Steam Machine: farewell to 4K 60 fps. Valve silently updates specifications

A few days before the debut of the Steam Machine, Valve has silently updated the dedicated page for the platform with a change in the expected performance. In particular, Valve has lowered the anticipated 4K performance, albeit rather discreetly.

Previously, the page indicated the possibility of playing up to 4K at 60 FPS with FSR 4.1, thanks to a semi-custom SoC developed in collaboration with AMD. The wording has been replaced with a more cautious description, simply stating support for gaming up to 4K resolution with FSR 4.1, without any reference to a specific frame rate.

The change also affects AMD's upscaling technology. The Steam Machine will indeed rely on FSR 4.1, a version that benefits from AMD's recent update and the new AI-based model. The latter also allows older GPUs to officially use the technology, which is already included within Proton Experimental.

However, it is undeniable that the removal of the wording reduces expectations of the hardware, which now seem more realistic. At the same time, the price of the Steam Machine, explained by Valve engineers as primarily influenced by RAM, makes the platform even less appealing. Of course, considering the current market, it still remains an interesting compromise, but the promised specifications now appear unattainable.

Valve has also corrected another detail regarding the launch. Initially, the company had communicated that emails dedicated to reservations and potential waiting lists would be sent on June 25. This deadline was not met, and the official page now reports a new indication. According to the updated text, users will receive a communication within one day regarding the outcome of their reservation request. This change also appeared without official announcements, directly on the Steam Machine's dedicated page.