Valve appears to be moving closer to launching the Steam Machine. A recent server-side update to Steam includes files related to a Welcome Tour—an onboarding setup for the new device. Insider Brad Lynch, who regularly tracks changes in Steam's database, spotted this.
The Steam Machine was officially announced earlier, but the exact release timeline remained unclear. Initially expected in early 2026, the launch was reportedly delayed due to a memory shortage affecting the entire tech industry. The appearance of preparatory materials in Steam now suggests that Valve may be entering the final stage before release. The discovered files reference the Welcome Tour itself, along with images users will likely see during the initial setup of the Steam Machine. Such elements are typically added closer to a product launch, when the interface and first-boot process are nearly finalized.
Interestingly, Valve used a similar approach with the Steam Controller. Back then, the Welcome Tour and related materials appeared in Steam's backend just weeks before the company announced the controller's price and release date. If Valve follows the same pattern, news about the Steam Machine could arrive soon.
Earlier, hints of several device configurations were also found in Steam's database. According to that data, the Steam Machine may come in four variants: a base version with a 512 GB drive, a 2 TB model, and two bundles that include the Steam Controller. There is no official confirmation of these configurations yet, but combined with the new Welcome Tour, they make an imminent launch increasingly likely.