Valve postpones Steam Machine to 2026: what to expect from Valve's living room console

Valve postpones the Steam Machine release to the first half of 2026 due to RAM and storage shortages; check out dates, specs, and price rumors.

Valve postpones Steam Machine to 2026

Valve has postponed the launch of the Steam Machine to the first half of 2026, citing global shortages of RAM and storage that affect costs and deadlines. The company also signals price adjustments due to the increase in these critical components.

What is the Steam Machine

The Steam Machine is a compact PC created to fit in the living room and offer a console experience for the Steam game library. Despite being presented as a console, it maintains the footprint of a gaming-oriented PC.

Release date and price

Valve announced that the Steam Machine will arrive between the first and second half of 2026. The launch may follow a gradual distribution strategy, similar to the Steam Deck, with direct sales through Steam and regional partners. The price has not yet been confirmed, but the company says it will be at the level of a PC with similar specifications, positioned close to the entry level of the console market.

There were rumors about the price based on listings from a Czech retailer that showed 512 GB and 2 TB models. According to these listings, the indicated values were around 708 pounds (approx. 953 dollars) for the 512 GB model and 796 pounds (approx. 1,072 dollars) for the 2 TB model. It is worth noting that these figures are not official and may include mark-up; Valve has not confirmed the official prices.

Specifications and design

• Size close to a 6-inch cube, designed to fit under the TV or on a desk.
• Runs SteamOS and allows installing other operating systems, maintaining a flexible bootloader.
• Ports: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, four USB-A, one 10 Gbps USB-C, and Ethernet.
• Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and dedicated wireless receiver for the Steam Controller.
• 16 GB of RAM and storage options of 512 GB or 2 TB, with upgrade possibility via NVMe; microSD support.
• Support for HDR, FreeSync, and possible ray tracing with compatible hardware; target of 4K at 60 fps with upscaling.
• The Steam Machine will maintain usage flexibility, not being as strictly locked down as a traditional console.
• Distribution should follow the Steam Deck model, with direct sales through Steam and regional partners.
• Initial compatibility may not be perfect for games that use kernel anti-cheat, a common limitation in hybrid hardware launches.

Performance and experience

According to Valve, the Steam Machine should deliver more than six times the power of the Steam Deck and run most of the Steam library, including modern AAA games. The company also highlights the ability to run games outside of Steam, provided the user is willing to adjust advanced settings.

Final considerations

With a focus on the living room format, the Steam Machine positions itself as a hybrid option between PC and console. The progress of the definitive announcement and pricing will depend on the evolution of components and market demand, including advances in technologies like upscaling.

Are you excited about the Steam Machine? Do you plan to wait for the launch to test the experience at home or prefer to keep your investment in traditional consoles? Leave your comment and tell us what grabs your attention most about this launch.

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