Valve Unveils Innovative Steam Hardware Lineup
Valve has made an exciting return to the hardware scene, but this time it’s not about the Steam Deck. The company has announced three groundbreaking products under the new Steam Hardware brand: the Steam Frame, Steam Machine, and Steam Controller. While two of these concepts have been explored by Valve before, they are now reimagined with advanced technologies and features.
Introducing the Steam Frame: A New Era in VR
The Steam Frame marks Valve’s debut into the realm of wireless virtual reality. It is designed to support an array of both VR and non-VR content, emphasizing a streaming-first approach. Users are encouraged to utilize the provided 6GHz wireless adapter to connect to their PCs for a seamless gaming experience.
“Steam Frame’s dual radios make this connection even more stable: One radio is dedicated to streaming the audio and visuals, and the other connects to your Wi-Fi, ”stated Valve, highlighting the hardware’s innovative connection design.
Equipped with a powerful built-in Snapdragon 8 Series Processor and 16GB of RAM, the headset is set to shine with two high-definition 2160 x 2160 LCD panels, capable of refresh rates ranging from 72Hz to 144Hz. The Steam Frame also features advanced technologies such as foveated streaming, eye tracking, dual stereo speakers, and a new set of controllers.
Steam Machine: Ultimate Plug-and-Play Gaming
The Steam Machine aims to deliver a straightforward plug-and-play experience tailored for living rooms. Powered by a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU boasting six cores and twelve threads, alongside an RDNA3 GPU with 28 compute units, this compact system promises six times the performance of the Steam Deck. Valve claims that gamers will be able to enjoy 4K gaming at 60FPS using FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR).
For connectivity, the Steam Machine is well-equipped with Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, one USB-C, and four USB-A ports. The device will be available in 512GB and 2TB configurations, augmented by expandable microSD storage options.
The Sleek New Steam Controller
Rounding out the lineup is the Steam Controller, which takes design cues from the Steam Deck but without an integrated screen. It features TMR thumbsticks aimed at eliminating drift, together with gyro controls, back grip buttons, and a newly implemented quick-access menu for notifications, friends lists, and Steam Chat.
This controller will operate on an 8.39 Wh Li-ion battery and comes with a unique ‘Puck’ device for easy wireless charging—eliminating the hassle of frequent plug-ins.
Designed for Seamless Gaming
According to Valve, “All of our hardware is Steam first, and built to work seamlessly with Steam.”Each device, including the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame, runs on SteamOS, which is optimized for gaming. This design philosophy aims to provide a plug-and-play user experience without sacrificing the power and flexibility offered by a PC.
Availability and Future Prospects
All three new Steam Hardware products are slated for a 2026 release. While pricing details remain undisclosed, further information regarding the Steam Frame, Machine, and Controller can be found here.
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