Draft:Steam hardware
.png) Front of the Steam Deck | |
| Product type | Video game console |
|---|---|
| Owner | Valve Corporation |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | November 10, 2015 |
| Markets | Worldwide[a] |
| Website | store |
Valve has developed various pre-built computers, virtual reality headsets, controllers, and other peripherals. Primarily seen alongside hardware is SteamOS, a Linux distribution that often uses Proton for compatibility with games for Windows. The line-up began with the original Steam Machines line, Steam Link set-top box, and the Steam Controller.[1] These would go on to be considered failures when Steam Machines were quietly removed from the storefront[2], excluding the Valve Index. In-between the original line-up and their original VR headset, Valve worked with HTC for the first generation HTC Vive headset released in 2016 with success in virtual reality gaming.[3]
With the success of the Steam Deck handheld launched in 2022, Valve was set to work in the hardware market again.[4] Later in 2025, Valve announced the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller with IGN saying Valve is "making its own gaming tech ecosystem" with SteamOS being a major factor.[5]
Computers
[edit]Steam Machine (2015)
[edit]The Steam Machines were a family of small form PCs co-developed by various hardware developers. They first started in 2015 and ended in 2018. They were considered a failure due to the lack of Valve's own control on hardware ideas and limited support for non-Linux games.
Steam Deck (2022)
[edit]The Steam Deck is a handheld PC released on February 25, 2022. It includes remappable controls, touch-sensitive pads similar to the 2015 Steam Controller, and four new rear buttons. It was widely praised for its powerful portability and sparked a public interest in gaming handheld PCs. The Steam Deck Docking Station was released a few months later in October 6, 2022.[6]
On November 16, 2023, Valve released an enhanced OLED model and later began phasing out LCD Steam Decks by the end of 2025.[7]
Steam Machine (2026)
[edit]The Steam Machine is a small form factor PC released on June 29, 2026. Compared to its predecessor, it tackles former issues by now being fully developed by Valve and having Proton to extend the library of games greatly.
Peripherals
[edit]Steam Link (2015)
[edit]The physical Steam Link was a set-top box made exclusively for the Steam Link function, which can let users stream games from PCs to smart TVs and other set-top boxes. It is one of the only Valve-made hardware to not use SteamOS, instead having a lite operating system based on the Linux kernel. Games that can be streamed include non-Steam games and games using Proton.
Steam Controller (2015)
[edit]The Steam Controller is a gamepad released on November 10, 2015. Being paired with the Steam launcher's ability to remap to take into account for traditional PC games using keyboard and mouse, it has two touch-sensitive trackpads, one analog stick, and an ABXY layout similar to Xbox controllers. They were discontinued in 2019[8] and later revised in 2025.
Steam Controller (2026)
[edit]The revised Steam Controller was released on May 4, 2026. It includes designs taken from the Steam Deck, such as the rear buttons and touchpads. It is bundled with the Steam Machine in some models.
Headsets
[edit]HTC Vive (2015)
[edit]The HTC Vive is a virtual reality headset released on April 5, 2016, it was co-developed with Valve and the first headset worked on them.
Valve Index (2019)
[edit]The Valve Index is a virtual reality headset released on June 28, 2019. It was now developed fully be Valve and included a free copy of Half-Life: Alyx available for download when it released. It includes headphones and uses lighthouse tracking similar to its predecessor, the HTC Vive. The headset also retains backwards compatibility with some HTC Vive accessories.
Steam Frame (2026)
[edit]The Steam Frame is an upcoming virtual reality headset set to released in Mid-2026. Compared to its predecessor, it is said to have pose tracking rather than external and no PC tethering required.
Notes
[edit]- ^ The Steam Deck OLED was released worldwide.
The 2026 Steam Machine will be in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, but not in South Korea.
References
[edit]- ^ Buckley, Sean (2014-01-07). "Here are all of Valve's Steam Machines from CES 2014, in specs". Engadget. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
- ^ Lilly, Paul (2018-04-02). "Valve Quietly Removes Steam Machine References From Its Website". HotHardware. HotHardware. Archived from the original on 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
- ^ Stein, Scott (2016-04-05). "The best VR experience you can have right now, if you've got the space - CNET". Retrieved 2026-07-31.
- ^ "The Steam Deck has seen widespread success, but it's not stopping there. We ask Valve about the Steam Deck's challenges and future goals". AUTOMATON WEST. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
- ^ Thomas, Jacqueline (2025-11-12). "With the Steam Machine, Valve May Be Defining the Next Generation of Games". IGN. Archived from the original on 2026-07-31. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
- ^ Campbell, Ian Carlos (2022-10-06). "There's finally an official way to Dock your Deck". Inverse. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
- ^ Chen, Jackson (2025-12-20). "Valve discontinued the last remaining LCD model of the Steam Deck". Engadget. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
- ^ Hollister, Sean (2019-11-26). "Pour one out for the Steam Controller, sold out forever after $5 fire sale". The Verge. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
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