Valve opens up Steam Machine with FSR 4.1 and new CAD downloads

Valve has rolled out another major update for the Steam Machine, bringing AMD's latest FSR 4.1 upscaling technology to the system while also sharing fresh details on hardware availability. The company says reservations continue to move forward every day, with everyone currently in the reservation queue expected to receive a chance to purchase a Steam Machine before the end of the year.

The biggest addition is support for FSR 4.1, which is now available through the Proton Experimental branch. Valve first announced it was working with AMD to bring the technology to the Steam Machine shortly after AMD confirmed that FSR 4.1 would expand beyond RDNA 4 graphics cards to support RDNA 3 GPUs. RDNA 2 compatibility is still planned to arrive in 2027.

For now, the feature remains experimental, so users may encounter bugs or compatibility issues. Like its Windows counterpart, Proton's implementation only works in games that already support FSR 3.1 or newer, allowing Proton to automatically upgrade the game to FSR 4.1 where possible. That means not every title will benefit immediately, but the list of compatible games should continue to grow over time.

Valve also released official CAD files covering the Steam Machine's external shell, giving accessory makers and hardware enthusiasts the information needed to design custom add-ons. The files should make it much easier to create third-party accessories such as replacement faceplates, stands, mounting solutions, or other cosmetic modifications. It probably won't take long before the community starts coming up with some more creative ideas as well.

On the hardware side, Valve says Steam Machine orders continue to be fulfilled daily. Everyone currently holding a reservation should be invited to complete their purchase before the end of the year, assuming production stays on schedule.

That doesn't mean everyone on the waitlist will receive an invitation this year, however. Valve clarified that reservations and waitlists are handled separately. Reservation holders always receive priority, with the company randomly assigning early reservation slots so buyers had an equal opportunity to secure launch units. Only after the reservation queue has been cleared in each region will waitlisted customers begin moving into the reservation system.

It's an unusual approach, but so has the Steam Machine's launch from the beginning. Between ongoing component shortages, limited production, and unusually high demand, Valve has taken a cautious rollout strategy while continuing to expand the platform's software features alongside hardware availability.

As always, for the latest news on Steam hardware, SteamOS updates, PC gaming technologies, and developments across the gaming industry, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.