Valve announces release date and specifications for the Steam Machine

The developer has launched a reservation system that will accept registrations until June 25 at 2 PM (Brasília time). The goal of this screening is to try to block scalpers, ensuring that the units truly reach the hands of the final consumers. To try your luck, users must have a regularized account on the platform and have made at least one purchase before April 27, 2026. Only one registration will be counted per residential address, and the lucky ones will be selected through a draw, receiving confirmation emails throughout the week of June 29. Choosing a raffle to give the "right" to spend a fortune on an electronic device is a peculiar choice, highlighting how the gourmet hardware market has distanced itself from the average gamer.

The manufacturer has set June 30 as the official launch day for the device in the international market. The major disappointment is the company's distribution policy, as the compact computer will unfortunately not be officially sold in Brazil, and the brand's offices do not even have an estimated arrival time for our country. Those wishing to import the device through alternative means will have to be prepared to deal with high customs fees.

There will be two distinct configurations available to enthusiasts on Valve's digital store. The entry-level option features a 512 GB SSD and will be released at a starting price of $1,049. The more robust package increases the internal space to 2 TB with a steep price of $1,428, adding the Steam Controller peripheral and two custom front covers made of red fabric and walnut wood. Charging over a thousand dollars for a machine that doesn’t even include a joystick in its initial version shows a tremendous corporate boldness, heavily betting on brand-loyal fans.

Below are the technical features of the cubic hardware design measuring 15 centimeters for each model:

Steam Machine (512 GB) – $1,049:

Custom AMD Zen 4 processor with 6 cores and 12 threads;

Custom AMD RDNA 3 GPU with 28 compute units;

16 GB DDR5 RAM + 8 GB VRAM GDDR6;

512 GB NVMe SSD and microSD card slot;

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and Gigabit Ethernet port;

Built-in wireless adapter for Steam Controller;

Compact design, a cube of approximately 15 centimeters;

SteamOS 3;

*Note: Does not include a controller.

Steam Machine (2 TB) – $1,428:

Custom AMD Zen 4 processor with 6 cores and 12 threads;

Custom AMD RDNA 3 GPU with 28 compute units;

16 GB DDR5 RAM + 8 GB VRAM GDDR6;

2 TB NVMe SSD and microSD card slot;

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and Gigabit Ethernet port;

Built-in wireless adapter for Steam Controller;

Compact design, a cube of approximately 15 centimeters;

SteamOS 3;

Additional faceplates: red fabric and walnut wood;

Includes a Steam Controller.

The ecosystem runs under the SteamOS 3 operating system, attempting to combine the convenience of a console interface with the vast array of PC games available. The internal custom AMD architecture provides impressive power for the cabinet's size, but the total cost of this luxury is prohibitive for most people. Time will tell if this attempt to dominate the living room will meet a better fate than the company’s past hardware initiatives.