2026 is gonna be an interesting time for gaming hardware. Valve recently added more hardware to the already impressive Steam Deck. If you’ve been tapped into Valve for a while, you’ll know that this isn’t their first time at this, but it seems they’ve learned a lot of lessons given how cool they look.

Here are my thoughts on each in order of their importance to me.

Steam Frame

I am not a VR gamer. I once tried my buddy’s HTC Vive years ago and while I had a good time, it was not anything I would buy for myself. I feel like VR has always been a niche category for gaming ’cause I can’t imagine anyone spending long hours doing that without getting sick. I just don’t think the technology is there. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’ll pass for now.

That being said, the Steam Frame looks good, and the fact that you can stream directly to it without the need for cameras is a nice feature. I hope it fits well and has a solid battery life!

Steam Machine

It’s amazing how everyone collectively started calling this the “Gabecube” ’cause it really is that. I LOVE how this looks and the customization that you can do with the front and the LED light. What’s more exciting is that this is also a fully functioning PC.

There seems to be a shift into more console/PC hybrids with an emphasis on TV gaming rather than office gaming. The Steam Machine is a perfect fit for that and more.

If I didn’t already have a higher-end gaming PC, I would get this on Day 1. For now, I’ll wait to see how it does when it releases. It would be nice to have something sleek like that in my living room, but that domain belongs to the whole family and I’m the only gamer. At least for now. Perhaps when my kids get older and are interested, we can talk about it. But I’d rather they touch grass anyway.

Steam Controller

I NEED this now! It’s crazy how this was my favorite announcement even over the Steam Machine. I’ve never tried the original Steam Controller so I’m not tainted by the experience some people had. I’m sure some people liked it, but it looked very awkward to me.

The Steam Deck really helped Valve create the best controller for your entire library. And yes, that even means games that do not have controller support. If the price is right, I may even get two of these. Why two? ’Cause what if they come in different colors?

Steam Deck

I’ll be honest. A big part of this post was so I could share my experience with the Steam Deck. I’ll start at the beginning so you understand how much of a fan I am of this device.

Back in 2019, I purchased a Nintendo Switch. I sold my PS4 for it. My first kid was just born, and I wanted something more mobile to play while she napped. The first game I had was Zelda: Breath of the Wild and I had a blast with it. My Nintendo library continued to grow and it was great being able to go from dock to mobile at any point. I truly saw the future of what gaming looked like for me.

The Switch was a big part in my content creation journey, but then as it grew, I wanted to do more. Especially in the indie scene. I got a low-level gaming PC and started a Steam account. Little did I know how much indies would affect me. See the post below if you want to know more about that.

My Most Influential Indie Games

Bassicfun

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October 24, 2025

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As my Steam library grew, I saw less need to use my Switch and all the games I wanted to play were now locked down to the PC I kept in my office. I needed a way to get back to the mobility that I had before.

Enter the Steam Deck.

The Deck had been out for a couple years already, so I knew about it. But I kept going back and forth for the longest time. After some research and a few YouTube videos later, I finally decided it was time to make the change. I sold my Switch and several other devices to pay for the Steam Deck. In March of last year, my Deck arrived, and I got to work.

I think I’ve put more gaming hours into this device than my own PC. I have found so much freedom and mobility with the Steam Deck. I would not have been able to play and beat so many games this year without it. Sure, it’s not as powerful as it could be, but for the games I play it works perfectly. There are also many features that I have used on the Deck that have opened up new avenues of gaming. I won’t say them out loud, but if you know, you know. The Steam Deck is the way forward for me.

The Future of Gaming

I’ve heard it said that we’ll be entering the “Platform Wars”. It’s more of an expansion of the Console War, but now companies will have entire ecosystems to play every game on the devices they create. It’ll be more about keeping users on their services rather than just a console.

I personally am not interested in any of that. To me, all gaming is good gaming and it should not matter if it’s on Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, or PC. As the saying goes, “different strokes for different folks”. Valve made a big move last week and it makes 2026 more interesting in the hardware space. I really hope the prices aren’t too high. Based on the Steam Deck, I am optimistic that Valve will be reasonable and be able to be competitive in this market.

What does my gaming future look like? I think I’ve reached my end goal with gaming hardware. I have a solid high-end gaming PC that can play even the most demanding AAA titles. I obviously have the Steam Deck for AA and below. And I even have an RG36S for some good old retro-style gaming. Maybe I’ll upgrade in a few years or see what happens if Steam Deck 2 is announced. I am truly satisfied in a way that I haven’t been in a long time. It’s an amazing time to be a gamer.

What about you? Are you satisfied with your gaming hardware? Or did Valve’s announcement open your eyes to your own gaming future? Let me know in the comments. See you on the next one!