On Nov. 12, Steam announced a new console, called the Steam Machine, to be released in early 2026. Because of the console’s similar appearance to the Nintendo GameCube, it has been nicknamed the “GabeCube” after Steam founder Gabe Newell. The main appeal of the product is that, unlike current mainstream consoles that have exclusive games, the Steam Machine would let you play any game so long as it’s on Steam. This is because the machine is effectively a computer, able to run many desktop applications, yet it fills the console gaming niche.
This is not the first iteration of the Steam Machine, however. On Nov. 10, 2015, the first Steam Machine was released to poor reception. However, Steam’s handheld console, the Steam Deck, performed much better in sales when it was released in 2022. That, combined with technological improvements, is likely the reason for the Steam Machine’s reboot.
Scott Kuhl, advisor for the Husky Game Development enterprise, talked about the uncertainty of the outcome that will come from Steam’s new console, how “it could become a great success, likely because Steam is successful,” but “Do people even want that? You can buy any computer, put Linux on it, and then put Steam on it.”
Steam does have the benefit of millions of users who buy all sorts of games from its storefront. “Right now, with the Steam Deck, they have a pretty good foothold, especially in the gaming [handheld] area,” said Pierce Langford, a student in the Husky Game Development enterprise and the VP of Technology. Yet Langford also highlighted how many people already have consoles, meaning the Steam Machine would have to provide a compelling alternative to the alternatives currently available.
If you are interested in finding out more information about the Steam Machine and their other products, you can visit their website at store.steampowered.com/sale/steammachine.
