The Steam Machine was introduced simply over per week in the past now, and whereas we don’t understand how a lot the Steam Machine will price, we additionally don’t know when it’s really going to come back out. Proper now, the one official launch date data factors to a imprecise “Coming In 2026” message within the Steam retailer web page.
When I used to be at Valve attempting out the Steam Machine, the corporate narrowed issues down a bit when it advised me that the console-PC-hybrid can be launching in Q1 2026, however wouldn’t decide to a selected date. The excellent news is that both means, we received’t have to attend too lengthy – in any case Q1 2026 ends on March 31, so it’s going to be right here someday within the subsequent few months. However can we slender it down additional?
The CES Equation
CES, or the Shopper Electronics Present, is occurring from January 6-9, 2026. It’s a present the place we usually see all of the tech and {hardware} that’s going to be popping out within the first half of the 12 months. And it’s very attainable that the Steam Machine goes to be a significant subject there – even when it’s oblique.
You see, I simply re-checked the exhibitor record for the tech occasion and Valve isn’t going to point out up. That’s not stunning, it’s not like Valve has a behavior of attending the occasion in an official capability. Nevertheless, Valve representatives have been there final 12 months exhibiting off the Lenovo Legion Go S operating SteamOS. I don’t know if that’s going to occur once more this 12 months, however I do anticipate Valve may nonetheless make some noise on the present.
The Steam Machine might be the most important factor in gaming {hardware} proper now, and Valve may seize loads of consideration by asserting the value or the discharge date throughout CES. This appears particularly probably when you think about that it is a Q1 2026 product that doesn’t have a launch date heading into Q1 2026. However, how Valve dealt with the Steam Deck, it appears extra probably that the corporate will let issues calm down for a number of weeks earlier than making its announcement.
Taking part in Preorders Protected
Again when Valve first confirmed us the Steam Deck in July 2021, it gave us each pricing and a launch window, claiming that the hand held can be out for the Vacation season of that very same 12 months. Nevertheless, the discharge date slipped. The primary models didn’t launch till February 2022, and most preorders didn’t make it out the door till that Spring and even later. I do know my Steam Deck didn’t present up till the Summer season, and I preordered it as quickly as I used to be in a position.
However Valve is already dealing with this launch a lot in a different way than it did the Steam Deck. Valve opened up reservations for the Steam Deck extraordinarily early – only a day after the preliminary reveal – asking potential patrons to place down $5 to place their identify on an inventory, together with estimated cargo timing that wasn’t completely correct. By being extra conservative with its preorder timing, it seems to be like Valve is attempting to keep away from a number of the confusion that plagued the Steam Deck launch.
What Valve ought to have performed with the Steam Deck is wait till it has a launch date earlier than taking preorders. As a result of whereas the Steam Deck was up for reservation almost a 12 months earlier than most individuals have been in a position to really get their arms on it, Valve didn’t really announce its precise February 28, 2022 launch date till the tip of January 2022. The way in which I see it, Valve might be going to do the identical factor this time round.
The massive distinction between the Steam Deck and the Steam Machine launch, then, might be that Valve’s front room console will go up for preorder a few month earlier than launch – if it goes up for preorder in any respect. Except Valve delays the Steam Machine prefer it did with the Steam Deck, it’s beginning to appear like the Steam Machine launch date will get introduced on the finish of January or the start of February, with the precise launch occurring a number of weeks or a month later. Simply don’t anticipate that truly shopping for the Steam Machine goes to be a stroll within the park.
The NAND Of It All
What sucks a few huge PC launch within the subsequent quarter is that the PC market is at present going via a large NAND reminiscence scarcity. Basically, these are the chips that make up RAM, and are inflicting large value will increase and shortages, in line with a publish from Bontech Labs. So, considered one of two issues will probably occur. Both Valve has already manufactured a bunch of Steam Machines within the months main as much as the announcement, which might lead to a comparatively clean launch. Or, Valve has entered mass manufacturing lately, and must deal with the huge NAND value hikes which have led to PCs on the whole getting dearer to supply. If the latter is true, it’s attainable there received’t be many models accessible for early adopters.
This is without doubt one of the main the explanation why the Steam Machine most likely isn’t going to be a $500 competitor to the PS5, however as a result of prices are so excessive proper now, I may see Valve going for an additional staggered launch. Anybody that’s gone via the ache of attempting to get a graphics card shortly after launch is aware of what to anticipate right here. There’ll probably be an preliminary launch of restricted stock, with aftermarket sellers ramping up the Steam Machine value considerably till Valve can meet up with the demand.
It’s probably that even when Valve hits a March 2026 launch date, most individuals received’t be capable to get their arms on the Steam Machine till no less than June or July. I’d like to be improper, although. In spite of everything, it’s attainable that Valve has already made an enormous quantity of Steam Machines which might be able to exit the door the second the discharge date hits. Let’s all collectively hope that’s what occurs.
Jackie Thomas is the {Hardware} and Shopping for Guides Editor at IGN and the PC parts queen. You possibly can comply with her @Jackiecobra