Valve: Steam Machine reservations to be fulfilled by end of 2026; CAD files released

Valve has announced that some customers who reserved a Steam Machine may not receive their unit until as late as December 2026. In a recent update, the company explained that the reservation queue varies by product and region, meaning certain versions of the console are already being fulfilled in select areas, while others face longer waits due to high demand.

"We're fulfilling orders on a daily basis, sending out emails to reservation holders with the option to purchase in the order in which they landed on the list post-randomization. We expect everyone in the reservation queue will have the option to purchase by the end of this year," Valve stated.

The company added: "With each reservation queue and corresponding waitlist being per-product, per-region, they can move at different speeds based on demand. This means for some products in some regions, we've reached the end of the reservation queue and have started inviting folks from the waitlist."

While this confirms that all original reservations will be fulfilled by the end of 2026, the timeline offers little comfort for those hoping to receive a new gaming PC console in time for the holiday season.

3D-Print Your Own Steam Machine Case

For users still waiting — or even those who didn't place an order — Valve has released the CAD files for the "Gabe Cube" on GitHub in STP format. This allows anyone to 3D-print their own shell and face plates based on Valve's official designs, ensuring a precise fit for the console.

Some manufacturers have already offered custom plates and skins for the Steam Machine, though Dbrand was forced to drop its Portal 2-inspired Companion Cube design after Valve threatened legal action for copyright infringement. With the release of these files, users can now create their own skins — including a Companion Cube design — without legal concerns, provided they follow the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license applied by Valve.

For the more adventurous, it is even possible to build a completely custom case and transfer the console's internal components. However, Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais, who provided in-depth details on the Steam Machine, warned that doing so may void the warranty.

"Your Steam Machine is yours, and you have the right to do with it what you want," Griffais said in a GitHub post. "That said, we highly recommend you leave it to professionals. Any damage you do will not be covered by your warranty – but more importantly, you might break your Steam Machine, or even get hurt! Be careful, and have fun."

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