Steam Machine Launches in Australia Simultaneously With Global Release
▼ Summary
– Valve announced three new hardware products: Steam Frame, Steam Machine, and Steam Controller, targeting early 2026 release.
– Unlike previous Valve hardware, these products will launch simultaneously in Australia and other regions without delays.
– The new hardware will be available in all current Steam Deck regions plus Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan via Komodo.
– Australians will be able to purchase directly from Steam with local warehouse shipping, avoiding long waits experienced with past products.
– Specific pricing and launch timing for the hardware will be announced after the first of the year, with no current details available.
For Australian gamers, the long wait for Valve hardware is officially over. The newly announced Steam Frame, Steam Machine, and Steam Controller will launch in Australia simultaneously with their global release, a significant departure from the company’s previous approach. This marks a major shift for Valve, which historically made Australian customers wait years for products like the Steam Deck and Valve Index.
Straight from the source, Valve has confirmed that all three products will ship to the same regions currently served for the Steam Deck, including Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and areas covered by Komodo such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. While a specific release date and pricing are not yet available, the company is targeting an early 2026 launch window, with more concrete details expected after the start of the new year.
This announcement means Australian consumers will be able to purchase the hardware directly from Steam at the same time as everyone else. Following the precedent set by the Steam Deck, these items will likely ship from a local Australian warehouse, drastically cutting down delivery times to just a couple of days instead of the excruciating multi-week waits associated with international shipping.
The news will be particularly welcomed by those who endured the previous “dark ages” of acquiring Valve hardware in Australia. Before the Steam Deck’s local availability began in October of last year, customers were forced to navigate grey market sellers, a practice Valve itself cautioned against, or use VPNs to trick the Steam store into allowing a purchase. For anyone who remembers that frustrating process, the confirmation of a day-one Australian launch is a very welcome relief indeed.
For those eager to learn more, extensive coverage of the new hardware lineup is available, detailing everything from the raw technical specifications to initial hands-on impressions from experts who have tested the gear.
(Source: PC Gamer)
