Yes, the Steam Console is Real: Valve Unveils the New Steam Machine, Controller & VR Headset

The long-rumored Steam home console has finally been revealed by Valve as the Steam Machine, alongside a new version of the Steam Controller and a standalone VR headset called the Steam Frame.

What’s in the reveal

Here’s a quick rundown of each new piece of hardware:

Steam Machine

The new Steam Machine is a compact console/PC hybrid running SteamOS and designed for living-room play.

Key points:

• Runs SteamOS with full integration of the Steam ecosystem.
• 4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR.
• Size is surprisingly compact: about 6 inches (~160 mm) tall and wide, roughly 5.7 lbs (2.6 kg) in weight.
• Two storage options mentioned (512 GB and 2 TB), plus expandable storage via microSD.
• No confirmed price or exact release date yet. Valve says “early 2026” timeframe.

Design-wise, the console’s minimalist black aesthetic and small footprint should blend seamlessly into pretty much any living room or studio setup. And it looks like Valve has custom faceplates in the pipeline if you want to personalize your Machine beyond the standard black finish.

Steam Controller (2025 version)

Valve also revealed a new iteration of its Steam Controller. Here are the highlights:

• Full input parity with the Steam Deck and the Steam Machine.
• Magnetic thumb sticks using TMR technology.
• HD rumble for immersive, accurate haptics.
• ‘Grip Sense’ grip-enabled gyro controls.
• Trackpads just like the ones on the Steam Deck.
• Now includes IR LED tracking so it can be tracked by the new Steam Frame headset (for motion/VR-style play).
• Comes with a puck that works as a wireless transmitter as well as a charging station.
• Again, no firm price or release date yet.

Steam Frame (VR Headset)

Finally: the one we didn’t see coming – a next-gen VR headset from Valve. Here’s what we know so far:

• Standalone headset running SteamOS, but also able to stream games from a PC or the Steam Machine.
• Positioned as a streaming-first VR device, but capable of “flat” gaming experiences too (i.e., non-VR games on a “screen” inside the headset).
• Powered by the 4 nm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3.
• Just like the other annoucements: release date and pricing still TBD.

That’s all we know so far about Valve’s latest announcements. With specs, pricing and full regional availability still under wraps, there’s plenty left to look forward to, including how the Steam Machine, Controller and Frame headset will work together in the real world. Once more details emerge, we’ll be back to unpack the updates.