A Steam Machine welcome tour experience has been added to Valve's digital storefront. Based on the company's recent patterns, the addition may indicate that the long-anticipated PC line is finally nearing release, with the Steam Machine potentially debuting in early summer 2026.
Valve announced the second-generation Steam Machine in mid-November 2025. Presented as the company's latest attempt at bringing Linux-powered gaming to the living room, the mini PC was unveiled with an "early 2026" release window. Six months later, the device has yet to materialize, with industry watchers largely attributing the extended wait to increasingly difficult component supply conditions. Memory has been cited as a particular pressure point, as much of the available supply has reportedly been absorbed by hyperscalers backed by heavy AI investment.
After 181 Days of Waiting, It’s Clear as Day That Valve’s Steam Machine Needs to Tick These 4 Boxes
Valve has the games industry on the edge of its seat as it prepares for the launch of the Steam Machine, which needs some key features to thrive.
Steam Machine Repeats Steam Controller Roadmap with Interactive Welcome Tour Added Before Release
As originally reported by hardware analyst Bradley Lynch, the Steam backend received a native Steam Machine welcome tour on May 29. The addition arrives in the form of a short interactive guide that informs new owners of the upcoming mini PC's capabilities. Lynch was also the person to spot an equivalent welcome tour for the Steam Controller back when Valve added it on April 2. That was exactly 25 days before the company announced the Steam Controller's pricing and availability info, and just over a month ahead of the gamepad's market release. Should this pattern hold, the Steam Machine may finally receive a release date in late June, potentially launching by early July 2026.
Regarding the newly spotted welcome tour, the leak at hand does not reveal much, although it does show that the Steam Machine's microSD slot is mentioned in the new guide, which instructs users how to insert, eject, and format its supported cards. Based on a screenshot of minified JavaScript code that Lynch shared on X, Valve appears to have implemented two versions of the welcome tour: one for first-time users and another for those who have already seen it. That distinction suggests users may be able to manually relaunch the introductory tutorial after completing it.
The welcome tour was spotted a month after Valve veteran Pierre-Loup Griffais said the preparation for the Steam Machine launch was progressing well. However, he also confirmed that supply chain logistics were still standing in the way of the mini PC's release at the time. Whether that has changed since remains unclear, with the sighting of the Steam Machine welcome tour offering only a tentative signal that the much-anticipated device is inching closer to launch.
What's That Weapon?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Whenever the mini PC finally arrives, much of the attention will be on its price. Valve has consistently said the Steam Machine will be priced like a PC, but increasingly difficult component market conditions suggest its sticker price could disappoint even the most cautious fans. The recent Steam Deck price hike from $649 to $949 for the 1TB OLED model indicates that the mini PC line will not be cheap and may start at well over $1,000. Granted, Valve's handheld is not a perfect direct comparison, as it includes hardware the Steam Machine does not, most notably a screen and battery.