Valve registers “Steam Frame”: new hardware to compete with Xbox and PlayStation?

The company behind Steam is preparing something under this mysterious name, and it could be a console or accessory.

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Valve has made another move in the hardware arena. The company behind Steam and the successful Steam Deck has recently registered the “Steam Frame” trademark, and the description included in the application points directly to the world of consoles and gaming accessories.

The registration mentions categories such as “video game consoles, recreational game consoles, and accessories like controllers”, in addition to hardware and software for audio, video, and data playback, processing, and transmission. This has sparked speculation about whether Valve is preparing a new desktop console, a successor to Steam Deck with a different approach, or even its own ecosystem of accessories.

Steam Frame, a registration with a lot of potential

• The name “Steam Frame” leaves a lot of room for imagination. It could refer to a new cloud gaming device, something Valve has explored in the past with Steam Link. Another option would be a hybrid platform between console and compact PC, following in the footsteps of Steam Deck but adapted to a desktop format.
• The registration also considers use in controllers and peripherals, so it’s not ruled out that “Steam Frame” will end up being a line of controllers or accessories designed to integrate natively with the platform.

What is clear is that Valve continues to bet heavily on expanding its presence beyond software. After the success of Steam Deck and with the future of gaming laptops in full swing, this move opens a new chapter for the company.

For now, there are no official details, but with Gamescom recently concluded and the Tokyo Game Show just around the corner, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that Valve has something to show sooner rather than later.