Valve Confirms Summer Ship Date for Steam Machine and Frame

Valve announced plans to release its Steam Machine console-like PC and standalone Steam Frame VR headset this summer. The company shared the timeframe in a blog post on the official Steam website while also detailing expansions to its Verified program for the upcoming hardware.

Verified program expands to cover Steam Machine and Steam Frame. "Today, we are expanding the Verified program to include Steam Machine and Steam Frame, both of which are shipping this summer," said Valve in the post. The firm offered no specifics on exact ship dates or launch pricing for either device.

The remainder of the post outlined how the Verified program will operate for the new products.

Verified testing process stays consistent across devices. Valve will continue testing games in largely the same manner as it does for the Steam Deck. Titles that meet the criteria receive a green check mark.

Games that reportedly performed poorly on Steam Deck will undergo fresh evaluation to determine whether they function adequately on Steam Machine. Successful titles will earn a dedicated Steam Machine Verified badge. An identical review process will apply to the Steam Frame.

Pricing remains undisclosed despite its importance. Launch cost will prove critical to the market performance of both the Steam Machine and Steam Frame. Valve's recent decision to raise the price of its Steam Deck handheld by more than $200 has left many consumers concerned about the final tag on the new console.

Steam Machine offers six times the power of Steam Deck. According to Valve the Steam Machine delivers approximately six times the performance of a Steam Deck, enabling a broader range of titles. That leap in capability also points toward a substantially higher retail price than the current Steam Deck, whose base OLED model now sells for nearly $800.

Cost estimates for Steam Machine begin to circulate. Industry observers have floated projections that the Steam Machine could reach $1,200 or higher. Ongoing RAM shortages and additional supply pressures make that figure appear realistic and potentially the most optimistic outcome, with some analysts warning the actual price could climb further.