Building on the popularity of the Steam Deck, Valve is expanding its hardware lineup with several new devices. These include the Steam Frame VR headset and its accompanying controllers, the Steam Machine console for home gaming, and an updated Steam Controller.
The new Valve hardware is coming in early 2026 and is available to wishlist on Steam.
The new Steam headset is similar to devices like the Meta Quest 3, as it has a built-in processor powerful enough to run games directly on the headset. This processor is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 paired with 16GB of RAM, and it runs a special version of SteamOS designed for ARM processors.
This headset has two high-resolution LCD screens, each displaying 2160×2160 pixels. It can reach refresh rates up to 144Hz in a test setting, but usually operates between 72 and 120Hz – similar to the refresh rate of Valve’s older Index VR headset.
The Steam Frame differs from the Index by using inside-out tracking. This means it uses onboard cameras to track the headset and controllers, so you don’t need to set up external base stations.
SteamOS now includes a new feature called Fex that lets standard PC applications (designed for x86 processors) run directly on devices with ARM processors – like those found in smartphones. This opens the possibility of playing simpler games directly from the Steam Deck’s headset.
To enjoy even better virtual reality, the Steam Frame includes a Wi-Fi 6 adapter for a fast, reliable connection. This lets you play graphically intensive games on a powerful computer – like a Steam Machine – and stream them wirelessly to your Steam Frame.
The Steam Frame uses two eye-tracking sensors to determine where your gaze is focused. It then employs a technology called “foveated streaming” to prioritize the highest quality image in that specific area of the screen, while subtly reducing quality in your peripheral vision.
The Steam Frame comes with new controllers that should feel comfortable to users of Meta Quest or PSVR2 controllers.
The Steam Machine represents Valve’s second try at creating a gaming console. However, this time, Valve is handling all the design and construction themselves, similar to how they made the Steam Deck, unlike the original Steam Machines from 2015 which were built by companies like Alienware.
Valve says the new device will be more than six times as powerful as the Steam Deck, offering a significantly enhanced gaming experience.
Similar to the Steam Frame and Steam Deck, this console uses SteamOS, which is Valve’s own version of Linux. This allows you to easily switch between Gaming and Desktop modes, making it a device that functions like both a game console and a PC. Many people predict the next Xbox will also offer this kind of combined functionality.
Valve says the console can play games at 4K resolution with a smooth 60 frames per second. It uses a specially designed AMD Zen 4 processor and an AMD RDNA3 graphics card. However, the graphics card only has 8GB of memory and is similar in power to the AMD Radeon RX7600, so it may have trouble running newer, more demanding games.
One could stream the aforementioned demanding VR titles from the Steam Machine to the Steam Frame.
It also has a MicroSD card slot, allowing you to easily move files between the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Deck.
The Steam Machine is launching alongside the new Steam Controller, which is similar to the Steam Deck but without the screen. It has all the same controls – like the trackpads and motion sensor – making it easier to play games designed for a mouse and keyboard, such as strategy and first-person shooter games.
So, I’ve got this cool little puck – it’s like a connector and charger all in one. It uses magnets to stick and charge stuff, and it connects to pretty much anything with Bluetooth. It’s super handy!
Valve has made it clear they plan to expand their presence in the PC and console gaming market.
Wow, Steam just hit over 41 million players at the same time! It makes me really think a lot of us would love a little device that could play all our Steam games easily. It’s a tempting idea, for sure!
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2025-11-12 23:05