Valve Corporation has announced its plans to expand its hardware ecosystem significantly in early 2026 with the introduction of three new devices—the Steam Frame, Steam Machine, and Steam Controller—all designed to run smoothly within the SteamOS environment. The new hardware family represents Valve’s most ambitious effort yet to unify PC, console, and VR gaming under one connected platform.
Each product in the lineup serves a clear purpose while maintaining full compatibility with the broader Steam ecosystem. The Steam Frame offers a next-generation wireless VR experience, the Steam Machine brings high-end PC gaming to the living room in a console form, and the Steam Controller improves Valve’s input design with advanced haptics, new sensors, and extensive customization options. Together, these devices aim to connect immersive virtual reality, desktop gaming, and portable streaming.
Steam Frame: A Standalone Wireless VR Headset
The centerpiece of Valve’s new lineup, the Steam Frame, is a streaming-first VR headset that can access both VR and traditional games from the Steam library. Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and running a customized version of SteamOS, the device can operate on its own or connect wirelessly to a PC for full library access. Valve has implemented dual-radio Wi-Fi technology—one channel dedicated to audio/video streaming and another for general connectivity—to eliminate bandwidth competition and minimize lag.
The headset features a 2160 x 2160 LCD per eye, supporting refresh rates up to 144Hz, along with foveated streaming enabled by integrated eye tracking for sharper image rendering where the player is looking. The ergonomics have been designed for comfort, featuring balanced weight distribution and a modular head strap containing an additional 21.6 Wh battery. Its total weight is 440g with the battery attached, or just 185g for the headset module alone.
Steam Frame also introduces advanced tracking and visual quality technologies, including four monochrome tracking cameras, two internal eye-tracking sensors, and custom pancake lenses offering edge-to-edge clarity. The included Steam Frame Controllers feature six-degrees-of-freedom tracking, magnetic thumbsticks, and capacitive finger sensors, allowing smooth switching between VR and standard gamepad layouts.
Steam Machine: Compact Power for 4K Gaming
Reviving the name from Valve’s earlier console experiment, the new Steam Machine reimagines the concept as a compact, high-performance gaming PC tailored for both TV and desktop setups. Roughly cube-shaped at 160mm per side and weighing 2.6 kg, it delivers over six times the performance of the Steam Deck, capable of 4K gaming at 60 FPS with support for AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR).
Powered by a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU with 6 cores and 12 threads and an RDNA 3 GPU with 28 compute units, the Steam Machine balances strong performance with efficient power use. Its cooling system has been designed for whisper-quiet operation, while connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0, and multiple USB ports. The system comes with 16GB DDR5 RAM, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, and up to 2TB NVMe SSD storage, running SteamOS 3 with KDE Plasma.
Beyond gaming, the device can function as a streaming host for Steam Decks, Steam Frames, and other devices on the same network. With its small size and built-in wireless controller adapter, the Steam Machine is set up as both a living room console and a mini desktop PC for enthusiasts.
Steam Controller: Precision and Customization Evolved
The Steam Controller returns with a completely redesigned look, integrating the latest in magnetic thumbstick and haptic feedback technology. Its TMR magnetic thumbsticks provide near-zero drift and capacitive touch sensitivity, while dual pressure-sensitive trackpads copy mouse-like precision. New Grip Sense inputs and gyro-assisted aiming boost accuracy, and four assignable grip buttons offer further customization.
Connectivity has been modernized through the Steam Controller Puck, a low-latency 2.4GHz transmitter that doubles as a magnetic charging dock, achieving around 8ms latency and 35+ hours of battery life. It can also connect via Bluetooth or USB-C and is compatible across Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame.
Unified SteamOS Ecosystem
What connects these devices is Valve’s SteamOS platform, which delivers a unified experience across all hardware. Players can stream games between devices, share cloud saves, and resume sessions instantly through cross-device suspend and resume functionality. A newly expanded Steam Verified program will rate compatibility across the full range of Steam hardware, ensuring smooth operation for both VR and traditional titles.
The company is also extending access to developers, with Steam Frame developer kits now available through the Steam Partner dashboard. This move signals Valve’s intent to foster a new generation of VR and PC game development that fully uses its hardware ecosystem.
With the Steam Frame, Steam Machine, and Steam Controller arriving in early 2026, Valve appears ready to reassert its influence in gaming hardware. The lineup not only strengthens its position in PC and VR markets but also establishes the Steam brand as a truly platform-agnostic ecosystem—one capable of bridging the gap between traditional gaming and the future of interactive entertainment.
