Steam Controller Archives

AppWizard

July 3, 2026

A Potential Lawsuit Against Valve Might Have You Rethinking The Value Of Steam Sales

The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation (CCC), a Dutch nonprofit organization, has filed a class action claim against Valve, alleging that the company's practices are stifling competition in the PC gaming market and inflating game prices. The CCC claims that Valve enforces price-parity agreements through contracts and peer pressure, preventing game developers from offering lower prices on competing platforms. They argue that Valve's 30% commission on sales restricts studios from setting their own prices, leading to higher costs for consumers. The CCC is also concerned about Valve's requirement for microtransactions to go through the Steam Wallet, which incurs an additional 30% commission, and the practice of region-locking keys. They are seeking €220 million in damages for affected Dutch players. The CCC is currently exploring an amicable resolution with Valve and is encouraging individuals to support their cause by signing up on the GameClaim website. The CCC's claims extend beyond direct Steam purchases, affecting the entire market. The likelihood of a successful lawsuit is uncertain, as the CCC has a mixed track record in previous cases. Valve has faced legal challenges in the past, including a penalty in 2016 for misleading consumer representations, and ongoing lawsuits regarding its market dominance.

AppWizard

June 30, 2026

Portal 2 just got a Steam Frame compatibility rating, hinting at the VR headset’s imminent launch

Valve is set to launch the Steam Frame this summer, with the classic game Portal 2 receiving a compatibility rating of Playable. The Playable rating is due to the lack of support for the Steam Frame's native resolution, meaning while the game runs smoothly, it won't utilize the headset's full resolution capabilities. The Steam Frame features a resolution of 2,160 × 2,160 for each eye, an upgrade from the Valve Index's 1,440 × 1,600 resolution. It also offers standalone gaming capabilities, unlike the Index, which required a PC connection. Valve's compatibility rating system includes Unsupported, Playable, and Verified categories. A late August release for the Steam Frame is anticipated, following the timeline of previous product launches.

AppWizard

June 29, 2026

Steam Machine reservations are already being resold on Ebay for up to $2900

Valve's Steam Machine has faced challenges due to scalpers exploiting its limited availability. Despite measures like a randomized queue and one-unit purchase limits, resellers have listed the device at inflated prices on platforms like eBay. For example, a 2TB Steam Machine bundled with a controller is priced at ,899.99, over double its retail cost of 8. Listings for 2TB models range from ,700 to ,899.99, while a 512GB model without a controller is offered for ,800. Resale practices mirror those seen during the Steam Controller launch, where buyers could purchase multiple units for resale. The Steam Machine's higher starting price of ,049 makes reselling less feasible for many. Valve has indicated that as they process reservations, cancellations may open opportunities for others on the waiting list. Additionally, there is speculation about the demand for Valve's upcoming VR headset, the Steam Frame, amid existing competition.

AppWizard

June 23, 2026

The Steam Machine’s price has finally been revealed, and it’s not cheap

Valve has announced the pricing for its Steam Machine, with the entry-level 512GB model priced at ,049 without a controller. There are four configurations available: - 512GB model without a controller - ,049 / £879 - 512GB model with a Steam Controller - ,128 / £938 - 2TB model without a controller - ,349 / £1,149 - 2TB model with a Steam Controller - ,428 / £1,208 The pricing reflects recent market trends, including a 40% price increase for the Steam Deck. The specifications for the 512GB model include a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU, semi-custom AMD RDNA3 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, and support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Registration for interest in the Steam Machine is open until June 25th at 10 AM PT.

AppWizard

June 22, 2026

Steam Machine review: Valve’s underwhelming living-room PC has a serious price problem

The Steam Machine is a compact gaming system measuring 16.5 × 15.5 × 15.3 cm, designed to run SteamOS and provide access to the Steam library while offering a user experience similar to consoles. It features a custom AMD CPU with six cores and twelve threads, 16 MiB of L3 cache, and a maximum clock speed of 4.86 GHz. The system includes 16 GiB of DDR5 memory and a discrete Radeon graphics unit with 8 GiB of GDDR6 video memory based on the Navi 33 architecture, operating with 28 compute units and a power budget of 110 watts. Storage consists of an NVMe drive with approximately 1.9 TB of space and a zram swap of around 7.6 GiB. The Steam Machine runs SteamOS 3.8.9 in its x86-64 version, allowing it to function as either a Linux PC or a gaming interface. Connectivity options include one HDMI 2.0 port, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, four USB-A ports, a USB-C port, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. Its hardware is aligned with PC architecture but lacks the customization options of a bespoke system.

AppWizard

June 22, 2026

The Steam Machine is the most ambitious game console I’ve ever played

The Steam Machine retails starting at ,049 without a gamepad and ,128 bundled with one. Its performance does not significantly exceed that of the 5.5-year-old PS5, which offers sharper visuals in certain games. The Steam Machine operates more like a console than previous iterations, featuring a compact design and compatibility with modern gamepads. Valve claims to sell its components at cost, having negotiated with suppliers during a memory supply crisis. Users have reported technical issues, such as problems with the Steam Controller, sound output, and game downloads. The device requires manual adjustments for settings, lacks user-friendly configurations, and has questionable reliability with its sleep function. Valve plans to support AMD’s FSR 4 upscaling and is working on graphics driver updates. The Steam Machine is positioned as a versatile gaming and computing solution, but its limitations highlight the need for further refinement.

AppWizard

June 22, 2026

Steam Machine pricing starts at $1,049 for 512GB model

Valve's Steam Machine is now available for pre-order, with two versions priced at ,049 for the 512GB model and ,349 for the 2TB model, which includes a Steam Controller. The device runs on SteamOS and can play PC games, functioning as both a console and a desktop computer. Its compact design allows for easy integration into home environments. The pricing has been influenced by component shortages due to demand from AI sectors. Valve has stated that it does not follow the traditional console model of selling hardware at a loss, aiming instead for an open ecosystem. Insights suggest that the target price for the Steam Machine may have shifted significantly due to rising costs.

AppWizard

June 22, 2026

The Steam Machine is the start of an even more expensive future for game consoles

Valve's Steam Machine is priced at ,049 for the 512GB model and ,128 with a Steam Controller. The 2TB version costs ,349 or ,428 with the controller. In comparison, the 2TB Xbox Series X retails for 9.99, the PS5 Pro for 9.99, and the upcoming Switch 2 is expected to launch at 9.99. The Steam Machine offers access to Steam's extensive library of games and is positioned as a premium option in a market with rising hardware prices. Recent data shows a 46% decline in PS5 sales year-over-year, coinciding with a price increase to 9.99. Xbox is developing "Project Helix," a device between a console and a PC, but pricing concerns have led to a reevaluation of its vision.

AppWizard

June 11, 2026

Valve to discontinue physical Steam gift cards by the end of 2026 due to scammers — says nefarious actors continue to exploit them despite years of restrictions

Valve will discontinue the sale of physical Steam gift cards by the end of 2026, with retail stores expected to deplete existing inventory by the end of this year. Current holders of Steam gift cards can still redeem them at any time, following local laws. Users can still purchase and send digital gift cards through the Steam platform. Additionally, Valve is implementing a reservation-based system for its Steam Controller to prevent scalping, restricting reservations to eligible Steam accounts with a solid purchase history.

AppWizard

June 10, 2026

A new Steam Frame setup video leak hints at imminent release date

A video demonstrating the setup procedure for the Steam Frame has leaked, showcasing the user experience and referencing the upcoming device. Valve is expected to release the Steam Frame this summer, following the successful launch of the Steam Controller. The Steam Frame and Steam Machine are part of Valve's new hardware lineup. The setup video, shared on Reddit, features a "Welcome to Steam Frame" message and guides users through powering on controllers and connecting to a PC. The Steam Frame will be a standalone headset with 2,160 x 2,160 LCD screens for each eye, offering both independent gaming and PC connectivity, and it eliminates the need for base stations.