Wednesday, November 12th 2025
Valve Announces Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller
Valve has finally put an end to the months-long rumor cycle about its next-generation hardware. Today, Valve has introduced three new additions to its hardware library with Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller. Starting with the more interesting hardware, we finally have a successor to the original Steam Machine more than a decade after the original was introduced. Also called the Steam Machine, this one brings more modern hardware optimized to co-exist with the SteamOS Linux build, and a powerful software stack to run any game. Available in 512 GB and 2 TB SSD models with microSD expansion, it pairs a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 processor with RDNA 3 graphics to achieve supposed 4K gaming at 60 FPS with ray tracing and FSR support. Being semi-custom GPU, it might be closer to AMD's RDNA 3.5, than the pure RDNA 3.
Bundled with a Steam Controller, the system features an integrated 2.4 GHz radio alongside Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth for wide peripheral compatibility. Video output options include DisplayPort 1.4 for up to 4K at 240 Hz and HDMI 2.0, complemented by Ethernet, USB-C 10 Gbps, and four USB-A ports. Running SteamOS with rapid suspend/resume and wake-on-controller functionality, it combines 16 GB DDR5 system memory with 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM, an internal power supply, and a customizable LED bar that reflects system status for a complete living room experience. Valve has packaged it as a small black box, which will blend in with any HTPC environment.
Next, we have Valve's Steam Frame—the second VR headset from the company. The Steam Frame is designed as a featherweight PC VR gaming headset with a modular architecture, weighting a mere 185 g by itself, and 440 g with included headstrap that includes facial interface, audio, and a rear battery. Inside there is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 16 GB unified LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1 TB storage. This will help it stream Steam games via Wi-Fi 7 and an included low-latency adapter, using eye-tracking to drive foveated streaming that sharpens resolution precisely where you look.
There is a dual 2160x2160 pancake display pair that refreshes at 144 Hz across a 110-degree field. Four outward cameras and an IR illuminator maintain tracking in any environment, so that your VR experience becomes life-like. Integrated audio and a 21.6Wh battery complement the SteamOS experience with full suspend/resume, powering Steam Frame Controllers that feature magnetic TMR thumbsticks and capacitive finger sensing on 40-hour batteries, bridging traditional gamepad familiarity with VR immersion.
Last but not least, we have Valve Steam Controller. This controller works across Steam's whole ecosystem with three ways to connect. The pre-paired Steam Controller Puck is the main hookup, using a proprietary wireless signal that hits about 8 milliseconds of lag at 5 meters—more stable than Bluetooth—and lets you sync up to four controllers at once. You can also use regular Bluetooth or just plug in via USB. The rechargeable battery runs for 35+ hours and charges either through the Puck or a USB cable. For controls, you get magnetic TMR thumbsticks that are super responsive, capacitive grips that can trigger gyro or other commands, and four haptic motors that give really detailed feedback. There's also pressure-sensitive trackpads with a 6-axis IMU, four programmable grip buttons, and all the standard controls you expect. It works with Windows, Mac, Linux, handhelds, phones via Steam Link, and all Steam hardware. Every new hardware announced today will start shipping in early 2026.
Source:
Valve
Bundled with a Steam Controller, the system features an integrated 2.4 GHz radio alongside Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth for wide peripheral compatibility. Video output options include DisplayPort 1.4 for up to 4K at 240 Hz and HDMI 2.0, complemented by Ethernet, USB-C 10 Gbps, and four USB-A ports. Running SteamOS with rapid suspend/resume and wake-on-controller functionality, it combines 16 GB DDR5 system memory with 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM, an internal power supply, and a customizable LED bar that reflects system status for a complete living room experience. Valve has packaged it as a small black box, which will blend in with any HTPC environment.
There is a dual 2160x2160 pancake display pair that refreshes at 144 Hz across a 110-degree field. Four outward cameras and an IR illuminator maintain tracking in any environment, so that your VR experience becomes life-like. Integrated audio and a 21.6Wh battery complement the SteamOS experience with full suspend/resume, powering Steam Frame Controllers that feature magnetic TMR thumbsticks and capacitive finger sensing on 40-hour batteries, bridging traditional gamepad familiarity with VR immersion.
204 Comments on Valve Announces Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller
The Steam Controller, possibly $99 perhaps?
I think the Steam Frame may go for $399 or $499 as well considering the current cost of a Meta Quest 3.
I like it I must say, not the top-notch hardware but well-balanced and with SteamOS3. I still hope for a widespread release around SteamOS.
The Controller looks amazing, but a RDNA 3.x based system is a damn shame, considering FSR 4 is RDNA 4+ (so far).
Same with the VR headset, last gen cores, but at least a lot more modern than the Nintendo Switch 2.
Lots of weird custom stuff done on the Steam Machine, so that is not keeping costs down. It looks like an M.2 2230 SSD, so the performance from that will be meh. Could there be space for a longer one? Seems like Chicony is doing the hardware for them (yes, the keyboard maker is also a large OEM).
Pics from here: www.theverge.com/tech/818111/valve-steam-machine-hands-on-preview-specs-announcement
What's the point of going custom if you're just going to produce another variant of an existing product (Zen 4/RDNA 3.5 APU), with similar flaws?
I guess pretty much the only justification is cost, which is a damn shame. Hopefully it brings joy to those who can't/won't spend more than $500 though, if it hits that price point. Certainly better than a console.
The Steam Deck is still one of the best-selling handhelds, despite being woefully under powered compared to newer offerings. SteamOS offers a much better experience than Windows.
The Steam Machine could be a real PS5/Xbox killer if it's in the same price range, given that we're still at least 2 years away from the PS6.
Same with the Steam Frame. Sure, the hardware is less impressive than the Quest 3S, but the user experience will be far better. It will be especially appealing those those (like myself) still using older VR headsets.
I think the controller may actually be $129 considering its using TMR sticks and hall and has sensors all over the place. Still not bad for what it offers.It may not have Xinput support built-in.
With a friendly smile,
Fred.
Should be cheap then.
cut-down 7600 non-XTRX 7400 (8 GB GDDR6) combined on a customized motherboard built like a laptop or miniPC (which this technically is lol).I'm hoping the CPU is based off Raphael and not any of the Phoenix models as the extra L3 cache would help with performance.
Then again, it might be using the 8500F.Nah it may not be any Phoenix model otherwise that USB-C port should be USB 4.0.The Switch 2 isn't a good comparison with DLSS, it needs DLSS to run some games, and already has had games end up not getting ported over due to the hardware underperforming.
Edit: CPU, APU, dunno how much difference it makes with a 7600M. Probably not a lot.
www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-rx-7600m.c4014
Which means that Valve either has some sort of x86 emulation layer working OR they were able to convince a whole bunch of developers to compile ARM-versions of their games.This could be it. The RX 7400 (desktop) has the same specs too.
fex-emu.com/
fedoramagazine.org/new-in-fedora-running-x86-programs-on-arm-systems/