Valve just stunned most of us with a surprise announcement of a trio of amazing new devices. While we've known about Deckard, the next-gen VR headset, for some time, the Steam Machine was kept a secret right until the last second. Joining the Steam Deck in the lineup, the Steam Machine is a cube-shaped mini PC designed for couch gaming, replacing traditional consoles in the coveted space next to your TV.

Maybe it wasn't that much of a surprise, because we've long thought SteamOS should come to more devices, but it's cool to see Valve take the first move. The last time the company tried to make Steam Machines work, it partnered with a bunch of other brands and it didn't work out so well. While the Steam Machine is coming in early 2026, the good news is that you don't have to wait to make your own. SteamOS is (mostly) usable on desktop PC components, and it doesn't take long to install and reach a point where you can start downloading your library for play.

If you have AMD hardware you're ahead of the game

SteamOS was designed for APU use, after all

I've been using my Strix Halo powered mini PC as a console replacement already, but with Windows 11 in kiosk mode so that it boots straight into the Xbox app fullscreen experience, like on the Xbox ROG Ally X. That's great for playing Game Pass titles, but it's not the best use of the hardware as Windows is still a resource hog (yes, even with 128GB of RAM).

I'm no stranger to installing SteamOS on other hardware, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the process is even easier than the last time I tried. I used the latest IMG file from Valve's repos (make sure to use the one with 'repair' in the name), put it on a new USB drive with Balena Etcher, and bootedinto the live environment. It's no different from how I put it onto the ROG Ally X, except the much more powerful mini PC had SteamOS installed in minutes, and I was downloading games not long after that.

You can do the same with the instructions I used for the ROG Ally X. The most important thing I've noticed is that the live USB needs a fast USB drive, and the few older sticks I had lying around were too slow. Use a new drive and you'll be fine.

You can build your own with most components

The drivers for Nvidia graphics cards aren't quite there yet

The Steam Machine uses semi-custom silicon, but it's very close to the AMD Ryzen 5 7600, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600. That means you can probably expect similar performance if you build a PC with those components, then choose your favorite chassis and other components. While we don't know pricing yet, Valve has said they're aiming at the introductory PC market, not the console one, so expect around $1,000 or thereabouts when it does release. Maybe we'll get pleasantly surprised and it'll be considerably more affordable, but it's better to have reasonable expectations.

And with both Steam devices already using AMD silicon, that's your best bet for issue-free gaming. SteamOS is also compatible with Intel components, but you might find you have to do some tweaking or troubleshooting with an Nvidia GPU that you won't have to do on other hardware. The Nvidia open source drivers aren't as well done as the Windows version, but the company has been making an effort so maybe one day they'll have feature and performance parity.

The Steam Machine is still cool, but so is SteamOS on any other device

What Valve has done with SteamOS is undeniable, but you don't need a Steam Machine to run it and reap the benefits. Almost any mini PC, desktop, laptop, or toaster oven with a screen (okay, that one isn't guaranteed) could run SteamOS. And almost any Linux system can run Windows games now, because the Proton translation layer can be installed on your distro of choice.

I'm still going to get a Steam Machine because I've wanted one since the days Valve last released Steam Machines to the world. It's just the right size to sit next to my TV, replace any thoughts about buying a console that isn't from Nintendo, and catch up on my backlog of games from the couch.