{"id":1617564,"date":"2026-06-26T19:22:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T19:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hop69LctV5k8z9uq4RaYPG"},"modified":"2026-06-26T19:22:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T19:22:07","slug":"steam-machine-preorder-emails-are-in-the-wild-and-it-finally-feels-real-valve-is-actually-gonna-release-this-thing-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/steam-machine-preorder-emails-are-in-the-wild-and-it-finally-feels-real-valve-is-actually-gonna-release-this-thing-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Steam Machine preorder emails are in the wild, and it finally feels real: Valve is actually gonna release this thing in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you signed up for a spot in the Steam Machine<\/a> reservation queue, you might want to take a quick look at your email, because the notices for those who made it into the first wave\u2014and those who did not\u2014have been sent.<\/p>\n

I did not personally order a Steam Machine for several reasons, which in truth can be boiled down to one reason:<\/p>\n

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\"Steam<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

Yowzah!<\/em> <\/span>(Image credit: Valve)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Instead, I heard about the email sendout from Game Awards host Geoff Keighley, who apparently took the shotgun approach to the lottery and came out of it with a reservation for a 512GB model.<\/p>\n

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\"Steam<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

(Image credit: Geoff Keighley (Twitter))<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Videogame deals poster Wario64, who also claimed a golden ticket, took note of an added bonus: Buying one will net you a veritable butt-ton of Steam Summer Sale trading cards.<\/p>\n

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Buying a Steam Machine can earn you at least 105 Summer Sale 2026 Trading Cards during the Summer Sale.<\/p>\n

\u2014 @wario64.bsky.social (@wario64.bsky.social.bsky.social<\/a>) 2026-06-26T19:22:05.605Z<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

randomized lottery<\/a>As explained by PC Gamer hardware hero Jacob Ridley, Valve opted against a first-come, first-served approach to selling the Steam Machine, and instead went with a randomized lottery<\/a>: Everybody who wants one puts their name in the metaphorical hat, and from there a random selection of potential buyers are selected and notified. <\/p>\n

I say “potential” because those whose names are drawn have three days to complete the purchase after the unit they were selected for is available\u2014if they don’t, their reservation will be cancelled and the next person in the queue will get the shot instead.<\/p>\n