A new update from Valve has confirmed that several planned Steam releases, including the long-awaited Steam Machine, are still on track to launch in 2026. The online gaming marketplace founded by Counter-Strike and Half-life studio has grown into one of the most recognizable showcases in the gaming industry, with millions of players logging into the platform every day. Steam is also significantly ahead of many of its competitors, with a player base more than double that of the Epic Games Store. Steam is also gearing up to make a big inroad into the console market in the near future.
Steam officially revealed its newest home console in late 2025, teasing the Steam Machine for a 2026 launch. The Steam Machine will boast next-gen specs, packed with 16GB of DDR5 system RAM and 8GB of GDDR6 RAM along with a semi-custom version of the AMD RDNA 3 GPU. The Steam Machine is said to support 4K gaming at 60 FPS along with ray tracing functionality, and offers two models with 512GB and 2TB of storage. Steam has now denied rumors of another delay 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 major plans for the next calendar year. The company confirmed that “all three products” slated for 2026 are still slated to launch before the end of the year, including the Steam Machine, a redesign of the Steam Controller, and the VR-centric Steam Frame. Steam addressed the ongoing “memory and storage shortages” that have plagued the post industry, citing non-specific challenges that have arisen as a result. Steam also reiterated its previous claims that the Steam Machine is more than six times as powerful as the Steam Deck.
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While the Steam Machine serves as the biggest release on Valve's 2026 calendar, the platform's other hardware releases 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 “responsiveness and long-term reliability.” Valve also marketed its Steam Frame headset for both VR and non-VR gaming, with wireless connectivity to both PC and Steam Machine. Valve did not share specific release dates for any of its new hardware beyond the 2026 launch window.
The impending release of the Steam Machine has sparked a lot of speculation about the final price point of the console. Recent leaks have suggested that the Steam Machine could sell for nearly $1,000 upon its 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 exact pricing will not come until a later date.
Questions about Steam Machine's release come as Valve has struggled to keep the Steam Deck in stock. Steam Deck supply has been a major problem for Valve during recent shortages, with the console sold out in the US and across much of Europe. Valve also recently confirmed a price increase 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 will be a success, even as RAM and chip shortages plague the industry.
