Valve Unveils New Steam Machine, Controller, and Frame VR for 2026
Okay, so Valve has been cooking up something big, and it's not just one thing – it's a whole trio of tech! I'm talking about a new Steam Machine, a fresh Steam Controller, and the Steam Frame, which is their take on a VR headset. Apparently, they're all slated for release in early 2026. Cool, right?
I actually got the chance to mess around with these gadgets at Valve HQ. I gotta say, the spirit of the Steam Deck is all over them. Think about it: the design, the compatibility, even the feel of those thumbsticks. If you're a fan of the Steam Deck, you'll definitely see where these new devices are coming from.
A Closer Look
Let's dive into what makes each of these tick. The Steam Machine is packing some serious heat with an AMD GPU that aims to deliver 4K gaming. The Steam Controller, well, it's trying to be more user-friendly without losing its unique vibe. And the Steam Frame? That's where things get interesting. It's a modular VR headset that wants to play nice with Steam games on ARM. It’s ambitious, blending PC VR quality with standalone capabilities, although during my preview, it felt a bit like a work in progress.
If we're talking numbers, the Steam Machine rocks a 6-core AMD Zen 4 CPU and a semi-custom AMD RDNA 3 GPU. The Steam Frame is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, sporting high-res lenses and a wide field of view. As for the Steam Controller, expect improved thumbsticks and trackpads, plus gyro controls for extra precision.
There’s no official word on pricing just yet, but a Valve engineer hinted that the Steam Frame will be a premium VR experience. Whatever it is, I'm curious to see the final products. It looks like Valve has some interesting ideas, and I'm eager to see how they all come together!
Source: Rock Paper Shotgun