Arnov Sharma
On the front, I’ve added two fully functional USB ports, an LED light bar that plays custom animations, and even a magnetic front cover that can be easily detached and swapped with different designs.
At the heart of this build is the LattePanda IOTA, featuring an Intel N150 quad-core processor, paired with a 256GB NVMe Gen 3 SSD and 16GB of DDR5 RAM. For the operating system, I’m using Bazzite, which is a Linux distro built specifically for gaming, and it runs Steam on it.
Since this system uses an x86 Intel processor, games run seamlessly thanks to Proton. In a previous project using a Raspberry Pi, I had to rely on Box86 to translate ARM architecture for gaming, which added complexity. Here, with native x86 support, the experience is far more straightforward and efficient.
STEAM MACHINE
For the lore or background of Valve’s Steam Machine, we need to go back in time to around 2012, when Microsoft launched Windows 8. It was not a great OS, but it introduced a centralized app store ecosystem. This wasn’t a big deal for most people, but it was a huge concern for Valve, as it directly affected their entire business model.
In response, Valve announced SteamOS in 2013, a Linux-based operating system focused on gaming and open platforms. Alongside it, Valve introduced the concept of Steam Machines, PCs designed to run SteamOS in the living room, just like a console. They were meant to be smaller than traditional PCs, similar to consoles, but with the power of a PC.
Instead of making the hardware themselves, Valve decided to partner with OEMs like Alienware, ASUS, Xi3, and many more.
During the launch of SteamOS, it was not fully ready, which led to delays and inconsistencies. Many Steam Machines shipped with Windows instead of SteamOS, defeating the original goal of the platform.
Another major issue was the lack of native Linux game support at the time. Steam Machines officially launched around 2015, but saw poor sales and low developer support, which led Valve to quietly discontinue the entire project after a few years.
In 2022, Valve launched the Steam Deck, which was truly a game-changer. It ran a refined version of SteamOS, and the key breakthrough was Proton, which is a tool developed by Valve that allows Windows games to run seamlessly on Linux. Another advantage was that Valve built the hardware in-house, giving them complete control over the development process instead of relying on OEM partners.
In late 2025, Valve announced a new generation of Steam Machines along with other hardware, including a new Steam Controller and a VR headset. It is expected to be powered by an AMD Zen 4 CPU with an RDNA3 GPU.
The launch was planned for 2026, but it has been delayed due to global RAM shortages. I was actually planning to get one, but for now, all I can do is wait.
Still, the new Steam Machine looks very promising, and if it succeeds, it could give console companies some serious competition.
NEW STEAM MACHINE
This project started with researching the design of the Steam Machine by looking at photos of the device. There was a great article and a video by PC Gamer, where they showed the internals of the Steam Machine, including detailed images of the front and back side, which were more than enough to get started with the model.
MY DESIGN
In Fusion 360, I created a box-like enclosure, mainly made up of two parts: the main body and the lid.
The front of the main body is modeled to closely match the front of the Steam Machine. It features a lower bar section that holds two USB ports on the left side and a push button on the right side. Slightly above the USB ports, there is a light bar that plays LED animations.
Above this LED bar sits the front cover, which is attached to the main body using magnets. I really like this removable cover design, as it allows for a lot of customization, both aesthetically and electronically....
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