In case you haven't seen it yet, Valve has announced a bunch of new hardware for 2026 today including a console-like PC known as the "Steam Machine", and Xbox boss Phil Spencer has been reacting to the reveal on social media.
Spencer responded to Valve's announcement post on Twitter, highlighting that Xbox's focus on expanding across PC, console and handheld somewhat mirrors what Steam is doing right now as well:
"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 announce."
As mentioned, the Steam Machine isn't a console — Valve is keen to highlight that it's a PC that's built for the living room or perhaps your desktop — but it certainly has similarities with the Xbox Series X and even Series S. When you add the new VR headset, new controller and existing products like the Steam Deck into the mix, it's clear that Valve is trying to provide as many ways to access Steam as possible.
The big question from our perspective is whether Valve will team up with Microsoft to make Steam available on the next Xbox console, which is something that's been rumoured and speculated about for a while now. With the Steam Machine on the horizon though, it sounds like Valve is busy enough focusing on its own hardware for the time being.