A new update from Valve has confirmed again that more are planned Steam releases, including the highly anticipated Steam Machine, are still on track to launch in 2026. The online gaming marketplace founded by Counterstrike and Half-life the studio has grown into one of the most well-known stores in the gaming industry, with millions of players logging into the platform every day. Steam is also well ahead of its competition, with a player base more than double that of the Epic Games Store. Steam is also gearing up for a big foray into the console market in the near future.
Steam officially revealed its latest home console in late 2025 and teased the Steam Machine for a 2026 launch. The Steam Machine boasts next-gen specs, featuring 16GB of DDR5 system RAM and 8GB of GDDR6 RAM, along with a partially customized version of the AMD RDNA 3 GPU. The Steam Machine is said to support 4K gaming at 60 FPS along with ray tracing, and offers two models with 512GB and 2TB of storage. Steam has now denied rumors of further delays for the Steam Machine and other peripherals planned for 2026.
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Steam Machine is still on track for a 2026 release
Steam recently released an updated version of its Year in Review statement, confirming some big plans for the next calendar year. The company confirmed that “all three products” planned for 2026 are still scheduled to launch before the end of the year, including the Steam Machine, the Steam Controller redesign, and the VR-focused Steam Frame. Steam addressed the ongoing “memory and storage shortage” plaguing the industry in a post, citing the lackluster challenges that have arisen as a result. Steam also reiterated its previous claims that Steam Machine is more than six times more powerful than Steam Deck.
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While the Steam Machine serves as the biggest release on Valve's 2026 calendar, the other hardware versions of the platform are nothing to scoff at. The new Steam Controller iterates on Valve's original controller with a host of useful new features, including a pair of touchpads and redesigned magnetic thumbsticks aimed at better “reactivity and long-term reliability.” Valve also launched its Steam Frame headset for both VR and non-VR gaming, with the ability to connect wirelessly to PCs and the Steam Machine. Valve hasn't given specific release dates for any of its new hardware beyond the 2026 launch.
The impending release of the Steam Machine has sparked a lot of speculation about the final price of the console. Recent leaks have suggested that the Steam Machine could sell for nearly $1,000 upon full release, based on information from an authorized Czech retailer. Fans have also speculated that the ongoing RAM shortage could push the price of the console even higher, with companies scrambling to source RAM chips. Steam has confirmed that the console still intends to release in the first half of 2026, although the company has confirmed that the exact price will come later.
The questions about the Steam Machine release come as Valve struggles to keep the Steam Deck in stock. Steam Deck supply has been a major concern for Valve during recent shortages as the console has been sold in the US and much of Europe. Valve also recently confirmed price increases for Steam Deck in several Asian markets, with Japanese, South Korean and Taiwanese players having to pay up to $100 more for the popular platform. Fans can only hope that the Steam Machine launch is a success, even though the industry is plagued by RAM and chip shortages.
