Valve has announced its next hardware lineup, marking the company’s first steps towards getting the foot in the door in the console space. The Steam Machine is, technically, a PC. But with a few crucial differences: it’s a PC that’s meant to be an entry-level device for console users, and it’s optimized for a TV setup.
The Steam Machine’s Technical Specifications
But first, let’s talk about specs. While Valve hasn’t revealed just how much the Steam Machine is going to cost, I’d bet good money that it’d be priced pretty competitively when stacked up against the PS5 and Xbox Series S. Maybe it’ll be a little more expensive, but certainly well under a grand if I had to make my best guess.
| General | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12Tup to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP |
| GPU | Semi-Custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM |
| Power | Internal power supply, AC power 110–240V |
| Storage | Two Steam Machine models:512GB NVMe SSD2TB NVMe SSDBoth models include a high-speed microSD card slot |
| Connectivity | |
| Wi-Fi | 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna |
| Steam Controller | Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter |
| I/O | |
| Displays | DisplayPort 1.4Up to 4K at 240Hz or 8K at 60HzSupports HDR, FreeSync, and daisy-chainingHDMI 2.0Up to 4K at 120HzSupports HDR, FreeSync, and CEC |
| USB | Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the front Two USB-A 2.0 High speed ports in the back One USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in the back |
| Networking | Gigabit ethernet |
| LED Strip | 17 individually addressable RGB LEDs for system status and customizability |
| Size and Weight | |
| Size | 152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, 156 mm wide |
| Weight | 2.6 kg |
| Software | |
| Operating System | SteamOS 3 (Arch-based) |
| Desktop | KDE Plasma |
Specs-wise, the Steam Machine seems a little squishy. Valve claims that it’ll run your entire Steam library at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, but I’m gonna go ahead and say that’s a little hyperbolic and will heavily depend on what games you’re actually playing. 8GB of VRAM is a little concerning as well, and it’s definitely going to be imperative that users check if the games they want are Steam Machine Verified before taking the plunge.
That being said, depending on how this thing is priced, I could definitely see it being a strong option for folks who might either be looking to phase out their consoles, or trying to decide between getting, say, an Xbox or a Steam Machine.
The biggest appeal of the Steam Machine is the fact that it is still, at its core, a PC. Valve has stated that you can install whatever apps you want on it, and even swap over to another operating system entirely if you’re not a fan of SteamOS. This, in my view, is the winning ticket that the Steam Machine has. Valve has essentially created a small plug-and-play box that could replace a console for your TV setup, that also has the versatility to become a PC for a desktop setup if you need it.
So, Who Is the Steam Machine Really For?
There’s no clear answer to this one because it really does seem like the Steam Machine could appeal to every demographic for different reasons.
For the hardcore PC crowd that already has a badass rig they play their PC games on, the Steam Machine could be their gateway into the console gaming experience. Instead of purchasing a PS5 or Xbox to play games on their TV while seated on a couch, you’d buy the Steam Machine instead and plug it into your TV. This way, you’d instantly have access to your entire Steam library.
We’ve all been in that situation where we’ve enjoyed playing Stardew Valley on our PCs but wish we could play it from our couch and TV instead without, y’know, having to buy the game again on consoles just to be able to do that. For people like that, the Steam Machine could be a very attractive proposition.
It’s the whole reason why I’ve been so tempted by the Steam Deck, as someone who’s obsessed with portable gaming. But because that thing is bulky and ugly as sin, I’ll stick to the Switch 2 for now and just live with double-dipping on my favorite indie games while praying that everything I buy comes with cross-saves.
Then you have the console gamers who have been wanting to dip their toes into PC gaming but found the prospect of building your own PC to be too intimidating. As a plug-and-play box, the Steam Machine solves that issue by being easy to set up. You’d simply plug it into your TV, buy some games on Steam, connect a controller, and you’re good to go.
Most of all, though, console gaming is in a pretty dire state at the moment. You’ve got mandatory subscriptions that you need to pay for if you want to play online, and in different price tiers too, depending on whether you want to get monthly access to different types of free games. The openness of Valve’s Steam ecosystem is very appealing in that regard; you’ve got access to your whole Steam library (a platform that frequently hosts attractive sales), and you don’t have to pay extra just to use the internet that you already pay for in order to play your online games.
As someone who’s found herself drifting further away from her PS5 over the years and gravitating towards the flexibility that PC gaming affords me, the Steam Machine is an extremely tempting buy. But again, it’ll all come down to the price point. If priced competitively enough, the Steam Machine could finally be the catalyst that really shakes up the console scene.
