Valve just announced a major move in the gaming hardware sector with three new devices: the Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame VR headset. These are set to launch in early 2026. The news has already started conversations across the industry and even grabbed the attention of Xbox CEO Phil Spencer.Spencer shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting how Valve’s direction aligns with Xbox’s broader gaming philosophy.“Gaming moves forward when players and developers have more ways to play and create, especially across open platforms. Expanding access across PC, console, and handheld devices reflects a future built on choice, core values that have guided Xbox’s vision from the start. As one of the largest publishers on Steam, we welcome new options for players to access games everywhere. Congrats on today’s launch.”Xbox and Valve share a similar vision for gaming’s futurePhil Spencer’s message might seem like a simple support for another organisation in the same industry, but it highlights where Xbox is heading. For years, Microsoft has been pushing toward platform flexibility through its Game Pass on PC, cloud streaming, or cross-platform releases. Spencer’s statement reinforces this vision for an open platform, which is not limited to closed ecosystems and is the future of gaming.What’s interesting is that Valve’s new hardware strategy lines up neatly with this philosophy. The new Steam Machine in particular aims to bridge PC and console gaming once again, this time with modern specs and better performance.The Steam Machine is powered by a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, clocked up to 4.8GHz, paired with a semi-custom AMD RDNA3 GPU offering 28 compute units, which is roughly six times more powerful than the Steam Deck. The device will ship in 512GB and 2TB SSD configurations, though Valve hasn’t announced pricing yet.Alongside the Steam Machine, Valve is introducing a refreshed Steam Controller and the Steam Frame, a new VR headset designed to work seamlessly with SteamVR. These three devices are Valve’s biggest hardware push since the Deck.Moreover, Spencer’s reaction suggests Xbox doesn’t see Valve’s lineup as competition, but as part of a broader effort to give players more ways to access games. With Microsoft already one of the biggest publishers on Steam, these new devices could even help Xbox titles reach more players, which would reinforce the shared goal both companies have.