Valve has launched Steam Machine, its living-room console built on SteamOS, aimed at offering an alternative to traditional consoles and TV-connected desktop PCs.

A compact PC built for the couch

Unlike the Steam Deck, which is built for gaming on the go, Steam Machine is a compact desktop unit that plugs straight into a TV and runs on the same SteamOS foundation, adapted for a controller and a big screen. Valve's goal is to make Steam's massive game library just as accessible from the living room as it already is on a desktop PC.

Pricing and models

Steam Machine starts at $1,049 for the 512GB configuration, with a 2TB version priced from $1,349. The launch lands at a time when component prices — memory in particular — are climbing across the industry, which could affect how its price evolves going forward.