GoKawiilWe finally have the Steam Machine in our hands, and it feels good to hold another mainstream gaming device that ships with Linux . The Steam Deck put Linux in the hands of countless gamers, and abandoning Windows for Linux was finally a real option for many who previously thought it a joke. We recently test-drove a few gaming-oriented distros , and the Linux gaming experience is good these days. Valve is doubling down on its SteamOS bet with the Steam Machine, and the gamble seems to be paying off.
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Front and back of the Steam Machine
Physically, there is a lot to like. It is a tiny, cute form factor affectionately called the GabeCube in many circles. The magnetically attached front plate can easily be removed or swapped out; Valve showcased a few options, including an e-ink display on the front . Valve released CAD files for the Steam Deck , which enables endless possibilities , and we bet they will release the same for the Steam Machine.
We put the Steam Machine through some testing before we handed it back to David and Linus to review in the LTT video linked below.
Hardware Behind the Software
The trouble with the Steam Machine is that software is only as good as the hardware behind it, and the Steam Machine’s platform disappoints for a mid-2026 release.
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