Valve, the company that owns Steam, has just brought back its hardware ambitions in a way no one quite expected. After years of focusing on Steam Deck and software updates, the company has announced three devices that together mark its biggest push into console territory since 2015. There is a new Steam Machine console, a next-gen Steam Controller and a brand-new Frame VR headset, all set to arrive in Spring 2026.
SurveyThe idea seems to be simple. Bring a full PC-grade experience to the living room and make it as seamless as firing up a console. Read on to know more.
Also read: From consoles to the cloud: Why gaming in India is entering a new era
Steam Machine aims for PC-level performance
The new Steam Machine is built like a compact gaming PC, yet behaves like a console the moment you turn it on. It comes in 512 GB and 2 TB configurations and runs SteamOS with the familiar library, cloud saves, quick resume and all the software niceties PC players are used to.
Under the shell sits a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 processor with six cores and twelve threads, paired with an RDNA3 GPU that promise to comfortably push 4K visuals at 60 FPS with ray tracing and FSR. Valve says the machine is more than six times more powerful than the Steam Deck.
It also comes with 16 GB DDR5 RAM, 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM, plenty of ports including HDMI and DisplayPort, Wi-Fi 6E, Ethernet and an internal power supply. A customisable LED bar sits on the front panel and doubles as a status indicator during installs, boots and downloads.
About Steam controller
The Steam Controller is returning too, this time built for modern platforms and longer play sessions. It connects through a low latency wireless puck, Bluetooth or USB, and works across Windows, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck, Steam Machine, mobile phones and the new Frame VR system.
There are magnetic thumbsticks for better precision, HD haptics across the trackpads and grips, capacitive touch sensors, gyro controls and a rechargeable battery rated for over 35 hours. Valve even added assignable grip buttons and trackpads that can mimic mouse behaviour, which should make strategy titles and shooters feel closer to a PC without forcing players to reach for a keyboard.
About the new VR headset
The Steam Frame VR headset is designed for players who want the freedom of standalone VR without giving up the depth of PC-powered games. It runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset paired with 16 GB of unified RAM, giving it the horsepower needed for demanding VR workloads.
Each eye gets a 2,160 × 2,160 LCD panel with refresh rates between 72 Hz and 120 Hz, with an experimental 144 Hz mode for smoother gameplay. The visuals will be delivered through custom pancake lenses and the tracking is fully inside-out, handled by four external cameras for movement and two internal cameras for accurate eye-tracking with foveated rendering.
Coming to storage, there are 256 GB and 1 TB options with a microSD slot for expansion. The core module weighs just 190 grams and the complete headset sits around the 430 gram mark, which makes it one of the lighter premium VR devices launching soon.
But, what about the price and availability?
Valve is pitching the VR headset as its next leap in high-end VR. While the company hasn’t shared pricing, specs suggest it will sit in the premium category. Gamers on forums are already speculating that it could land around the thousand-dollar mark.
The Steam Machine is also expected to sit in the eight hundred to thousand-dollar range depending on storage, though these are all community guesses. Valve is avoiding price talk for now and has not confirmed whether the controller will be bundled by default worldwide.
As for availability, Valve has confirmed that all three devices will begin rolling out globally in early 2026, with dedicated Steam Hardware pages already live for the Steam Machine, Steam Controller and Steam Frame. Players can now add the products to their wishlist to receive updates as launch plans progress.
The console market seems to be heading into a hybrid future where the line between PC and console keeps blurring. Microsoft is preparing a next-gen Xbox that behaves more like a prebuilt PC. Sony is reportedly exploring more cross-platform hardware. Nintendo is moving toward more powerful silicon with its next device. And now Valve entering the space again signals confidence that the living room is ready for PC power without PC complexity.
Also read: Microsoft launches Xbox Cloud gaming in India: How to setup on phone and TV
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Divyanshi Sharma
Divyanshi Sharma is a media and communications professional with over 8 years of experience in the industry. With a strong background in tech journalism, she has covered everything from the latest gadgets to gaming trends and brings a sharp editorial lens to every story. She holds a master’s diploma in mass communication and a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Her love for writing and gaming began early—often skipping classes to try out the latest titles—which naturally evolved into a career at the intersection of technology and storytelling. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her exploring virtual worlds on her console or PC, or testing out a new laptop she managed to get her hands on. View Full Profile
