Valve announces Steam Machine, a gaming PC that offers a console-like experience

Valve has announced a new console-like PC for playing games on big screens like TVs. It's called the Steam Machine.

Technically, this isn't the first Steam Machine. Valve had released one in 2015, but these PC-style consoles were manufactured by third-parties such as Alienware, Gigabyte. If you're curious, check out this archived web page to learn more about the legacy hardware. Though the first-gen Steam Machine was discontinued in a few years, it wasn't a complete failure, as they were the first devices that came with Valve's Linux-based operating system, SteamOS. We all know where that has led to, the Steam Deck is one of the most popular handheld consoles today, and SteamOS is now available for OEMs again.

Anyway, the new Steam Machine runs on SteamOS 3 which is Arch-based, with KDE Plasma desktop. It supports many features such as fast suspend and resume, a desktop mode, notifications, Steam Input, Steam Store, Cloud Saves, Friends List, Steam Chat, Remote Play, to name a few. It can also stream games to your other devices. Games on Steam will have the Steam Machine Verified if they are compatible with the device, just like how the Steam Deck Verified ratings work.

Valve says that though the Steam Machine comes with SteamOS, users can install any apps they want, or any operating system that they like. It also supports other PC accessories such as a keyboard and mouse. Now, that's a proper console.

It is powered by a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU 6C / 12T that supports up to 4.8GHz, and has a TDP of 30W. The GPU is a semi-Custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs, with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, 2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP. Valve says that the Steam Machine is 6 times more powerful than a Steam Deck, and delivers 4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR. The Steam Machine has 16GB of DDR5 memory, and comes with two storage options: one with 512GB NVMe SSD and the other with 2TB NVMe SSD. There is a high-speed microSD card slot on both models.

For connectivity, the Steam Machine supports 2x2 Wi-Fi 6E, 1 Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.3 (dedicated antenna), and an integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter. The Steam Machine has an LED Strip on the front that has 17 individually addressable RGB LEDs, that can indicate the system status and is customizable.

Coming to the ports on the console, it has a DisplayPort 1.4 that supports up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz, HDR, FreeSync, and daisy-chaining, a HDMI 2.0 port that supports up to 4K @ 120Hz, HDR, FreeSync, and CEC. There are 5 USB ports on the Steam Machine, including 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the front, 2 x USB-A 2.0 High speed ports in the back, and 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in the back. The Steam Machine's power supply is built-into the device, and it supports 110-240V. Users can connect up to 4 Steam Controllers with a single adapter.

The console weighs 2.6kg, and measures 152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, and is 156 mm wide. Here is the official video announcement for the Steam Machine, and this is the listing on the Steam Store.

Valve has not revealed the Steam Machine's price yet. If it is priced affordably, he console is likely to provide some serious competition to the Xbox, and PlayStation. With Xbox's insane price hikes, I wouldn't be surprised if the Steam Machine becomes the main competitor to the PlayStation.

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