Alienware Steam Machine (2015)

Compact, attractive design. Includes Steam Controller. SteamOS brings PC-gaming innovations to the television. Performance surpasses consoles.

No Windows support. Only compatible with the fraction of Linux games available on Steam. Pricey considering the specs.

Wait for Half-Life 3At its best, the Steam Machine's combination of PC-gaming openness and console-gaming ease of use trumps the experience you'll get on either platform. But the Achilles' heel that is SteamOS's reliance on Linux prevents you from...

Stylish, compact design ; HDMI in support ; Decent performance ; Windows-free experience ; Upgradeable

No GPU upgrade ; Easily outpriced ; No Origin, Uplay support ; Rough UI

While its custom software is rough around the edges, the Alienware Alpha handily sets the standard for Steam Machines to come with style.

The Alienware Steam Machine brings Valve's Steam OS concept to life at an affordable price. It has a larger launch library than any living room console and it includes the unique new Steam Controller.

Steam OS is locked out of a vast majority of the Steam game library, including nearly every hot new PC game. The controller has a deep learning curve, and will never be the best choice for some games. The more capable Windows version of this hardware...

There are many ways to put PC games on a living room TV, and the Alienware Steam Machine is one of the most ambitious. Like all new console launches, there are rocky patches, but the biggest hurdle may be proving why Steam OS is a better choice than...

Lounge-friendly form and OS ; Traditional mouse games playable on the pad

Not enough big-hitting games on SteamOS ; Controller is far from perfect

A valiant attempt to combine the best of PC and console, but it’s currently weaker than both

We will continue to test the Alienware Steam Machine, and will offer a full review once the system software and firmware is finalized for its retail release.

Brilliant Gaming service ; Innovative controller ; Efficient UI, Well-designed ; Quiet design ; Compact

Limited selection of AAA games ; Controller issues ; Expensive ; Non-Steam games & Hard to use ; Steep learning curve

The Alienware Steam Machine is definitely something that every gamer should look into – provided they’re open to the idea of playing games on PC instead of Xbox Live or PlayStation Network. Within weeks, I’d embraced the idea of two gaming ecosystems...

Attractive interface ; Lots of great games ; Good performance

Expensive ; Peripheral limitations ; Not as robust as either a console or a gaming PC

The Alienware Steam Machine has a gorgeous interface and powerful specs, but its game selection and extra features fall short.

Before we get on to the hardware, lets just take a moment to revisit our experience with Steam OS and the Steam Controller… it doesn’t vary from Steam Machine to Steam Machine…