Directive 8020 is out today. Supermassive Games — the award-winning studio behind Until Dawn and The Quarry — has launched its latest interactive horror title on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It is the fifth entry in the Dark Pictures series and takes the anthology into space for the first time. Bandai Namco describes it as a “The Thing… in space” sci-fi survival horror, evolving the Dark Pictures formula with real-time threats, stealth, and a new decision-rewind system called Turning Points. Early reviews are in, and the consensus lands where Dark Pictures games usually do: mixed-to-positive, with strong atmosphere on one side and uneven execution on the other.

What Is Directive 8020?

Set in a dying future, Directive 8020 follows the crew of the colony ship Cassiopeia after it crash lands on Tau Ceti f — a distant planet 12 light years from Earth, seen as humanity’s last real hope for survival. The crew quickly realizes they are not alone. An alien organism capable of perfectly mimicking its prey has come aboard. Trust collapses. Characters who have trained and worked together turn on one another. Nobody on the Cassiopeia can be trusted, and every decision the player makes shapes who lives and who dies.

The setup draws directly from two landmark sci-fi horror films — Alien and John Carpenter’s The Thing — and Bandai Namco’s own launch copy names The Thing explicitly as an influence. The paranoia mechanics, the claustrophobic ship, and the mimicking alien threat are all in clear debt to both.

Like every Dark Pictures game, Directive 8020 is built around branching choices, quick-time events, and permadeath. The new addition this time is Turning Points — an in-game story tree that lets players rewind specific decisions and explore different outcomes without replaying the entire game from scratch. Supermassive frames it as a way to uncover multiple endings and unlock hidden paths across replays.

Starring Lashana Lynch — known for No Time to Die, Bob Marley: One Love, and The Woman King — as pilot Brianna Young, Directive 8020 is positioned as the series’ most cinematic and character-driven entry yet.

Creative Director Will Doyle described the launch this way: “With Directive 8020, we’ve taken our signature horror narrative and everything we love about cinematic storytelling, pushing it all into new territory. We’re incredibly proud of what the team has accomplished, and bringing our storytelling into a sci-fi setting for the first time has been a hugely exciting step.”

Platforms and Release Details

Directive 8020 is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It launched May 12, 2026, developed and published by Supermassive Games. The standard price is listed at $49.99 in the U.S., though PC storefront discounts may vary by platform and region.

No PS4 or Xbox One versions have been announced or confirmed.

Direct purchase links:

• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X|S
• PC (Steam)

Does Directive 8020 Have Multiplayer?

Yes, with a distinction worth understanding before you buy.

Couch co-op for up to five players is available at launch under the name Movie Night mode. Each player takes control of a different crew member, creating natural paranoia when the alien could be hiding in any of them. The format is well-suited to the game’s core premise.

Online multiplayer is confirmed but coming in a post-launch update. No specific date has been attached to it. If online play is your primary reason for buying, it is worth waiting until that mode is live.

What Critics Are Saying

At the time of checking, Directive 8020 holds a score of 71 on Metacritic based on 47 critic reviews on PS5 — categorized as “Mixed or Average” — and a 76 on OpenCritic with 62% of critics recommending it. Both figures may update as further reviews arrive. The reception is broadly in line with the series’ historically mixed-to-positive standing.

PC Gamer’s review, headlined “One giant leap for sci-fi body horror,” lands on the positive side. The reviewer described the branching chaos of Directive 8020’s decision-making as exactly the kind of tense, reactive horror Supermassive’s format is built for.

TechRadar called it “a welcome, but safe, evolution” of the Dark Pictures formula, praising improved visuals, new stealth elements, and a more forgiving gameplay experience through Turning Points. The caveat is equally clear: the game leans into traditional survival horror elements but does not quite hit the mark against the heavier hitters in the sci-fi horror genre. TechRadar also recommended using the Turning Points rewind feature sparingly, noting that overusing it softens the weight of the choices it lets you undo.

GamesRadar landed in the middle. Their review — headlined “I’ve seen this movie before” — described “chills and heart-stopping thrills aplenty” alongside consistent complaints about pacing issues, plot armor, and the promising but inconsistently implemented stealth. Their conclusion: it is neither the best nor the worst Dark Pictures game.

Creative Bloq took the sharpest position of the four. Their review acknowledged believable virtual actors and a sci-fi horror setup that is at once familiar and fresh, but concluded that the game’s focus on survival-horror gameplay over meaningful, choice-driven narrative dilutes what made Supermassive’s cinematic horror formula distinctive in the first place.

Is Directive 8020 Worth Playing?

Directive 8020 is worth playing if you have enjoyed previous Dark Pictures or Supermassive games, want a sci-fi horror experience built around paranoia and branching choices rather than combat, and are willing to accept that the stealth sections are the game’s weakest element. The Turning Points system makes revisiting choices less tedious than in previous entries, and the Cassiopeia setting is one of the series’ stronger backdrops.

It is harder to recommend at full price if you are not already invested in the Supermassive formula. Reported playtime varies across reviews, with some finishing in around five hours and others describing a longer run. The mixed critical consensus reflects real unevenness: stealth gameplay that reviewers consistently flag as repetitive, pacing issues flagged across multiple outlets, and a game that works better in concept than in parts of its execution.

For Movie Night couch co-op play specifically — five players, each controlling a different character, with a shapeshifting alien hiding among them — the format is well-suited to what Directive 8020 is built around. That is the version of this game most likely to deliver on its premise.

Directive 8020 is worth watching closely if you like Supermassive’s interactive horror formula and want a sci-fi spin built around paranoia, shapeshifting aliens, and branching choices. Early reviews suggest a bold but uneven evolution: stronger atmosphere and choice systems, weaker stealth execution and pacing. That makes it a good fit for Dark Pictures fans, but not an automatic buy for players expecting a full survival-horror experience like Alien: Isolation.

Matt Reeves Shares Snowy Batmobile Camera Tests for The Batman: Part II

Director Matt Reeves shared the first publicly released camera-test images from The Batman: Part II on X on May 7, 2026, showing the Batmobile driving through snow. The caption: “#SnowTires 🦇.”

#SnowTires 🦇 pic.twitter.com/XR0K1xUGqx

— Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) May 7, 2026

The images, captured from a production monitor, show the Batmobile — sporting a slightly updated look and a set of snow tires — tearing through wintry conditions. Reeves also reshared Batman comic artwork set against a blizzard, suggesting pre-production is ramping up on the long-awaited sequel.

When a fan asked directly whether this confirmed test footage for the sequel, Reeves replied “Sure is!” He also responded to a fan who wrote they had always dreamed of seeing Batman in snow on screen, confirming simply: “Indeed, it is.”

Sure is! https://t.co/s30Cv3BfSc

— Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) May 7, 2026

Filming has been reported for spring 2026, with the film scheduled to open on October 1, 2027. The script is by Reeves and Mattson Tomlin.

Returning cast:

• Robert Pattinson — Bruce Wayne / Batman
• Colin Farrell — Oz Cobb / The Penguin
• Jeffrey Wright — Commissioner James Gordon
• Andy Serkis — Alfred Pennyworth

Reported new additions:

• Sebastian Stan is reported to play Harvey Dent
• Scarlett Johansson is reported to play Harvey Dent’s wife; in the comics, that character is Gilda
• Charles Dance is reported to be in talks to play Harvey Dent’s father

Expected/reported:

• Barry Keoghan — expected to reprise his role as the Joker

Zoe Kravitz has been reported as not expected to return, though Warner Bros. has not publicly announced the full cast. The snowy setting has sparked fan speculation about Mr. Freeze, though no villain details have been confirmed by Reeves or the studio.

The snow tests mark the first publicly shared camera-test images from the sequel, coming four years after the original The Batman opened in March 2022.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie box office collection has climbed to about $894.2 million worldwide, putting the Illumination and Nintendo sequel within striking distance of the $1 billion mark after the first weekend of May.

According to The Numbers, the film has now banked $402.7 million in the U.S. and Canada and $491.5 million from international markets through May 3. Widely released by Universal on April 1, the sequel to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie has held at or near the top of the domestic box-office chart for five straight weekends and could become the first 2026 release to cross ten figures if current holds continue.

Here is where The Super Mario Galaxy Movie box office collection stands as of May 4, 2026.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Box Office Collection at a Glance

Through the May 1–3 weekend, the running totals are:

• Domestic (U.S. and Canada): $402.7 million
• International: $491.5 million
• Worldwide: $894.2 million

The film was made for a reported $110 million, which puts the current worldwide gross at roughly 8.1 times its production budget before marketing costs and exhibitor splits. It is already the highest-grossing release of 2026 and the highest-grossing animated film of the year.

A Record Opening

As per Deadline, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opened on Wednesday, April 1, and posted about $34.5 million on day one — slightly ahead of the $31.7 million opening day of the first Mario movie in 2023. The five-day domestic opening came in at $190.8 million, the fourth-largest in North American history behind Moana 2, the original Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Internationally, the film grossed $182.4 million from 80 markets, putting the global launch at $372.6 million — the largest worldwide debut of 2026 to date.

Per studio estimates and trade reporting, that opening also produced the biggest global launch of 2026, the fifth-biggest worldwide opening for an animated film, the second-biggest opening for any Illumination release, the second-biggest opening for a video game adaptation, and the fourth-biggest Easter three-day opening on record. It is also the first animated franchise to deliver back-to-back films opening above $350 million worldwide.

The Run So Far

The film held the No. 1 spot domestically for three straight weekends before being passed by Michael in its fourth frame.

• Weekend 2: $68 million (–49%), No. 1
• Weekend 3: $36.5 million, No. 1
• Weekend 4: $20.6 million, No. 2
• Weekend 5 (May 1–3): about $12.1 million, No. 3

Variety reported that the third weekend hold kept the film firmly atop the domestic chart, and the fourth-weekend slip to No. 2 came as GameSpot noted when the Michael Jackson biopic Michael opened wide. Through that stretch, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie box office collection also posted a strong $16.8 million Monday, reinforcing its weekday strength with family audiences.

Outside North America, trade reporting has pointed to especially strong grosses in Mexico, the United Kingdom, and France. Japan, where the film opened on April 24, remains a significant variable. The original Super Mario Bros. Movie earned approximately $102 million there during its full run, and the sequel’s full Japanese contribution will continue feeding into the international total over the coming weeks.

How It Compares to the First Movie

The original Super Mario Bros. Movie finished its 2023 run at roughly $1.36 billion worldwide and was running ahead of Galaxy at the same stage of release. The sequel’s domestic total of $402.7 million is also tracking below the original’s $574.9 million domestic finish, though based on its current total and fifth-weekend hold, a final domestic figure above $420 million remains plausible. Combined, the two films have now generated more than $2 billion at the global box office across three years.

On the reception side, the gap is wider than the first film’s. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie holds a 42% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes against an 88% Popcornmeter audience score, while the original sat at 59% with critics and around 95% with audiences. Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, called the negative critical reception “truly baffling” in a recent interview with Japanese media. The mixed critical reception has not stopped the film from maintaining strong commercial momentum.

What Comes Next

With the worldwide total now at $894.2 million and Japanese receipts still being added, the film could cross $1 billion globally in mid-to-late May if current holds continue. That would make it the first film of 2026 to reach the milestone, the second consecutive Mario film to clear it, and one of a small group of animated films to hit $1 billion on a budget under $120 million.

Either way, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie box office collection has already made its commercial success clear. It is still likely to land short of the original’s $1.36 billion finish, but it is well positioned to challenge the $1 billion mark on a relatively modest $110 million production budget for a studio tentpole. Additional Nintendo and Illumination film plans have also been reported, though details remain unofficial. The live-action Legend of Zelda movie remains scheduled for May 7, 2027.

Gurei now has a release date for PC. Publisher Astrolabe Games and developer Lobo Sagaz Studio have announced that the hand-drawn action platformer will launch on Steam on July 23, 2026.

The news arrived through a new release date trailer, giving players a fresh look at the game’s fast sword-based combat, boss-driven structure, and Japanese mythology-inspired world. Console versions are also planned, but Astrolabe Games has not yet confirmed which platforms will get the game or when those versions will arrive.

The Trailer Puts Gurei’s Boss Fights Front And Center

Gurei follows Rei, a human spirit who must take on mystical Kami and gain new powers by defeating them. The trailer uses that idea to show a game built around direct fights, route choice, and tougher enemy encounters as you progress.

The trailer’s most interesting reveal is the way how Gurei handles boss order. Players are not locked into a fixed path. They can choose which Kami to fight first, and that choice reshapes the difficulty curve entirely. A boss fought early may feel very different from the same boss fought later, because enemies grow more dangerous depending on the route players take.

That gives Gurei a stronger hook than a standard action games. The game is not only asking players to master combat; it is also asking them to think carefully about the order in which they take on its major fights.

Combat Built Around Timing, Not Button-Mashing

Gurei is a precise and unforgiving action game. The trailer makes it clear that success will depend on reading enemy patterns, reacting quickly, and making careful attacks instead of just mashing the buttons.

The chambara influence — the classic Japanese samurai film style — gives the combat a clear identity. Gurei leans into tense duels, clean swordplay, and dramatic enemy encounters rather than pure fantasy spectacle. Each fight is meant to feel sharp, weighty, and earned.

For a game where the same boss can show up early or late in your run, the moment-to-moment combat needs to hold up across every order. The trailer suggests it will.

Steam Demo Gives Players An Early Test

A Steam demo is already available, giving players a chance to try the combat before the full release. The demo was first featured during Steam Next Fest in June 2025, and player response has been strong — it currently sits at “Very Positive” on Steam, with around 84% of nearly 200 reviews rating it positively.

That kind of reception matters for a game like Gurei. Its appeal depends on precision, difficulty, and whether boss fights feel fair rather than frustrating. The demo lets players judge the core loop for themselves: learning enemy patterns, surviving tough fights, and using powers gained from defeated bosses. For a game built around timing and challenge, that hands-on test may matter more than the trailer alone.

What To Watch Before Launch

With Gurei now dated for July 23, 2026 on PC, the next big thing to watch is the console rollout. Astrolabe Games has confirmed that console versions are planned, but players still do not know which platforms will get the game or when those versions will arrive.

Player feedback from the demo may also shape what we hear next. Since the build is already public, the team will have months of community reaction to draw from before launch — and that could mean small balance tweaks, new trailers focused on specific bosses, or a deeper look at the powers Rei gains across different routes.

For now, Gurei looks aimed at players who enjoy difficult action games, boss-focused progression, and hand-drawn worlds with mythological roots. The release date trailer gives the game a clear PC launch date. The bigger test will be whether its route-based boss structure feels as sharp in play as it looks on paper.

The hype around Resident Evil movies isn’t as strong as it once was. But the positive response to the trailer at CinemaCon, combined with the talented team behind the film, makes it look increasingly promising.

Resident Evil’s Release Date And Official Website Launch

Zach Cregger’s movie is all set to hit theaters on September 18, 2026. The film is picking up momentum as its marketing campaign gets underway. While fans are eagerly awaiting the public release of the trailer, which was previewed exclusively at CinemaCon, Sony Pictures has already launched the movie’s official website this week.

With the release date confirmed, an official website has gone live. For now, it just shows a brief preview featuring the film’s logo, its release date and confirmation that it will be shown in IMAX.

What’s The Resident Evil Plot?

Austin Abrams plays Bryan, a medical courier who is forced to fight to survive when a terrifying night turns into total chaos.

Zach Cregger Calls Resident Evil A Scary Ride

At CinemaCon, Zach Cregger described it as a “big, scary ride.” He added that the movie follows a main character on a long journey walking through a dangerous world that feels like it is trying to destroy them. Critics at CinemaCon compared its relentless pacing to Mad Max: Fury Road.

Cregger clarified that he is not sticking closely to the video game storyline. He wants the film to feel like the experience of playing the games.

Resident Evil Requiem Sells Over 7 Million Copies

Separately, on the gaming side of the franchise, momentum is equally strong. Requiem has sold over 7 million copies since its release. Director Koshi Nakanishi even shared the excitement by posting an image of Requiem-themed cakes on his social media.

Resident Evil Reqiuem Director Koshi Nakanishi celebrated Resident Evil Requiem hitting 7 million units with a party and cake.

He posted this on his personal Instagram. pic.twitter.com/I4RtRuYrW7

— Stealth (@Stealth40k) April 24, 2026

Capcom Has More Planned For Resident Evil Requiem

This is not all, Capcom still has more planned for Requiem, with a new DLC on the way that will bring extra story content.

After a lot of leaks and rumors, Valve’s new Steam Controller is finally launching, but it is arriving without the rest of the company’s hardware lineup.

Valve’s official Steam page lists the controller for purchase on May 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, while The Verge reports that it will cost $99 in the U.S., with regional pricing set at $149 AUD in Australia, $149 CAD in Canada, €99 in the EU, and £85 in the UK.

This release is unusual because Valve originally revealed the Steam Controller in November 2025 as part of one big hardware plan that also included the Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset. Now, the controller is coming first, giving PC and Steam Deck players an early option while Valve prepares for the rest of the lineup.

Steam Controller Release Date

The new Steam Controller will go on sale on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET or 10 a.m. PT. Valve confirmed the launch details one week before release, with sales opening on May 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.

Before the Steam Controller Release Date, Valve is not taking pre-orders for the Steam Controller; purchases are scheduled to open directly on launch day.

This is the first confirmed launch from the company’s latest Steam hardware plan.

This is the first confirmed launch from the company’s latest Steam hardware plan. The Steam Machine and Steam Frame are still planned, but Valve has not given any confirmed release date for them. The Verge reports that the Steam Controller is launching before the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, while Valve says it still expects to share more news about the rest of the hardware lineup later.

How Much Does the Steam Controller Cost?

The Steam Controller will cost $99 in the United States. The Verge also listed regional pricing as $149 AUD in Australia, $149 CAD in Canada, €99 in the EU, and £85 in the UK. PC Gamer noted that the controller is more expensive than many basic PC gamepads, but described it as a couch-friendly Steam controller built for players who want PC-style controls away from a desk.

The controller will not be available in every market at launch, and Valve has not listed India among the official launch regions. Valve is releasing it in regions where Steam hardware is currently supported, including Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. India is not listed as an official launch market for the Steam Controller.

This price does not come as a complete surprise because a similar $99.99 figure had surfaced a few days earlier after YouTube channel Techy Talk briefly posted what appeared to be an early Steam Controller review before taking it down. Screenshots and reuploads from that video quickly spread across Reddit, with Steam Deck HQ cautioning at the time that the figure should be treated as unofficial until Valve confirms it. Now that the company has announced the controller’s price, the earlier leak appears to have been accurate.

Why Is Valve Releasing the Steam Controller Alone?

The Steam Controller is launching first because it is easier for Valve to ship than the Steam Machine, while the company has not yet announced final release timing for the Steam Machine or Steam Frame. Reports say memory and storage shortages complicated Valve’s wider hardware plans, but Valve also says the Controller and Steam Machine were not strictly required to launch on the same day.

Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais told The Verge that the company does not have a Steam Machine or Steam Frame update to share yet, but said Valve is working to get them out the door.

Valve hardware engineer Steve Cardinali explained that the Steam Controller is easier to release first because it does not use RAM, unlike the Steam Machine. He said, “This doesn’t have RAM in it, and it’s not as complicated to start getting out the door for us. We’re ready for it. We wanted to build up quantity so that we could try to address everybody who wants one at launch, but it’s possible that the demand for it far exceeds our expectations.”

This means the Steam Machine is not launching alongside the Controller on May 4, though Valve still says more news on the wider hardware lineup is expected later.

What Are the Features and Specifications?

The new Steam Controller is built directly around the same idea that made Steam Deck successful, which is “providing comprehensive PC control inputs that just work for any game.”

Valve’s official Steam Controller page lists magnetic thumbsticks using TMR technology, which are designed for better feel, long-term reliability, and responsiveness. TechRadar also highlighted the controller’s dual touchpads, TMR thumbsticks, HD haptics, gyroscope controls, and four remappable rear buttons.

The controller is not limited to the Steam Machine, but its deepest functionality is built around Steam and Steam Input. Valve says it is designed to work with any computer running Steam, including macOS, Windows, and Linux systems. It can also work with smartphones and tablets through Steam Link or as a general-purpose controller, although full feature support may depend on the device and setup.

The controller also includes the Steam Controller Puck, which works as a wireless receiver/transmitter and charging dock. TechRadar says the controller connects to the puck magnetically, charges through it, and pairs with a PC through the same accessory.

For a detailed breakdown of the controller’s specs and features, look below:

• Gamepad Controls: A B X Y buttons, D-pad, L & R analog triggers, L & R bumpers, View & Menu buttons, Steam & QAM buttons, 4x assignable grip buttons.
• Thumbsticks: 2x full-size magnetic thumbsticks (TMR) with capacitive touch.
• Haptics: 4x haptic motors, 2x LRA haptic motors in trackpads for HD tactile feedback, 2x high output LRA haptic motors in grips for HD game haptics, including rumble.
• Trackpads: 2x 34.5mm square trackpads with haptic feedback, pressure-sensitive for configurable click strength.
• Grip Sense: 2x capacitive areas along the back of the Steam Controller handles.
• Gyro: 6-axis IMU.
• Steam Controller Puck: 2.4GHz wireless connection, ~8ms full end-to-end, 4ms polling rate (measured at 5m), Up to 4 Steam Controllers per Steam Controller Puck, Steam Controller Puck connects to a PC via USB-C.
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.2 minimum, 5.0 or higher recommended.
• USB: USB-C tethered play.
• Charging: Steam Controller Puck charging interface, USB-C connector.
• Battery: 8.39 Wh Li-ion battery, 35+ hours of gameplay (Battery life for tracked gameplay with Steam Frame is reduced).
• Weight: Steam Controller: 292 g, Steam Controller Puck: 16 g.
• Size: Steam Controller: 111mm x 159mm x 57mm, Steam Controller Puck: 50mm x 28mm x 9mm.
• For now, the Steam Controller is the clearest part of Valve’s new hardware plan. It has a confirmed launch date, a fixed price, and early hands-on reviews by many outlets, including IGN’s Steam Controller unboxing video. The Steam Machine, on the other hand, is still waiting for its chance.

More than a decade after its first Steam Machine experiment failed to change PC gaming, Valve is returning with a much more serious attempt. The new Steam Machine is a compact, cube-shaped gaming PC built around SteamOS, designed to bring a player’s Steam library to the living room without the hassle of a full desktop setup.

With hardware shaped by the success of the Steam Deck, Valve is positioning the Steam Machine for 4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR in supported titles, but that should be treated as an upscaling-based target rather than a guarantee for every game. Valve is clearly trying to make PC gaming feel easier and more console-like. Here is everything we know so far about the Steam Machine’s release window, features, specs, expected price, and availability.

Steam Machine Release Date: When Will It Launch?

The Steam Machine does not have an exact release date yet, but Valve says it still plans to ship the device in 2026. Valve’s launch language has shifted from early 2026 to the first half of 2026, and the company later clarified that the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller remain planned for 2026. Final launch and pricing plans are still being affected by memory and storage shortages.

The Verge also reported that Valve clarified its 2026 plan after earlier wording caused confusion, with spokesperson Kaci Aitchison Boyle saying that “nothing has actually changed” about the company’s timeline. Valve later updated its wording to more clearly say that it expects to ship all three products in 2026.

These shortages are linked to wider pressure on memory and storage supply, including increased demand from AI companies and data centers, and they have also affected Steam Deck availability. For now, the safest answer is that the Steam Machine is planned for 2026, but Valve has not announced a final release date, preorder date, or price.

Steam Machine Price

Valve has not announced the official Steam Machine price yet, and there is still no confirmed price for either the 512GB model or the 2TB model. The company has said that memory and storage shortages are affecting its pricing plans, which may be one reason the final price has not been revealed.

A recent leaked $99 figure appears to refer to the new Steam Controller, not the Steam Machine. Tom’s Hardware reported that the number came from an early controller review that appeared online before being removed, and Valve has not officially confirmed that price.

For the Steam Machine, Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais has suggested that the device will be priced more like a comparable gaming PC than a subsidized console, saying that if someone built a PC with a similar level of performance, that would be the general price window Valve is aiming for.

Earlier estimates placed the Steam Machine lower, but those estimates are now unreliable because Valve has not announced pricing and component costs have shifted since the hardware was first shown.

Unconfirmed Czech retailer listings reportedly placed the lower-storage model around $950 and a higher-storage model around $1,070, but because these were retailer leaks, converted prices, and not Valve-confirmed pricing, they should be treated only as rough speculation.

For now, the only confirmed answer is that Valve has not announced the Steam Machine’s final price and any exact price should be treated as speculation until the company confirms it.

Steam Machine Specs and Features

Valve has shared enough details to show that the Steam Machine is much stronger than the Steam Deck. It uses a semi-custom AMD setup with a Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3 graphics.

According to SteamDB’s summary of Valve’s announcement and press information, the Steam Machine includes a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU with 6 cores and 12 threads, running up to 4.8GHz, and a semi-custom AMD RDNA 3 GPU with 28 compute units, a 2.45GHz max sustained clock, and 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The system also includes 16GB of DDR5 memory.

Valve is offering two storage models, 512GB and 2TB. Both models support expandable storage through a microSD card slot. The Steam Machine will also be available standalone or bundled with the new Steam Controller.

Here are the announced and press-reported Steam Machine specifications:

• Models: 512GB model and 2TB model.
• Size: 152mm tall, or 148mm without feet; 162.4mm deep; 156mm wide.
• Weight: 2.6 kg.
• CPU: Semi-custom AMD Zen 4, 6 cores / 12 threads, up to 4.8GHz, 30W TDP.
• GPU: Semi-custom AMD RDNA 3, 28 compute units, 2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP.
• Gaming Performance: Valve says the Steam Machine is designed for 4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR in supported titles, with ray tracing support and more than six times the power of the Steam Deck. Actual performance will vary by game and settings.
• Memory: 16GB DDR5 RAM plus 8GB GDDR6 VRAM.
• VRAM Bandwidth: 18Gbps GDDR6 memory modules with 288GB/s total bandwidth.
• Storage: 512GB and 2TB SSD models.
• Expandable Storage: microSD card slot for expanded storage and portable game catalog.
• Upgradeability: SSD and DDR5 SODIMM memory are accessible and upgradeable; the SSD can support M.2 2230 and 2280 drives.
• Power Supply: Internal power supply with AC power support from 110V to 240V.
• DisplayPort 1.4: Supports up to 4K at 240Hz or 8K at 60Hz, with HDR, FreeSync, and daisy chaining.
• HDMI 2.0: Supports up to 4K at 120Hz, with HDR, FreeSync, and CEC.
• Ethernet: 1Gbps Ethernet.
• USB-C: One USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, 10Gbps, located on the back.
• USB-A Ports: Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports on the front, with one positioned for the Steam Frame wireless adapter. Also includes two USB-A 2.0 high-speed ports on the back.
• Wireless: 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 with dedicated antenna, and integrated Steam Controller 2.4GHz radio.
• Compatibility: Works with other controllers, accessories, and PC peripherals. It can also wake with the Steam Controller.
• Operating System: SteamOS 3, based on Arch Linux.
• Desktop Mode: Includes the KDE Plasma desktop environment.
• Software Features: Familiar gaming-first user experience, fast suspend/resume, Steam Cloud saves, and other expected Steam features.
• Game Verification: Valve has said Steam Deck Verified games will also be Verified on Steam Machine, while the Steam Machine Verified program is expected to have fewer constraints than Steam Deck verification.
• Customizable LED Bar: 17 individually addressable RGB LEDs. Users can personalize colors and animations, and the bar can reflect system status such as downloads, booting, and updating.

Steam Machine Availability: Where Will It Launch?

The Steam Machine is expected to launch in the same broad regions where Valve already sells Steam hardware, but Valve has not yet announced final regional rollout or preorder details. Komodo Station lists Valve’s Steam hardware family for Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, where Komodo says it is the official licensed provider of Steam Deck., with the Steam Machine currently marked as coming soon.

The new Steam hardware lineup is expected to follow Valve’s current Steam hardware markets, including North America, the UK, the EU, Australia, and Komodo-supported Asian markets, but final preorder and shipping details have not been announced. Valve has not yet confirmed final pre-order dates.

The suspect in Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting in Washington, D.C., has been identified by law enforcement officials and multiple reports as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. Reuters reported that a LinkedIn profile in his name listed a 2017 mechanical engineering degree from Caltech, and Caltech confirmed that a person with that name graduated that year. While online profiles linked to Allen describe him as a tutor, teacher and indie game developer.

Allen was arrested at the scene and is expected to face federal charges including assault of a federal officer, discharging a firearm and attempting to kill a federal officer, according to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Authorities also said he was carrying a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives. CBS News, citing law enforcement sources, reported that Allen had a history of firearm ownership, including the shotgun used in Saturday’s shooting, which was purchased in August 2025, and a semiautomatic pistol purchased in 2023.

U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro said Allen is expected to appear in federal court Monday for arraignment, with additional charges possible as the investigation continues.

Authorities have not formally announced a final motive, but Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said investigators believe he set out to target Trump administration officials, likely including President Trump.

No attendees were seriously injured. A Secret Service agent was struck by gunfire, but officials said the agent’s bulletproof vest prevented more serious injury, and Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi confirmed the agent had been released from the hospital.

The shooting unfolded around 8:35 p.m. at the Washington Hilton, where the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was being held. Reuters reported that Allen fired a shotgun at a Secret Service agent near a security checkpoint before being tackled and arrested. Many guests, including members of the White House press, quickly took shelter under their tables as Secret Service agents moved President Trump to safety.

Later, President Trump said on Truth Social that the shooter had been apprehended and later told reporters that officials believed the suspect acted as a “lone wolf.”

After Allen’s arrest, investigators began reviewing possible evidence, including writings, electronic devices and addresses connected to him. Separately, reporters and internet users began examining online profiles linked to Allen for background clues.

One LinkedIn profile matching his name and picture described him as a part-time teacher at C2 Education. CNN also reported that C2 recognized Allen as its “Teacher of the Month” in December 2024.

As per his LinkedIn profile, Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 2017. After that, he completed a master’s degree last year in computer science at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

His profile also listed him as a former member of Caltech’s Christian fellowship and Nerf club. In 2017, Caltech included him in a graduation post on Facebook, sharing both a recent photo of him in a cardigan and an older childhood photo of him holding a stuffed bunny.

That same year, he was also covered by a local news outlet for creating a prototype emergency brake designed for wheelchairs.

On LinkedIn, Allen also listed himself as a video game developer. He appears to have released an indie game called Bohrdom on Steam, where it is sold for $1.99.

The game is presented as a multiplayer fighting game inspired by chemistry, where the gameplay is built around electron interactions. On Steam, it is described as a “skill-based, non-violent asymmetrical fighting game loosely derived from a chemistry model that is itself loosely based on reality.”

Before the incident, Bohrdom appeared to be a very small indie release with limited public attention. Steam currently lists the game as having mixed user reviews, and its page shows Cole Allen as both the developer and publisher. Kotaku reported that Bohrdom drew renewed attention after Allen was identified, as people began examining his online background.

His LinkedIn profile also says that Allen was working on a second game called First Law, which he described as a top-down shooter/RPG focused on realistic 2D physics-based space combat. The project also appears to have had earlier names, including Artifact and Endgame, with Allen noting that the final title had not been decided.

Valve has not announced a price for its new Steam Controller. It has not announced a release date either. What appears to have happened is that at least one apparent review unit surfaced early, after YouTube channel Techy Talk briefly posted what looked like a full Steam Controller review.

The video was live only briefly before disappearing. It was long enough. Reddit users captured screenshots and re-uploaded a copy to a third-party streaming site before it vanished, and the number buried near the end of the video has been the only thing the Steam community has wanted to talk about since: $99.99.

Valve has not confirmed this figure. As Steam Deck HQ noted when reporting the leak, it should be taken with a grain of salt until Valve speaks officially. But with what appears to be a near-final review unit on camera and a reviewer quoting the price directly, the figure is being treated as credible across gaming forums and news outlets covering the story.

What Techy Talk’s Review Actually Said

The review, as pieced together from those who watched it before it went offline and the re-upload covered by Notebookcheck, was broadly positive about the hardware. The dual trackpads drew the most praise — by default, the right pad acts as a cursor and the left handles scrolling, which the reviewer presented as one of the Steam Controller’s strongest arguments for PC gaming on the couch.

The two headline complaints were more specific. First, the rechargeable battery is not easily swappable. Second, the surface finish: the reviewer described the controller body as rough-textured plastic that becomes slippery with dry hands, and said a soft-touch coating or rubber grip material would have been preferable at this price point.

Other notes from the review flagged by those who watched it included no audio jack, no swappable thumbstick parts or trigger-stop controls, and low-latency wireless handled through the Steam Controller Puck, which also doubles as a magnetic charger.

On the price itself, Techy Talk was direct in the now-removed video: “At $99, it’s not cheap — but it’s only $25 more than a PS5 controller and it can do so much more. And it’s still half the price of most premium controllers.”

How Reddit Reacted

The response across Reddit was immediate and split roughly along the lines of those who had been following the controller closely and those encountering the price for the first time.

The negative camp was loud. According to VICE’s coverage of the leak, one commenter put it plainly: “If it’s a hundred I’m out. I paid $50 for my original Steam Controller and loved it. Was willing to spend $80 on impulse but now I’ll wait until my Elite controller fails in some way.” Another user declared the price “way too much” after expecting a ceiling of $80. A third comment captured the gap between community expectations and reality: “Some people are going to be shocked. The Steam Machine and Steam Controller subreddits insisted it needs to be $60 or lower.”

The more measured responses acknowledged the hardware spec list. The TMR thumbsticks, four LRA haptic motors, 6-axis IMU, four rear grip buttons, 35-plus hour battery life, and three connection options represent what reviewers and community members noted as a meaningful step above what a standard $65–$75 gamepad offers. Steam Deck HQ’s own take was that the features do justify the ask, even if the price landed higher than expected. The dual trackpads — rare among mainstream standalone controllers — are the clearest argument that this is not a straight comparison to a DualSense or an Xbox Wireless Controller.

The original Steam Controller launched at $49.99 in 2015. At $99.99, the new model is exactly double that, and the doubling is what has stuck with the community more than any individual feature or complaint.

The Steam Controller Price in Context

At $99.99, the Steam Controller would sit roughly $25 above the standard DualSense MSRP and above the Xbox Wireless Controller, while landing well below premium models such as the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. That positioning — above the standard tier, below the high-end tier — is the clearest reading of where Valve appears to be aiming.

Valve has already said memory and storage shortages forced it to revisit shipping schedules and pricing, especially around Steam Machine and Steam Frame, so it remains unclear whether the leaked controller price reflects component pressure, deliberate positioning, or both.

What the community reaction does make clear is that the expected ceiling was somewhere around $60–$80. The $99.99 figure is not indefensible for a controller with this specification list, but it lands noticeably above where much of the Steam community had set its expectations.

What Happens Next

Valve has not commented on the leaked review or the reported price. The video has been taken down and has not been officially acknowledged. The quick takedown suggests the video may have gone live earlier than intended.

With a review unit apparently in at least one creator’s hands and shipping records reportedly pointing to a U.S. shipmentof Valve “wireless PC controller” hardware earlier this month, an official announcement could follow soon. Whether that announcement confirms the $99.99 figure or revises it is the question the Steam community is now waiting on. We’ll update this article when Valve responds.

All pricing information in this article is based on a leaked review video reported across Reddit and gaming outlets on April 25, 2026. Valve has not officially confirmed any pricing or release date for the Steam Controller.