GoKawiilValve is still determined to release its living room PC game console, called the Steam Machine, despite skyrocketing prices for gaming hardware across the board, including the company's own Steam Deck. June was considered one of the most likely times for Valve to release its home console, but while there is no specific release date yet, Valve did offer an update on when it will launch the Steam Machine.
The Steam Machine is set to release sometime this summer, according to a blog post by Valve on Thursday. It will come out alongside the Steam Frame, Valve's VR headset, which was revealed along with the Steam Machine and new Steam Controller last November.
The Steam Machine is Valve's gaming PC, built into a roughly 6-inch cube that's designed to connect to a living room TV. The aim is to deliver a simplified PC gaming experience for a broad audience, and for game developers to optimize for a single spec like they've done with the Steam Deck. While the Steam Machine's hardware is expected to be slightly more powerful than the standard PS5 or Xbox Series X, the company doesn't see the Steam Machine as a direct competitor to those consoles. Pricing has yet to be confirmed, but with the ongoing shortage of PC memory, the price will not be easy on gamers' wallets.
Here's everything we know about the Steam Machine.
When does the Steam Machine come out?
Valve confirmed on Thursday that the Steam Machine has a summer release date. When the hardware was first revealed, the company said it would be coming in early 2026. On Feb. 4, Valve confirmed the PC would be delayed in its first major update about the Steam Machine since it was unveiled.
This year is turning out to be quite a tumultuous time for gaming. It's been almost six years since the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, which is usually the time when those companies would begin teasing their new hardware. However, due to the memory shortage, those companies have instead been forced to increase the prices of their respective consoles and will likely hold off big news about their next-generation hardware until memory prices come down. Game developers are also petrified of releasing anything in November or else get caught up in the whirlwind of hype that is Grand Theft Auto 6, set to release on Nov. 19. If there's an ideal time for Valve to release its new console, it will be mid-August as a buffer from September, which is getting flooded with game releases.
Make some space in your living room for the Steam Machine. Valve
Can I preorder the Steam Machine?
There are no preorders available for the Steam Machine yet. When preorders become available, they will likely be available on the Steam Machine hardware page.
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