It’s no longer a secret that Valve’s Steam Machine reveal came as a huge surprise to everyone, given the silence (albeit justified) following the release of Steam Deck OLED in 2023 on any potential fresh PC gaming hardware.
While we’re not quite ready for the Steam Deck’s successor, which will likely join the ranks of the best portable gaming consoles, we’re getting a powerful gaming system (compared to Valve’s handhelds) that briefly shook up the console gaming space, judging by initial reception.
1. Couch gaming on PC is about to boom
It’s not unusual to play computer games on the couch and on a huge TV. In fact, I often do this for gaming or movies when I need a break from sitting at my desk after work, but not everyone has an HDMI cable long enough to make this simple (the one I bought wasn’t affordable either).
Custom gaming PCs and their cases are not typically designed to fit under or on top of TVs, and while petite PCs and mini computers do exist, they are not very popular.
Steam engine entirely changes that narrative by entering the realm of console-like gaming with a design made specifically for TV and couch gaming, thanks to a petite form factor that’s so petite that gamers praise it as the “Gabecube” (sincerely, thank you Gabe Newell), which is reminiscent of the very familiar look of Nintendo’s Gamecube.
Couch gaming on PC will likely now become the norm for a wider range of PC gamers, whether that’s buying a Steam machine or building a custom PC in a petite form factor with SteamOS (probably Bazzite) installed.
2. Potential influx of console gamers
I’ve noticed over the last few years that a lot of console-only gamers are hinting at a potential move to the PC ecosystem. However, the limiting factor has always been the fear of not knowing the PC’s components, maintenance and configuration.
With Steam Machine, this will no longer be an obstacle for gamers looking to make the switch, as they won’t have to worry about building a system from scratch or replacing the CPU or GPU, as both are soldered to the Steam Machine motherboard.
As far as we know, the only replaceable components are the system SSD and RAM, with the former being no different from simply disassembling a game console and the latter being a bit more complicated.
Recognizing this, I have no doubt that we will see an influx of console gamers to PC. Since we’re talking about SteamOS, this opens a lot of doors, especially with respect to Steam Families, as sharing games with close family or friends will be easier for people who were able to play solo (like me) on PC before Steam Machine came along.
3. Additional pressure from developers for better PC ports and optimization
If there’s one thing I’ve noticed that plays an integral role in why PC gamers tend to have a shorter card with gaming ports compared to console gamers, it’s the wide range of PC configurations that exist. This isn’t meant to excuse the game’s destitute optimization, but rather to highlight why this is such a common problem, and the introduction of Steam Machine could change that.
With one popular configuration, such as a Sony or Microsoft console, game developers may be under pressure to ensure that their games meet performance standards before launching on Steam Machine. Since it’s also seen as an entry-level gaming PC, this should have a knock-on effect on a wider range of low-end gaming PC configurations, giving us PC ports with better refinement.
This will lend a hand even more if Steam Machine becomes a huge hit in the market and if Valve uses the Deck Verified category for games on Steam Machine as something like “Machine Verified” (and that’s exactly what I expect).
4. Third party manufacturers create similar builds
In the event that consumers purchase Steam Machine when it launches in 2026 and are not satisfied with its performance capabilities, it seems likely that Valve is opening the door for third-party manufacturers to build similar mini-hybrid PC consoles using SteamOS, with more powerful hardware.
This was emphasized by our friends from ul Computer gamerand with companies like Framework making modular laptops, it wouldn’t be surprising to see third-party models from other OEMs like MSI, Lenovo, Asus who decide to introduce more capable offerings in the future.
It’s not that mini computers with more powerful processors don’t exist, because there are plenty of them already. The difference is that Valve will specifically choose to expand official SteamOS compatibility and licensing for these mini-PCs, and Steam Machine will provide it with the perfect opportunity to make that happen.
For now, Valve’s motto seems to be ensuring gaming performance is at an acceptable level for the demanding, newfangled titles we get, while not including steep hardware that will ultimately spoil the affordability appeal – and that’s why I’m here.
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