Katarzyna Petru
Valve intends to throw down the gauntlet to PlayStation and Xbox with its own Steam Machine console, but one thing immediately stands out in the specifications: the lack of HDMI 2.1 in 2026, five years after the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Why the absence of such a crucial connection for gamers? It turns out that the problem lies not in the hardware, but in… licensing and software.
The hardware has HDMI 2.1. The problem lies with the drivers and… HDMI Forum
In a conversation with Ars Technica, Valve explained: “The hardware does indeed support HDMI 2.1, but the Linux drivers are still under development.”
This brings us to the crux of the matter. According to Valve, the HDMI Forum is blocking any open-source implementations of HDMI 2.1 features, such as 4K120 HDR, VRR, or ALLM. This means that even if the console has the appropriate controller, the company cannot provide full functionality without closed, licensed code – which conflicts with the philosophy of SteamOS. Valve assures that it is “working on unlocking the topic,” but for now, it seems that there are no signs of a quick breakthrough.
4K 120 Hz works, but… only as SDR 8-bit 4:2:0
Valve boasts that the Steam Machine will support 4K at 120 Hz, despite the lack of HDMI 2.1. And this is true – but only in SDR mode, with 8-bit depth and 4:2:0 compression. It is worth adding context that Valve does not emphasise:
4K120 SDR can also be transmitted over the old HDMI 2.0, because the bandwidth has allowed it for years. This is not any feature of HDMI 2.1, but a clever utilisation of the limits of HDMI 2.0 at the expense of quality. HDR? Forget it. For owners of new televisions, this is quite a disappointment.
DisplayPort 1.4 is not a remedy either
Valve reminds us that the Steam Machine also has DisplayPort 1.4. Indeed, this connector has a higher bandwidth, but:
it is a standard from 2016,
DisplayPort 2.0 was announced in 2019,
almost no television supports it.
In practice, this means one thing: console players will receive lower image quality and lack HDMI VRR. The Steam Machine only supports AMD FreeSync, which limits compatibility with many Premium televisions.
Weaker hardware, no HDMI 2.1 and high price. A tough fight with PS5 and PS6
On paper, the Steam Machine is meant to look like a "PC in a console". In reality, however:
it lacks HDMI 2.1,
it lacks DisplayPort 2.0,
it has lower graphical capabilities than PS5,
it does not utilise the full potential of modern TVs,
it runs on SteamOS with significant game fragmentation (many run poorly or have controller issues),
it is expected to cost "like a PC".
In this comparison, with the growing popularity of PlayStation 5 and the approaching release of PlayStation 6 and the new Xbox (around 2027), the Steam Machine enters the market with a significant weight of ballast.
Premiere in 2026 – but will gamers buy it?
Steam Machine will debut in 2026, but if Valve does not resolve the issues with HDMI 2.1, it will be difficult to convince users of modern televisions that it is worth investing in equipment lacking key image features that the competition has had for years.
