It’s no secret by now that Valve’s reveal of the Steam Machine was an enormous shock for everybody, contemplating its silence (albeit warranted) after the Steam Deck OLED‘s launch in 2023 on any potential new PC gaming {hardware}.
While we’re not fairly there but with a Steam Deck successor to presumably be a part of the ranks of the best handheld game consoles, we’re receiving a powerhouse gaming system (compared to Valve’s handheld) that has briefly shaken up the console gaming area, primarily based on preliminary reception.
1. PC couch gaming is about to blossom
PC gaming from the couch on a huge TV isn’t unheard of. Matter of fact, it’s something that I do frequently for games or movies when I need a break from sitting at my desktop after working, but not everyone has a long enough HDMI cable to facilitate that (the one I bought wasn’t cheap either).
Custom gaming PCs and their chassis are not usually designed to fit under or on TV units, and while small PC builds and mini-PCs exist, they’re not very mainstream.
The Steam Machine completely changes that narrative, entering the console-like gaming sphere with a design that’s specifically made for TV and couch gaming, thanks to its small chassis, which is so small that gamers are lauding it as the ‘Gabecube’ (honestly, thank you Gabe Newell), striking a very familiar look to Nintendo’s Gamecube.
PC couch gaming will likely now become a normality for a wider range of PC gamers, whether that’s by buying a Steam Machine, or building a small form factor custom PC with SteamOS (likely Bazzite) put in.
2. Potential influx of console players
I’ve noticed a lot of gamers who are console-only suggest a potential move over to the PC ecosystem over the last few years. However, the limiting factor has always been the worry of unfamiliarity with PC components, maintenance, and configurations.
With the Steam Machine, that’s no longer an obstacle for gamers looking to make the shift, as there will be no need to worry about building the system from scratch, nor will there be any concern about replacing the CPU or GPU, as both are soldered onto the Steam Machine’s motherboard.
As far as we know, the only interchangeable components are the system’s SSD and RAM, with the former being no different from a game console’s basic teardown, and the latter being slightly more involved.
Acknowledging this, I have zero doubts that we will see an influx of console gamers making their way over to PC. Since this is SteamOS we’re talking about, this opens up so many doors, specifically regarding Steam Families, as sharing games with close family or friends will be easier for individuals who may have been solo (like me) on PC before the Steam Machine’s arrival.
3. Extra developer pressure for better PC ports and optimization
If there’s one thing I’ve noticed that plays an integral part in why PC players usually get the short end of the stick with game ports compared to console players, it’s the wide variety of PC configurations that exist. That’s not to excuse poor game optimization, but rather to highlight why it’s such a common issue, and the introduction of the Steam Machine could change that.
With one mainstream configuration, just like a Sony or Microsoft console, game developers may be pressured to ensure their games are up to standard performance-wise before launching on the Steam Machine. Since it’s also seen as an entry-level gaming PC, that ought to have a knock-on impact for a wider vary of low-end gaming PC configurations, receiving PC ports that arrive with higher polish.
This could be helped additional if the Steam Machine manages to turn out to be an enormous hit available in the market, and if Valve makes use of the Deck Verified class for Steam Machine video games as one thing alongside the strains of ‘Machine Verified’ (and that is precisely what I’m anticipating it to do).
4. Third-party manufacturers create similar builds
In the event that consumers buy the Steam Machine when it launches in 2026, and they’re not pleased with its performance capabilities, it seems likely that Valve is opening the door for third-party manufacturers to build similar mini hybrid PC consoles that use SteamOS, with more powerful hardware.
This was highlighted by our friends at PC Gamer, and with the likes of Framework, which manufactures modular laptops, it would not be a shock to see if we get third-party fashions from different OEMs like MSI, Lenovo, Asus, who resolve to introduce extra highly effective choices later down the road.
Now, it is not like mini-PCs with extra highly effective processors do not exist, as there’s a lot already accessible. The distinction is that if Valve particularly chooses to increase SteamOS official compatibility and licenses for these mini-PCs, and the Steam Machine offers it the perfect alternative to make it occur.
For now, Valve’s motto appears to be making certain gaming efficiency is at an appropriate customary with the demanding modern-day titles we’re getting, whereas additionally not together with costly {hardware} that can finally spoil the enchantment of affordability – and I’m right here for it.
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