Valve steps back into the console race with Steam Machine Console, Controller and Frame VR

Valve is officially back in the console game. After years spent refining the Steam Deck and polishing its software ecosystem, the company has unveiled a trio of new devices that mark its most confident hardware push in a decade.

A new Steam Machine Console, a next-generation Steam Controller and a fresh standalone Frame VR headset are all arriving in Spring 2026, signalling Valve’s renewed ambition to merge PC muscle with console simplicity.

Steam Machine Console and Controller headline the revival

The new Steam Machine Console is built like a compact gaming PC yet behaves like a console from the moment it boots. It ships in 512GB and 2TB variants, runs SteamOS and supports cloud saves, quick resume and access to the full Steam library.

Inside is a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU paired with RDNA3 graphics, designed to push 4K gaming at 60fps with ray tracing and FSR. Valve claims the console is more than six times more powerful than the Steam Deck!

It packs 16GB DDR5 RAM, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, Wi-Fi 6E, Ethernet, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs and an internal power supply. A customisable front LED strip doubles as a status bar for downloads, installs and system activity.

The Steam Controller is returning with a modernised design built for longer play sessions and wider compatibility. It supports a low-latency wireless puck, Bluetooth and USB, and works with Windows, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck, the Steam Machine Console, mobile devices and Valve’s incoming VR headset.

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Magnetic thumbsticks, HD haptics, capacitive sensors, gyro controls and assignable grip buttons elevate precision. Trackpads can still emulate mouse behaviour, making strategy titles and shooters feel closer to a PC without needing a full keyboard.

Frame VR positions Valve back in premium VR

Valve’s third device, the Steam Frame VR headset, leans into a standalone-meets-PC approach. It runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset with 16GB unified RAM and comes in 256GB and 1TB storage options with microSD expansion.

Each eye gets a 2,160×2,160 LCD display with refresh rates between 72Hz and 120Hz, plus an experimental 144Hz mode. Custom pancake lenses handle optics, while inside-out tracking uses four external cameras and two internal cameras for eye-tracking and foveated rendering. At roughly 430 grams fully assembled, it enters the lighter end of the premium VR spectrum.

Early 2026 rollout amid a changing console landscape

Valve has avoided pricing talk for now, though early community estimates place the Steam Machine Console between $800 and $1,000 (approximately Rs 71,000 to Rs 89,000), with the Frame VR likely sitting in the premium $1,000 (approx. Rs 89,000) bracket. The controller’s bundling details remain unconfirmed.

All three products are set for a global rollout in early 2026, with dedicated Steam Hardware pages now live for wishlisting. Are you pumped about Valve’s upcoming gaming console, controller, and VR headset? Drop a comment to let us know if you’re putting them on your wishlist.