Valve gave a firm-ish timeline: every current reservation holder should receive an option-to-purchase email by year's end. Plus FSR 4.1 support and released CAD files. What it means for your place in the queue.
If you reserved a Steam Machine, Valve just gave you a timeline to hold onto: everyone currently holding a reservation should receive an option-to-purchase email by the end of 2026. Alongside the queue update, Valve added AMD FSR 4.1 support and released the console's external CAD files. It's good news for reservation holders — with a couple of caveats worth understanding before you count the days.
What the timeline actually means
Read the wording carefully, because Valve did choose it carefully. The promise is that current reservation holders will get an option-to-purchase email by year's end — that's an invitation to buy, not a guarantee the unit ships by December 31. Once you get the email, you have 72 hours to complete the purchase before your slot moves on. Reservation queues and waitlists are separated by product configuration and region, and Valve stressed that waitlisted customers aren't jumping ahead of reservation holders — some queues have already cleared, letting Valve start inviting people from the corresponding waitlists. So: if you reserved, expect your turn this year; if you're only on the waitlist, it depends on your specific config and region.
Reservation holders should get a purchase invite by year's end — with a 72-hour window to act. · Unsplash
FSR 4.1 and the CAD files
Two extras came with the queue update. AMD FSR 4.1 — the latest version of AMD's upscaling tech — is now available through Proton Experimental for games that support the FSR upgrade path, which is a straightforward performance win on the Steam Machine's hardware. And Valve released the CAD file for the console's external geometry, an open invitation for the accessory and modding community to design cases, mounts, and add-ons before the hardware is even widely out — the same community-friendly move that helped the Steam Deck ecosystem flourish. It's a small thing, but it signals Valve wants the Steam Machine to be as open and hackable as its handheld sibling.
Quick answers
When will Steam Machine reservations be fulfilled?
Valve says everyone currently holding a Steam Machine reservation should receive an option-to-purchase email by the end of 2026. Important nuance: that's an invitation to buy, not a guarantee the unit is delivered by year's end, and once you get the email you have 72 hours to complete the purchase. The separate waitlist depends on your specific product configuration and region — some queues have already cleared, so Valve is inviting waitlisted customers where reservations are caught up.
What's the difference between the Steam Machine reservation and waitlist?
A reservation holds your place in line to buy; the waitlist is for people who joined after a configuration's reservations filled. They're separate and split by product configuration and region. Valve says waitlisted customers are not moved ahead of existing reservation holders — but as some reservation queues clear, Valve begins inviting people from the matching waitlist. So reservation holders get first priority, and waitlisters are invited as capacity opens up for their specific config and region.
Does the Steam Machine support FSR 4.1?
Yes — Valve added AMD FSR 4.1 support through Proton Experimental for games that support the FSR upgrade function. FSR 4.1 is AMD's latest upscaling technology, and enabling it on the Steam Machine is a performance boost for supported titles. Valve also released the CAD file for the console's external shell, so the community can design cases, mounts, and accessories — the same openness that helped the Steam Deck's accessory ecosystem take off.
Reserved a Steam Machine? Expect a purchase invite by year's end, and don't miss the 72-hour window. For where Valve's hardware sits against the competition, see our take on why the Steam Deck still dominates handhelds. Sources: PC Gamer and VideoCardz.
