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 absence of HDMI 2.1 in 2026, five years after the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Why is there a lack of such a crucial connector for gamers? It turns out that the problem lies not in the hardware, but in... licenses and software.
The hardware has HDMI 2.1. The problem is the drivers and… HDMI Forum
In an interview with Ars Technica, Valve explained: “The hardware indeed supports HDMI 2.1, but the Linux drivers are still in development.”
And here we get to the crux. 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 – and that conflicts with the philosophy of SteamOS. Valve assures that it is “working on unlocking the topic,” but for now, it looks like there are no indications 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's worth adding context that Valve does not emphasize:
4K120 SDR can also be transmitted through old HDMI 2.0, because the bandwidth has allowed it for years. This is not a feature of HDMI 2.1, but a clever use of the limits of HDMI 2.0 at the expense of quality. HDR? Forget it. For owners of new TVs, this is a significant disappointment.
DisplayPort 1.4 is also not a remedy
Valve reminds us that the Steam Machine also has DisplayPort 1.4. Indeed, this connection has a higher bandwidth, but:
it's a standard from 2016,
DisplayPort 2.0 was announced in 2019,
almost none of the TVs support it.
In practice, this means one thing: console gamers will receive lower image quality and lack of HDMI VRR. The Steam Machine only supports AMD FreeSync, which limits compatibility with many Premium TVs.
Weaker hardware, no HDMI 2.1, and high price. A tough battle against PS5 and PS6
On paper, the Steam Machine looks like a “PC in a console.” However, in reality:
there is no HDMI 2.1,
there is no DisplayPort 2.0,
it has lower graphics capabilities than the PS5,
it does not utilize the full potential of modern TVs,
it runs on SteamOS with significant fragmentation of games (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 imminent launch of PlayStation 6 and a new Xbox (around 2027), the Steam Machine enters the market with a heavy ballast.
Premiere in 2026 – but will gamers buy it?
The Steam Machine will debut in 2026, but if Valve doesn't solve the issues with HDMI 2.1, it will be hard to convince users of modern televisions that it's worth investing in hardware lacking key image features that the competition has had for years.
