- Valve says new Steam Machines will come out faster than Steam Deck models.
- New versions with stronger specifications will come out based on player demand and need.
- The timeframe will resemble an average PC upgrade that is required every few years.
Valve’s new Steam Machine has undoubtedly been a success despite its exorbitant $1000+ price tag. The console sold out in less than 48 hours in Japan, and it has also been incredibly popular globally. Even scalpers have found limited success at insane 2x prices.
The company now clarifies in a new statement that Steam Machine’s newer models will come out much faster than Steam Deck iterations.
Valve’s new hardware is following a different timeframe, since it’s different than traditional consoles and more akin to PCs.
Why it matters: From long-term software support to new models, Valve has grand plans for its Steam Machine lineup of compact PCs. Therefore, we could see its hardware evolve dynamically to meet our evolving requirements as new titles demand stronger hardware.
Speaking to PC Gamer, Valve engineers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Yazan Aldehayyat explain that Steam Machine models will come out in shorter update cycles. For context, Steam Deck 2 still hasn’t come out four years after the first iteration’s launch.
For Steam Machine, the release cycles will instead depend on industry developments and the evolving demands of gamers.
I don’t think we’re thinking about [the Steam Machine] with quite as long of a timeframe as something like the Steam Deck.
-Valve Engineer, Pierre-Loup Griffais.
The pair clarifies that we can expect new Steam Machine versions to launch if a bunch of new games on the platform require stronger hardware. So, think of it as traditional PC hardware upgrades that we require after every few years.
if a bunch of new games come out on Steam that require more performance, that would probably make us wanna upgrade the Steam Machine faster.
-Valve Engineer, Yazan Aldehayyat.
However, that doesn’t mean that a Steam Machine 2 is already in development or even in the conceptual stages at the moment.
Declining industry conditions could lengthen this release cycle, as Valve is currently analyzing how Xbox and Sony navigate the market with next-gen consoles.
Do you think Valve will be able to launch new and better Steam Machine models soon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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