Es besteht eine hohe Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass die Steam Machine 2026 einen neuen Markt für Konsolen-PCs schaffen könnte, ähnlich wie der Steam Deck für Handheld-Gaming-PCs. Dieser Entwicklungsstand könnte auch dazu führen, dass große Konsolenhersteller, wie Xbox und möglicherweise sogar die PS6, Steam in ihre Plattformen integrieren, um langfristig wettbewerbsfähig zu bleiben. Wenn sich das Landschaft weiterentwickelt, könnte es entscheidend werden, sich an diese neu auftauchenden Konsolen-PCs anzupassen, um in der Gaming-Industrie relevant zu bleiben.
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Handheld PCs existed before the Steam Deck, but the Steam Deck stands out because it’s a much better product than its competitors.
You’re mixing up the Steam Machine hardware with SteamOS. The Steam Machine itself is essentially an entry-level gaming PC. What could truly disrupt the console market is if SteamOS becomes widely available for any PC configuration. Manufacturers would quickly start offering a range of systems at different prices and performance levels.
If that happens, PlayStation and Xbox would face serious challenges. Their game libraries are more limited and costly, and their systems can’t double as general-purpose PCs. SteamOS has so many advantages that it could even compete with Windows as a gaming operating system.
The Steam Machine isn’t just an entry-level gaming PC—it’s poised to be the first true console PC.
With heavy leaks and rumors suggesting the next Xbox may include Steam, that could potentially save them. However, even then, PlayStation and Xbox’s current business model seems likely to fail, given they only release new consoles every seven or eight years.
Once this shift begins, they won’t just be competing with Steam Machines, but with countless console PCs. Personally, I believe the world would be better off with only PCs, console PCs, and Nintendo consoles. In that scenario, everyone wins except Sony and Xbox.
People already use their PCs like consoles. I’m not sure what you mean, as my computer boots directly into Big Picture mode. Valve attempted this with the original Steam Machine, and it didn’t succeed.
You’re way off with the math on that one.
Sony should consider this move for long-term survival. While they currently have a strong market position, failing to adapt could be detrimental. With numerous console PCs likely emerging during the PS6’s lifespan, and the possibility of Xbox integrating Steam, Sony would face significant challenges if the PS6 lacks similar compatibility.
Yes, but only if the price is reasonable. If it’s too high, we could see a repeat of the Steam Machine issues from a decade ago, where manufacturers put together poor hardware combinations that made “console killer” videos look impressive by comparison.
Until the price and performance details are available, it’s worth considering whether building a custom system with something like a budget Arc B580 might offer better upgradability at a similar cost. We’ll have to wait and see.
I agree. I hope the base model is around $650 or less. This would position it close to the price of a digital-only Xbox Series X after Microsoft’s recent price increase, and only $150 more than a base digital PS5. That would make it highly competitive against Xbox and PlayStation, which should be one of Valve’s long-term goals.
There are already many powerful mini PCs with small footprints. I’m typing this on a Ryzen 7 7840HS APU-based mini PC, and with DDR5-6400, it handles most games well except for poorly optimized ones. Using Oculink, I can add a GPU dock later with any PCI 4.0/3.0 compatible graphics card.
I tested it with two hours of Palworld on medium settings.
The Steam Machine could bridge the accessibility gap for console gamers, particularly those who value simple UI and TV-friendly controller support. Many haven’t switched to PC gaming due to these hurdles, but the Steam Machine’s approachable interface may change that. I’ve already seen comments from people planning to replace their Xbox or PlayStation with one. As console PCs evolve, they’ll likely become even more powerful while maintaining user-friendly interfaces.
You can boot directly into Steam Big Picture mode to play PC games on a TV using just a controller. This has been straightforward and possible for years.
Booting directly into Big Picture mode is slow and clunky, even with 64GB of RAM and Steam set to launch it immediately. The interface isn’t great either. While some PC gamers might overlook these issues, they’re important to console gamers.
With just four screws, you can swap the drive for any distro you prefer—Batocera, Bazzite, SteamOS, Linux Mint, or even Windows 10 if you’re not satisfied with the included Windows 11. Mine has two additional drive slots, though only two work at a time. I upgraded with a 2TB drive and have been very pleased using it as my main daily driver for six months, except when playing heavier games.
I believe Xbox and PlayStation will both be pushed toward becoming more like PCs. I’m especially curious about the PS6—will it include Steam, and would Valve allow that? It will be interesting to see.
Prebuilt PCs already exist and have been a well-established industry for some time.
Prebuilt PCs are a completely different category from console PCs.
How would it create a new industry? It’s essentially a small prebuilt PC with a custom case and a lightly modified Linux distribution.
SteamOS and its quality-of-life features are not easily replicated on a traditional PC without significant effort.
As a PlayStation user since the PS1, I feel the PS6 would be pointless to me if Sony continues shifting toward a digital-only future. Between the two digital gaming options, the Steam Machine is clearly the better choice.
If Sony keeps this direction, I plan to switch to the Steam Machine. My main concern is whether Valve will commit to supporting it long-term with future iterations. I don’t want to invest in something that ends up being a one-time release.
The key difference is that Steam Machines run on Windows, Linux, or Mac, so you can always build or buy another gaming PC to access your library. If Sony discontinued PlayStation, you would lose access to your PlayStation Store purchases.
The 2026 Steam Machine could very well spark a wave of console PCs, much like the Steam Deck did for handhelds. This shift may signal the end of traditional consoles as we know them, pushing Sony and Microsoft to develop their own console PCs or risk being overtaken by the growing market.
It’s unclear whether the next Xbox or PlayStation will be fully digital. While I’m not a console player myself, I believe more options are better—ideally, players should have the choice between digital and physical games. Regardless of what Sony and Microsoft decide this generation, I don’t see physical games disappearing entirely, much like physical media for movies and TV shows still exists.
As for Steam’s support of the Steam Machine, I’m confident it will continue, just as it does for all handheld gaming PCs. Future console PCs will undoubtedly include Steam as well.
I’m concerned that if the PS6 launches without a disc drive, I’ll start investing in Steam Machines instead. Sony’s consumer practices for digital games are poor, which makes Steam devices much more appealing.
I hope Steam continues supporting Steam Machines regardless of the PS6’s disc drive situation.
I plan to buy my mom a Steam Machine when it releases. She’s excited because she loves her Switch 2. I was surprised the Switch 2 included physical games at launch, but even Nintendo appears to be transitioning their audience toward digital-only options through key cards and digital-only physical releases, which many dislike, myself included. However, most people are still playing Switch 1 games on their Switch 2 until more exclusives arrive, so backward compatibility may be a factor. Perhaps we’ll be fortunate and physical games will remain, but the direction for PS6 and Xbox ultimately depends on their decisions this generation. The Steam Machine is making a case for all-digital consoles, but we’ll have to wait and see.
If consoles go fully digital, they’ll need substantial hard drives, as game file sizes aren’t shrinking. I was disappointed that one Steam Machine model only offers 512GB—rumors suggest GTA 6 could approach that size alone. Even if it doesn’t, many new AAA titles are around 80GB to 100GB, so 512GB is inadequate for PC storage or an all-digital console today.
It seems unlikely that this is a serious suggestion.
What do you mean? The Steam Deck was far from the first PC handheld.
The iPhone wasn’t the first smartphone, the Walkman wasn’t the first portable cassette player, the Model T wasn’t the first automobile, and Oreo wasn’t the first chocolate sandwich cookie.
It’s not about who did it first, but who did it right.
The handheld gaming PC market didn’t really take off until after the Steam Deck’s release.
If the rumors are true, this aligns with Microsoft’s next move: a two-tier console and PC hybrid that reportedly supports multiple storefronts.
I think it would be interesting to see. I’m excited for all console PCs, no matter who makes them. The more successful models that come out, the closer we get to the decline of traditional PlayStations and Xboxes. Ideally, we’d be left with just console PCs and Nintendo consoles, which I believe would be the best outcome for all consumers, including console players.