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Valve has been working for months on a new device that aims to combine the convenience of a console with the capabilities of a PC. Although the company still hasn't revealed an official release date for the Steam Machine, further leaks suggest the hardware is already on the home straight before its debut. Two new Geekbench entries have appeared in the database for a device running SteamOS. This is the first time the mysterious hardware has been spotted with Valve's operating system. Everything suggests that the first units have already entered closed testing.
New benchmarks suggest Steam Machine is ready for launch
The latest entries in the Geekbench database have drawn the attention of the community tracking Valve's hardware development. Although the name Steam Machine does not appear directly in the tests, the specification and earlier leaks point to that device. The tests used SteamOS, which is particularly significant because previous benchmarks were carried out under Windows. This suggests Valve has probably finished the most important work on supporting its own hardware with its proprietary operating system. The device houses a custom AMD processor with six cores and twelve threads. The chip runs at nearly 4.9 GHz. The results are very close to those seen back in 2025. That suggests the switch to SteamOS has not delivered a significant boost in CPU performance. That does not mean bad news for gamers. The mere appearance of new tests may indicate the start of the final stage of preparations before launch. Tech companies often hand hardware to selected testers just a few weeks ahead of the official debut. Valve does not comment on leaks, but activity around the project is clearly increasing. It increasingly looks as though the launch could take place this summer. For fans of console-style PC gaming, this could be one of the most interesting devices of the year, especially as the Steam Machine is expected to offer considerably more freedom than traditional consoles.
Valve may challenge PlayStation and Xbox, but the price raises concerns
According to available information, the new Steam Machine is expected to offer very high CPU performance. Results suggest the CPU used by Valve could be roughly twice as fast as the processor in the PlayStation 5 in single-threaded tasks. Such performance could translate into better support for more demanding games and emulation of older platforms. Emulation is one of the aspects that distinguish PC hardware from the closed ecosystems of consoles. However, we will only be able to make a final assessment once details of the graphics chip are revealed. The GPU will determine performance in new AAA titles. The device's price remains an equally important issue. Existing leaks suggest the hardware could exceed roughly $950. If confirmed, the Steam Machine would become one of the most expensive devices of its kind on the market. That price could put off some players who could buy a full-fledged gaming PC or a powerful laptop for a similar sum. On the other hand, Valve may be counting on users who want the simplicity of use combined with the Steam library. Ease of use is expected to be one of the new device's greatest strengths. The company wants to offer a console-like experience without giving up the advantages of the PC platform. If it manages to keep the price attractive, the Steam Machine could become a serious competitor to Xbox and PlayStation. For now, however, players are still waiting for an official announcement and the full hardware specification.
New benchmarks suggest that the Steam Machine is already at a very advanced stage of preparation for release. The device runs SteamOS and delivers promising CPU performance that could outpace current consoles. The biggest unknowns, however, are the capabilities of the GPU and the final price, which could play a key role in the success of Valve's new hardware.
source: wccftech
