Quick answer: Valve now sells two new pieces of
Steam hardware, both through a reservation queue instead of a normal
“add to cart” button. The Steam Machine is a small
SteamOS gaming PC priced at $1,049 (512GB) or
$1,349 (2TB). The Steam Frame is a
standalone VR headset priced at $1,059 (256GB) or
$1,299 (1TB). Valve says everyone in the Steam Machine
reservation queue should get the option to buy by the end of 2026, and
Frame reservation holders have an expected order window of either by
December 2026 or sometime in 2027. If you are not already reserved, you
are joining the back of a line, so check Valve’s pages for the current
status.
We have not used either device for this article. Everything below
comes from Valve’s own announcements, hardware pages and FAQ, checked on
October 29, 2026. We note where we could not confirm
something.
At a glance
| Item | Steam Machine | Steam Frame |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | SteamOS gaming PC | Standalone VR headset |
| Announced | Reservations from June 22, 2026 | September 14, 2026 |
| Starting price (US) | $1,049 | $1,059 |
| Top model (US) | $1,349 (2TB) | $1,299 (1TB) |
| Chip | AMD Zen 4 + RDNA3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 |
| Operating system | SteamOS 3 | SteamOS 3 |
Steam Machine
Price and models
Valve’s launch post lists four US configurations:
| Model | US price |
|---|---|
| 512GB | $1,049 |
| 512GB + Steam Controller | $1,128 |
| 2TB | $1,349 |
| 2TB + Steam Controller | $1,428 |
The 2TB model includes two extra faceplates, in red fabric and solid
walnut. European prices were also published: €1,039 for the 512GB model,
and £879 in the UK.
That is a lot more than people expected from a “Steam box,” and Valve
addressed it directly. The company says the price reflects component
costs, particularly memory and storage. It also says the Steam Machine
is not subsidized and is not a console: Valve describes it as an
extension of PC gaming, and says the traditional console model of
selling hardware at a loss can make sense for a single business in the
short term, but that open ecosystems are better for customers over the
long term.
Specs
These are from Valve’s hardware page.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| CPU | Semi-custom AMD Zen 4, 6 cores / 12 threads, up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP |
| GPU | Semi-custom AMD RDNA3, 28 CUs, 2.45 GHz, 110W TDP |
| Memory | 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 video memory |
| Storage | 512GB or 2TB NVMe, plus microSD slot |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E (2×2), Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Video out | DisplayPort 1.4 (4K at 240 Hz or 8K at 60 Hz), HDMI 2.0 (4K at 120 Hz) |
| Network | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Size / weight | 152 × 162.4 × 156 mm, 2.6 kg |
Other details Valve lists: HDR, FreeSync and HDMI CEC support, two
USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the front, two USB-A 2.0 ports and one USB-C
3.2 Gen 2 port on the back, an integrated 2.4 GHz wireless adapter for
the Steam Controller, and 17 individually addressable RGB LEDs for
status and customization. It runs SteamOS 3, which is Arch-based, with
KDE Plasma for the desktop.
Valve’s spec sheet does not give a performance target in frames per
second, and we have not benchmarked the machine, so we won’t promise
one.
How the reservation queue
works
Valve explained its approach in the launch post and FAQ:
- Signup window: Signups opened June 22, 2026 and
closed June 25 at 10 a.m. Pacific. Valve then ran a one-time
randomization of everyone who had signed up. - Who could sign up: A Steam account in good
standing, a purchase on Steam made before April 27, 2026, and one signup
per household. - Purchase emails: Valve began emailing people in the
queue the week of June 29. When you get yours, you have 72 hours to
complete the purchase before the reservation is canceled and the next
person gets a turn. - Waitlist: If your randomized spot landed beyond the
number of units in the production run, you are on the waitlist and can
move up if others cancel. - Regions: Separate lists exist for North America,
the UK and EU, and Australia. Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong order through
Valve’s distributor Komodo. Valve says the Steam Machine will not ship
in South Korea. - No model swapping: After randomization you can’t
change which model you reserved.
In a July 28 update, Valve said units began shipping at the end of
June and that everyone in the reservation queue should have the option
to purchase by the end of 2026. It added that queues are per product and
per region, and that people who sign up later do not jump ahead of the
existing queue.
We could not verify current stock or how far the queue has moved
today, because that status sits behind a signed-in Steam page.
Running SteamOS on your own
PC
Valve’s FAQ says SteamOS 3.8 lets you run the same operating system
on your own PC, but only AMD GPUs are supported for now. If you can’t
get a Steam Machine, that is the official fallback for building
something similar.
Steam Frame
Price and accessories
Valve announced the Steam Frame on September 14, 2026.
| Model | US price | Euro price |
|---|---|---|
| 256GB | $1,059 | €1,049 |
| 1TB | $1,299 | €1,279 |
Both include a redemption for Half-Life: Alyx. Valve also lists a 45W
power supply for $29, an Ergonomic Kit for $59 and a Replacement Kit for
$49. These accessories can only be added at checkout, by people who have
received a purchase email.
Specs
From Valve’s Steam Frame page:
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm, ARM64) |
| Memory | 16GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 256GB or 1TB UFS, plus microSD |
| Display | 2160 × 2160 LCD per eye |
| Refresh rate | 72 to 144 Hz (144 Hz is experimental) |
| Field of view | Up to 110° |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7 (2×2), Bluetooth 5.4 |
More details:
- Optics and tracking: Pancake lenses with an
adjustable IPD range of 60 to 70 mm. Inside-out tracking uses four
monochrome cameras, with eye-tracking cameras and monochrome
passthrough. - Battery: 21.6 Wh, charged at 45W over USB-C.
- Weight: 440 g with the head strap, and the core
module alone is 185 g. - Controllers: Valve lists 40 hours of battery life
on AA batteries and TMR sticks. - PC streaming: A Wi-Fi 6E wireless adapter for
connecting to a PC is included in the box. - Software: SteamOS 3 with KDE Plasma. Valve says
more than 100 games are Standalone Verified, meaning they run on the
headset itself.
Valve’s page is the place to check which games are verified for
standalone play.
Reservation timing
The Frame reservation process was shorter. Signups closed September
17 at 10 a.m. Pacific, and the first purchase emails went out September
18.
Valve’s October 9 update gave this timing:
- Reservation holders can see their expected order window on the
signed-in product page. - The window is either by December 2026 or in
2027. People in the 2027 group will get more detail by
January. - You get 72 hours to check out once you receive a purchase
email. - Valve released CAD and electrical interface files for non-commercial
use. - A software update brings gains of up to 12% in battery efficiency,
plus a presence-sensor sensitivity setting.
The Frame ships through Steam in the US, Canada, the UK, EU and
Australia. In Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong it goes through Komodo, and
Valve lists South Korea as “coming soon.”
Which one is for you?
| If you want… | Look at |
|---|---|
| A living-room PC that plays Steam games | Steam Machine |
| VR without a PC, or with PC streaming | Steam Frame |
| Lower entry price | Steam Machine, by $10 |
| Maximum storage | Steam Machine 2TB ($1,349) or Frame 1TB ($1,299) |
| Your own build with SteamOS | A PC with an AMD GPU |
These are priced close together at the entry level, but they do very
different jobs. The Steam Machine plugs into a TV or monitor. The Frame
is worn on your head, and its performance depends on whether you play
standalone or stream from a PC.
The Valve Index is gone
One related item: Valve’s October 13 post says the Valve Index is no
longer produced. Remaining stock is being sold at new prices while
supplies last. If you want an Index for PC VR, check the store quickly,
and do not expect restocks.
Before you reserve or buy
- Check your eligibility. The Steam Machine signup
required a pre-April 27 purchase. Look at the current rules on Valve’s
pages for any new signups. - Budget for the full price. Both start above $1,000.
The Steam Controller is sold separately unless you pick the bundle. - Read the region rules. Not every country is
supported, and South Korea is not getting the Steam Machine. - Don’t miss the 72-hour window. When the email
arrives, you have three days. - Compare with building a PC. Valve’s own FAQ points
out that PC gaming has many options, and AMD GPU users can run SteamOS
on their own hardware.
FAQ
How much is the Steam
Machine?
$1,049 for the 512GB model and $1,349 for the 2TB model in the US.
Bundles with the Steam Controller are $1,128 and $1,428.
How much is the Steam Frame?
$1,059 for 256GB and $1,299 for 1TB. Each comes with a Half-Life:
Alyx redemption.
Can I buy them without a
reservation?
Valve’s launch posts describe reservation queues. As of Valve’s most
recent updates we found, purchases happen when you receive a purchase
email, not by ordering at will. Check the Steam hardware pages for
current availability.
When will I get mine?
For the Steam Machine, Valve says everyone in the reservation queue
should have the option to buy by the end of 2026. For the Frame, the
expected window is either by December 2026 or in 2027, shown on your
signed-in product page.
Does the Steam Machine
run Windows games?
Valve’s hardware page lists SteamOS 3 with KDE Plasma. Valve’s July
update also mentions FSR 4.1 arriving on Proton Experimental. Proton is
Valve’s compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux. We have
not tested compatibility ourselves.
Is the Steam
Machine available in South Korea?
No. Valve says it will not ship there. The Steam Frame is listed as
“coming soon” in South Korea.
What happened to the Valve
Index?
Valve says it is no longer produced, with remaining stock sold at new
prices while supplies last.
Sources
All checked October 29, 2026. All are official Valve pages.
- Steam
hardware - Steam
Machine launches today! (June 22, 2026) - Steam
Machine updates: Reservations, waitlists, and more (July 28,
2026) - Steam
Frame (September 14, 2026) - Steam
Frame is here! (September 14, 2026) - Getting
Started with Steam Hardware (September 16, 2026) - Steam
Frame updates: Reservation timing, software updates, and more (October
9, 2026) - Valve
Index (October 13, 2026)
By Early Adopted Editorial Team. Last updated: October 29,
2026