The return of Steam Machines? Valve rolls out new "Powered by SteamOS" branding

Valve is reportedly reviving its Steam Machines initiative with a new branding effort called "Powered by SteamOS." This branding aims to support third-party hardware that runs on SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system. The updated branding guidelines, recently posted by Valve, introduce a new logo that signifies hardware will boot directly into SteamOS. This marks a shift from the previous "Steam Machines" branding, which has been inactive for years. Valve's Lawrence Yang has expressed enthusiasm for third-party SteamOS machines since 2022, indicating a potential expansion of SteamOS compatibility to various handheld devices. The current gaming landscape, bolstered by the success of the Steam Deck and improved software support, makes SteamOS a more viable alternative to Windows for hardware manufacturers. While there is no official rollout yet, the changes suggest that Valve is preparing to officially support third-party hardware running SteamOS, which could lead to a resurgence of Steam Machines in the gaming market.

- Valve is launching a new "Powered by SteamOS" branding for third-party hardware.

- The new branding indicates that devices will run and boot into SteamOS.

- This initiative follows years of inactivity for the original Steam Machines branding.

- Valve has shown interest in expanding SteamOS compatibility to more devices.

- The success of the Steam Deck has made SteamOS a more appealing option for manufacturers.