Valve has announced three new hardware devices coming in 2026 – the Steam Controller, the Steam Frame (a wireless VR headset) and the top of the list, the Steam Machine, a compact PC running SteamOS that allows users to play games on a big screen TV.
If that sounds familiar, it’s because Valve announced the same thing a decade ago, but that the Steam Machine relied on third-party builders and an early SteamOS that struggled with game support.
Valve believes the time has come to try again as SteamOS has become a much stronger platform.
The new Steam Machine uses a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 processor with an RDNA3 graphics setup. Valve says the device is built for 4K60 gaming using FSR, and it includes 16GB of DDR5 and 8GB of GDDR6.
The system supports DisplayPort and HDMI and includes Wi Fi 6E, Bluetooth and an LED light bar that reflects activity.
The cooling design is unusually large for a system of this size. A 120mm fan sits in the center of the airflow path, and the chassis draws air from the sides and bottom to keep performance stable, even when placed in closed TV units.
While the Steam Machine is aimed at gamers who want a simple living room setup, it likely won’t be cheap (exact price is currently unknown) and won’t include dedicated entertainment apps.
There are plenty of affordable mini PCs that can run SteamOS with little work and also perform other tasks, such as streaming. Here are five of our favorites to consider (with a bonus option at the end), with some currently discounted for Black Friday.
Best Steam Machine Alternatives
Consider a laptop
