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The first Steam Machines, built in partnership with brands like Alienware, CyberPowerPC, and iBuyPower, came onto our radar in 2014 and were designed to bring the flexibility, convenience, and compact build of a console to PC gaming. Now, there’s a whole new generation. Valve officially announced the Steam Machine, manufactured as a first-party, in-house PC, along with a new Steam Controller in November 2025. After a delay, the Steam Machine launched in late June 2026.
The Steam Machine is essentially a great beginner-friendly mini PC and console hybrid that runs on SteamOS and is easy to use with the top gaming TVs and monitors. With it comes nearly plug-and-play access to your entire Steam library, either 512GB or 2TB of storage, processors ready for up to 4K gaming with FSR 4.1, and more. According to Valve, it has "over six times the horsepower of Steam Deck," and unlike consoles, it can be used as a typical pre-built gaming PC, offering the ability to download other operating systems and apps.
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Steam Machine Review
IGN’s PC hardware expert, Jackie Thomas, reviewed the Steam Machine. She gave it a 'Great' 8/10 rating and had the following to say:
"At 1049ドル (and 1349ドル for the 2TB model), the Steam Machine seems like it’d be hard to recommend to most people. And while that’s true for console faithfuls, the Steam Machine’s price makes it an incredible entry-level gaming PC, especially if all the drivers and settings tweaking has turned you off in the past. At the end of the day, this is a gaming PC that most people are going to be able to just plug into their TVs and get right into the game. And, really, that’s what the Steam Machine was always meant to be."
Steam Machine – Hands On Photos
Steam Machine Specs
The Steam Machine is an unassuming 6-inch cube-shaped PC, with its shell doubling as a giant heatsink, thereby requiring only a single fan for cooling. Plenty of USB ports are onboard to plug in peripherals, an HDMI and a DisplayPort are available for displays, and the memory card slot makes it easy to swap in the microSD from your Steam Deck for quick access to your gaming library; a 2TB model Steam Machine, instead of the 512GB, is also available for those with bigger local storage needs.
Packing a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 4 processor, an RDNA 3 GPU with 28 CUs, and 16GB RAM, it’s not the most powerful, high-end rig. Still, it shouldn’t have trouble running most modern games, though some 4K gaming may require setting tweaks. The SteamOS software is Linux-based, allowing the Steam Machine to function as a traditional desktop workstation and run Epic Games or other game libraries.
See all of the Steam Machine’s specs below:
| Steam Machine (2026) | |
|---|---|
| CPU | AMD RDNA3 28CUs (up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP) |
| GPU | AMD RDNA3 28CUs (2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP) |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM |
| Storage | 512GB NVME SSD/2TB NVMe SSD |
| Expandable Storage | microSD card slot |
| Operating System | SteamOS 3 (Linux) |
| Power Supply | Internal |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Gigabit ethernet, Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller adapter |
| Video Input | DisplayPort 1.4 (up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz), HDMI 2.0(up to 4K @ 120Hz) |
| Additional Ports | 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-A 2.0, 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Dimensions | ~6 x 6 x 6 inches |
| Weight | 5.7 pounds |
| MSRP | 1,049ドル (512GB)/1,349ドル (2TB) |
Where to Buy - Price & Availability
The Steam Machine’s price starts at 1,049ドル for the 512GB model, which is much higher than what Valve originally planned back in November. The skyrocketing costs of PC components, especially RAM, is the reason for the increased price. While it’s far more expensive than mainstream consoles, the Steam Machine’s pricing is on par with similarly powered mini PCs, and Valve refuses to subsidize the device.
Beyond the 512GB model, a 2TB Steam Machine is available for 1,349ドル. Besides the increased storage space, both models are identical performance-wise. The 2TB Steam Machine also includes red fabric and solid walnut faceplates for a different aesthetic. Both models offer the option to bundle a Steam Controller, which received a 9/10 rating in IGN’s review, for 79,ドル rather than the typical 99ドル.
The best place to purchase the Steam Machine is directly from the Steam Store. Due to high demand, a reservation system is in place to "improve the purchase experience and limit resellers." On the site, you must sign up for the Steam Machine or Steam Machine bundle you wish to purchase. After being added to the waitlist, you’ll be notified via email when more units are available.
Steam Machine Playable Games
From indies to AAA titles, the Steam Machine supports many games available in the Steam Library. To determine which titles work best with the mini PC, Valve is currently working on the Steam Machine Verified Program, similar to the Steam Deck. Games must run at 1080p at 30fps to be Machine Verified. Beyond that, any Deck Verified Game is automatically Steam Machine Verified, so just like the Steam Deck, you must be able to use a controller all of the time.
Even if a game isn’t Machine Verified, it will likely still be playable. Some adjustments to settings may be needed. Plus, titles that require mouse and keyboard can easily be played, as the Steam Machine offers plenty of input options. It can even act as a host for streaming to other devices running Steam or Steam Link, such as the Steam Deck or Steam Frame.
Titles on Epic Games and even Xbox Game Pass can also be played on the Steam Machine. However, some workarounds may be required to get the apps downloaded and controls recognized properly.