On the 12th November 2025, Valve published a video showcasing the 3 brand new hardware editions all to be shipped in early 2026: a ‘console’, controller, and a VR headset. The word ‘console’ may not be exactly the best word to use when describing the device as while it IS a device that runs off of SteamOS and is capable of managing and playing all your favourite games, it’s actually a PC in itself! Thanks to Valve, you can now own a console that also could run other coding, browsing and streaming services that aren’t produced by Valve. The device is also so small that on their website they claim you can “put it under your TV… Hide it under a banana.” It claims to sound much quieter externally than other consoles, even with its small size when running AAA intense games.
The device is also so small that on their website they claim you can “put it under your TV… Hide it under a banana.”
Another device includes the Steam Controller which has magnetic thumbsticks, “grip-enabled gyro” and even rumble. And due to its nature of being paired with Steam games, each input is fully customisable: a feature incredibly unique compared to other major game controllers. I remember struggling to use a PS4 controller while playing racing games with it constantly not registering properly or disconnecting. But with a purpose-built controller like this, maybe that problem will disappear…
Finally, the Steam Frame is genuinely a device I have been looking for since I first installed Steam. Playing on a device that wirelessly connects to your PC and laptop using a USB theoretically sounds perfect. The Frame looks very similar to most VR headsets, but what sets it apart is its “low-latency eye tracking” which supposedly moves important pixels to where you’re looking. For those similar to me who struggle to connect your laptop to your Meta Quest, then maybe this will solve that hassle forever. Some even argue that upon its release, it might make other headsets obsolete.
Compared to some companies when they branch out into VR and handheld consoles, Valve might just have a leg up on them when it comes to features like streaming to a variety of devices, SD card slots, wireless charging and magnets, and so much more. But the only thing that might just put off gamers from purchasing these is the cost, which is something we will eventually learn. But hopefully, the new devices live up to the hype and continue to drive Steam forward as a platform.