Valve today (12 November 2025) announced their new Steam Machine (x86 CPU, 6x more powerful than Steam Deck) and Steam Frame (self-contained and PCVR streaming VR headset with ARM CPU & “FEX” translation of x86 to ARM) to be released in early 2026. No prices yet.
I’m trying to speculate what effects this will have on the wider Linux ecosystem. Both devices will be running Steam OS and be open so you can run any OS.
First, I’ve read many people state that the Steam Deck considerably increased the number of devices running Linux, so it seems to me that these two new devices will accelerate that trend.
Second, it seems to me that the Steam Frame will significantly increase VR use and development for Linux.
Third, I wonder what the implications of Frame’s x86 to arm translation layer (based on FEX, an open source project that I only learned about today) as well as Android compatibility (they state it can sideload Android APKs) will be. Could this somehow help either Linux on Apple silicon or Linux phone efforts? I’m very unfamiliar with what’s going on with either of these efforts, so I may be way out on a limb here.
What do you think about all this?
Edit: this article may prompt some additional thoughts with its discussion of the openness of the Frame - https://www.uploadvr.com/valve-steam-frame-catalog-whole-compatible/
I thought it was obvious, 2026 is going to be the year of the Linux desktop.
year of the linux goggle headwear apparatus
The biggest issue with Linux phones, is that basically every hardware manufacturer refuses to support Linux in any kind of way. Chipsets, and radios in particular. Linux itself needs a little optimization for mobile but it’s mostly hardware.
It’s really difficult to port Linux to any android device, despite being perfectly compatible in every way outside of drivers.
The x86 to arm is very cool. I do some stuff like this on my phone by running winlator. It works better on snapdragon because it has a better video translation layer.
It will help with linux on macs for the few (including me) blokes running it
Good to know, thanks!
Wasn’t the issue there that there are no drivers for the specific Apple silicon hardware, so someone needs to invent them? Because we’ve had raspberry pi for ages. Software for ARM is a solved problem AFAIK.
I’m replying to you from Asahi Linux on an Apple Silicon Macbook. The drivers are definitely there!
FEX emulation of x86 on ARM CPUs has made many x86 games playable on my Macbook.
Ah, you mean it will help with games on Asahi Linux. Thought you meant it would help get Linux on more MacBooks.
I’m replying to you from Asahi Linux on an Apple Silicon Macbook. The drivers are definitely there!
FEX emulation of x86 on ARM CPUs has made many x86 games playable on my Macbook.
Hmmm, good points that I hadn’t thought about or just wasn’t aware, thanks!
Could this somehow help…Linux phone efforts?
I thought about this but the biggest problem with Android is lack of adoption from developers of third party app stores and UnifiedPush, and similarly widespread adoption of Play Integrity API. This won’t solve those problems.
There’s certainly the possibility that Android apps begin being distributed on Steam. But probably only gaming apps.
Yeah, there would need to be a major player investing in this route, coupled with strong integrity checks, to force banks and identity apps to make a third version of their apps.
Good points, thanks.
For sure.
I am excited to see more arm-based Linux devices for consumers. And the Snapdragon-based VR is exciting on that front.
It definitely won’t change anything for tomorrow or next year, but it does make me hopeful that better support is in the relatively near future.
Fınally, year of the Linux desktop is here!
All 3 of the new hardware seems really cool. I’m very excited. These probably won’t be sold where I am, but I’m considering getting a steam controller from a 3rd party seller if it turns out to be cheap enough for me.
I’m surprised that they kept the “Steam Machine” name. I thought they would choose a different name to avoid any negative connotations. It is a very cool name though.
Also this goes to prove again that Steam/Valve is not a monopoly. If this “small” team of 350~ people in a private company can casually beat Microsoft’s market domination, Every other game launcher/storefront + The 17 Billion dollars Meta burned into their VR Hardware and “The Metaverse”, this is nothing but a case of crippling incompetence from their competitors.
I’m surprised that they kept the “Steam Machine” name. I thought they would choose a different name to avoid any negative connotations. It is a very cool name though.
what negative connotations exsit for “steam machine”
They released a swath of “Steam Machine” devices about a decade ago through partnerships with companies like Alienware. I think the software implementation was poor, and I think the prices were exorbitant.
I don’t think there are any negative connotations to the original Steam Machine. They weren’t successful, but in a way that was okay. They weren’t widely sold, and what most of the gaming public got out of the Steam Machine project was the Steam Controller, Big Picture Mode, and the Proton compatibility layer. Most Windows gamers didn’t notice, it was a major boon to Linux gamers, and then they came out with the Steam Deck which has been a genuine success.
Also this goes to prove again that Steam/Valve is not a monopoly
How does a company announcing a new item for later release disprove its status as a monopoly? How does a game company designing a better product than a bumbling social media company disprove its status as a monopoly? Can you explain?
Some 73% of developers see Steam as a monopoly
Steam satisfies the FTC’s definition of a monopolist
I’m not taking a stance on whether or not valve is a monopoly, but claiming that a press release for upcoming items (that have yet to even hit the market) disproves its monopoly status seems wrong.
The fact that customers enjoy the products that a monopoly makes doesn’t disprove its monopoly status. It just proves there is still some ounce of good engineering winning over shortsighted financial decisions in Valve’s leadership.
are there any linux WMs that provide a good desktop experience with VR headsets yet? I’d love to get a niri like scrolling experience with goggles - although it would make meetings weird.
If there is an easy way to extend the desktop to the virtual big screen it will put it higher on my list.
I would imagine that that’s the only way that they would be able to make a desktop work on Frame, no?
Im just not sure how much steamos specific or hardware specific stuff are a part of it.
Got it. We will find out soon.
yeah. I mean I will not be buying pre sales or anything. I will let it come out. See some people who bought it give a rundown and like the steamdeck pick it up down the line after a price decrease. If I do pick it up. Sorta need to be working before I can be buying toys.
Definitely a good idea with brand new technology.
Yeah, like you said, significant development of VR on Linux. But that also depends on the price tag.
VR on Linux is functional, at can work. But it requires a bunch of set up and can also just break down very easily too. VR on Linux is almost like what gaming on Linux was before Proton. If Valve can do to VR what they did with Proton then I’m sure I can convince a whole bunch of people to switch to Linux.
Good to hear, thanks for your first-hand impression of the current state of VR on Linux!
this is the year of linux
😆
I’m a bit surprised that Quallcom doesn’t have a custom XR3 chip yet and Valve used the Snapgdragon8 Gen3
Valves choices the last few years are making me more optimistic that a Linux phone ecosystem could grow and improve. Sideloading APKs on an ARM-based easy-to-use linux system? Nice! It is possible using Waydroid etc today, but it is not very polished.
I’m crossing my fingers too!
As someone who previously owned a GameCube and a G4 Cube, I’m definitely getting the Steam
CubeMachine.I prefer GabeCube
People have already started calling the Steam Machine the “GabeCube” around the internet. :)
Having a Linux machine, with decent hardware as a common target for developers will have huge implications for gaming in Linux. The SteamDeck has already inspired more devs to make native Linux versions of their games, rather than relying on Proton. This should expand the appeal for devs even more so
Interesting points, thanks!
I know what you asked about is the Machine and Frame, but I’m super excited about the controller. I love my old steam controller I got on fire sale, but its an extremely flawed device. If they can polish that to the standard of the Deck, I’m so in, especially since you know it’ll work well on Linux with no firmware BS.
Definitely agree. Had a couple of them and loved some of the ideas (touchpad sticks, gyro to mouse aim, all of the Steam Input flexibility) but they never really eclipsed my rechargeable Dualshocks in terms of feeling right. Taking some of the Deck’s refinements and giving it another spin is welcome.
Yes, I’m definitely interested in the controller too! I only mentioned Machine and Frame because I figured those might both have an impact on Linux, but I didn’t even think about how the Steam controller may become a nice standard controller for Linux.
The effort they are putting towards x86 emulation will definitely help the broader Linux community. I saw a bit about 24 min in on gamer nexas video. That would help down the line on all sorts of devices.
Interesting, thanks!
Yeah, pretty sure it was called “Fex” translation layer for emulating x86 binaries on ARM64, and to me that was absolutely the biggest takeaway, because that’s a massive game-changer for eventually moving the industry away from x86 exclusivity and into wider adoption of other architectures.
