom at the front. This light bar will actually be customisable too, allowing you to change the colours and animation. You will even be able to use it to showcase download status for games, whether something is updating or if the console is booting up.

The front plate above the light strip is also customisable, with the plate itself being magnetic to make it easier to clean. Valve is also planning on making the 3D files for this plate available, so people can print their own custom versions. The 2TB model comes with two faceplates - red fabric and solid walnut - for you to pick and choose from. Don't worry if you're planning on getting the 512GB model though as people are already making their own faceplates! Like DBrand who've come up with a Companion Cube design. (Cake not included.)

Two Steam Machine models are available at launch - one with 512GB storage and one with 2 TB. You also have the option to purchase the console in a bundle with the new Steam Controller (details on that further below). The new Steam Controller isn't a necessity, however, as the Steam Machine is be compatible with other controllers, accessories and PC peripherals. Though the new Steam Controller can turn on the Machine and, depending on your model, even your TV.

When discussing the Steam Machine on the Friends Per Second podcast, Pierre-Loup Griffais explained that it would be "more in line with what you might expect from [the] current PC market".

Though there will be a number of features which will make the Machine more akin to a console rather than just being a condensed PC, with Graffais highlighting, "some integration features like HDMI CC, being able to turn on your TV, turn off your TV… that's all hard to do, but more importantly you can turn on the machine from your controller, which is not something that's straightforward depending on the kind of PC you have… so, being able to sit down on your couch, press one button on your controller and the whole thing lights up like you would expect for a thing that's in your living room, I think that's very valuable."

Enough about the Machine's outside though, let's take a look at its inside with the Steam Machine specs…

The LED light bar at the bottom of the Steam Machine. | Image credit: Valve

Steam Machine specs

Here's a summary of the Steam Machine specs:

Spec Steam Machine Models 512GB or 2TB (both NVMe SSD); available standalone or bundled with Steam Controller Dimensions 156mm (w) x 152mm (h) x 162mm (d) Weight 2.6 kg CPU Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C/12T, up to 4.8GHz, 30W TDP GPU Semi-custom AMD RDNA 3 28CUs, 2.45GHz sustained clock, 110W TDP, 8GB GDDR6 Performance Supports 4K gaming at 60fps with FSR, RT supported, 6x more powerful than Steam Deck RAM 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM (upgradeable) Storage Expansion Fits 2230/2280 NVMe SSDs, MicroSD slot Power Supply Internal, AC power 110V/240V I/O DisplayPort 1.4 (up to 4K 240Hz / 8K 60Hz) w/ HDR, FreeSync, daisy-chaining; HDMI 2.0 (up to 4K 120Hz) w/ HDR, FreeSync, CEC, gigabit ethernet, 10Gbps USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB-A ports (2x front USB 3, 2x rear USB 2), dedicated BT antenna ConnectivityWi-Fi - 2x2 Wi-Fi 6E
Bluetooth - Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna
Steam Controller - Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter LED Strip 17 Individually addressable RGB LEDs for system status and customizability Operating System SteamOS 3 (Arch-based) Desktop KDE Plasma Other Features Works with other controllers, accessories and PC peripherals, wake with Steam Controller

When it comes to actually using the Steam Machine, in his review, Chris Tapsell noted that it's "extraordinarily quiet and has had zero issues with heat." (Though he does touch on wood for that last point.) He did a little bit of experinmenting and was unable to hear the Machine when playing triple-A games from both inside and outside of a cupboard. (With the TV on mute too just to be sure.) Despite being a quiet little beast, the Steam Machine does lack a little in the performance department with it being slightly below an RTX 5050 build, which itself is roughly around a base PlayStation 5 in terms of performance.

This lower performance does feel like it matches with Valve's goal of positioning the Machine to be "pretty close to the PC entry level" by offering "a good 4K60 experience using FSR upscaling for the whole catalogue". When discussing whether any recent big games could run at 4K on the Steam Machine, James Archer, deputy editor over at RPS, explained that players might be surprised what the console could play "with lowered settings and enough upscaling". The FSR 4 here does some of the heavy lifting, especially if you want to play at higher resolutions, since, while it's not faster than the FSR 3, it does look better.

It's also worth noting that any game with anti-cheat software requiring kernel-level access is currently unplayable on the Steam Machine. We're talking your Fornite, Apex Legends, GTA Online etc. (Archer noted during his interview with Eurogamer that there is a work around for this restriction on the Steam Deck and, while he hasn't tried it yet, there could be one on the Machine too.) On the games the Steam Machine can play, you may have to mess around with the graphics settings to get it looking just right and you'll have to use desktop mode if you want to download any third-party software. The Machine also lacks a number of modern console features, such as Quick Resume.

Image credit: Eurogamer

Returning to the topic of the (operating system), the Steam Machine comes running Steam OS just like the Steam Deck. If you fancy a different OS, however, you'll be free to download whatever you like. Even if it feels a little complicated, Valve has ensured it's possible to install third-party apps and games you've bought elsewhere to ensure, in their words, you can "bootloader to your heart's content". This includes third-party gaming platforms like GOG. Since there's also an in-built micro SD card slot for expanded storage. It's also perfect for moving games between your Steam Deck, Steam Frame or PC if you use this type of storage device. This would make part of your game catalogue more portable in doing so!

Finally, despite being small, the Steam Machine is locked and loaded with a whole variety of ports. While the full list can be found on the table above, there's four full-size USB-A ports divided between USB 2 and USB 3 speeds. Along with that, the built-in power-supply also negates any need for additional power-related hardware, making the Steam Machine easy to add to your current gaming setup.

Where to find the inputs and outputs on the Steam Machine. | Image credit: Valve

Steam Controller design and features

The new Steam Controller was revealed alongside the Steam Machine. While it was most likely been designed with the Machine in mind, it's compatible with a variety of devices, such as the Steam Deck, and you can find the full list in the specs table further along this page.

Appearance-wise, the new Steam Controller looks very similar to the current gen Xbox controller - be it a bit more chonky in the middle where the touchpad sits. These touchpads have been canted (rotated inwards) to create a more comfortable design for long use too. When it comes to the button layout, however, you'll find that it now follows what has essentially become the industry standard - two thumbsticks, four buttons on the right, D-Pad on the left, two back buttons on either side and three additional buttons in the middle.

The buttons on the right-hand side of the new Steam Controller. | Image credit: Valve

When talking to Will Judd about the controller's design, Valve explained that the focus was to ensure anyone was "able to play any game on Steam, no matter if it's designed for a gamepad and all the familiar inputs" or "designed for keyboard and mouse or any other inputs using the extra set of inputs that we've designed over the years." What I'm personally hearing is that I should be able to play RuneScape on the Steam Machine using this new controller, but I'll still have to playtest it to make sure…

There will be three main ways to connect the new Steam Controller to your chosen device - USB tethered play, Bluetooth and the Steam Controller Puck. Taking a look at this puck, it's important to note that the Steam Controller will be able to connect to the Machine without it. Though it will still come in handy when charging the controller, which itself should have a minimum 35 hour charge according to Valve. Each puck also has the ability to support up to four Steam Controllers at once, with the latency hopefully remaining at 8ms regardless of how many controllers are connected. This should hopefully mean you're able to take your Steam Controller round a friend's house to game without encountering any problems.

Now let's take a closer look at the Steam Controller specs…

The back buttons / triggers on the new Steam Controller. | Image credit: Valve

Steam Controller specs

Below you'll find a summary of the new Steam Controller specs we know about so far. Keep in mind that these specs may have changed when the controller is released.

Spec Steam Controller Compatibility Windows, Mac and Linux PCs, PC handhelds, iOS / Android via Steam Link, Steam Deck, Steam Machine, Steam Frame Connectivity 2.4GHz wireless via Steam Controller Puck, Bluetooth, USB Puck Pre-paired and plug-and-play, proprietary wireless w/ 8ms end-to-end latency and 250Hz polling rate, 4x Steam Controllers per Puck Battery Life 35+ hour play time, charge via Puck or USB Thumbsticks TMR for improved responsiveness, reliability and capacitive touch HD Haptics 4x haptic motors, including 2x LRA haptic motors in trackpads for HD tactile feedback and 2x high-output LRA haptic motors in grips for HD game haptics including rumble Inputs Face buttons, d-pad, L/R triggers, L/R bumpers, View / Menu / Steam / QAM buttons, 4x assignable grip buttons, 2x trackpads, 6-axis IMU, capacitive grip sense

The new Steam Controller is arguably the first 'first-party' console gamepad to come with the TMR thumbsticks. These have a new type of magnetic sensor which is more precise in picking up your movements, which should result in smoother gameplay. Best of all, however, TMR thumbsticks are generally more durable and more likely to be resistant to issues like stick drift. (Unlike the original Joy-Cons for the Nintendo Switch.) This should hopefully result in the new Steam Controller having a longer life span compared to other models on the current market.

The Steam Controller also comes with optional gyro-based motion controllers and a new feature called 'GripSense'. This feature is capable of detecting exactly how you're holding the controller and, by doing so, can activate or deactivate gyro aiming accordingly. Tou will also have the power to assign 'GripSense' to other inputs if you so choose though. This will hopefully create more fluid gameplay, with an aspect of customisation you can apply to different games, and make gyro-based controls a little easier for anyone who struggles with them.

Image credit: Valve

Steam Machine coverage roundup

Want to learn more about the Steam Machine? Here's a roundup of Eurogamer's coverage, including our recent coverage and some articles from last year you might find interesting:

  • Steam Machine review
  • Steam Machine: the big tech questions answered
  • Valve says Steam Machine's price is "significantly more" than it originally envisaged, and the launch quantity is "less than we wanted to be able to make"
  • "We don't lock our hardware down" - Valve takes a swing at consoles while explaining why it doesn't subsidise the price of Steam Machine
  • Valve's new Steam Machines might be modestly specced but FSR 4 support is a big win for the tiny device
  • Valve finally announces the price of Steam Machine and a sort of release date, but the console-like PC might cost more than you're expecting
  • Steam Machine price and how to buy
  • Steam Machine specs
  • Steam Controller preview: A smart, touch-centric gamepad that also packs in traditional controls
  • Steam Frame preview: A long-awaited standalone VR headset that runs Steam games on ARM
  • How did Valve design its new Steam Machine? It started with the fan, of course
  • Whatever Valve says about its PC-first credentials, its new Steam Machines are another step closer to obliterating the once-indelible line between console and PC
  • "We don't work back from what's happening in other spaces" - Valve's new Steam hardware stems from its PC gaming experience, not what console makers PlayStation and Xbox are doing

Hope you've enjoyed learning more about the Steam Machine, Controller and Frame!