At CES, Valve released more details about their Steam Machine game console initiative. There are currently 13 Steam Machine partners onboard, with more coming in later. The Steam Machines will launch in the second half of 2014.

Steam Machines will launch in 2H2014
We had a chat with Valve today at CES in Las Vegas, and they gave us a demonstration of the new Steam Machines; a total of 13 game console boxes in all shapes and sizes. Two of the most prominent boxes came from Alienware, who had box with a console form factor, and Gigabyte, who had a very small box.


Valve has 13 Steam Machine partners

Some of the boxes will cost $6000 dollars, and Valve says that manufacturers - and even consumers - are free to configure the Steam Machines. At the moment prices range from about $500 to $6,000, but Valve expects even cheaper Steam Machines to come out.


We took a closer look at the Valve Controller

We also had the chance to hold the Steam Controller in our hands, but Valve stressed that we were looking at a prototype. It was not hooked up, so we could not try the haptic feedback, which Valve believes is one of the coolest things about it, but it generally felt good, and the two new touch pads are quite exciting. Valve adds that they currently have 250 titles supporting the new SteamOS platform, but they are expecting more, even AAA titles, before launch.


Alienware's Steam Machine

The Steam Machines game consoles will hit the market in the second half of 2014. We pressed Valve for a more concrete launch window, and we were told that internally they are hoping to start shipping in the fall. Learn more about the Steam game console project here.

The full list of partners currently includes:
Alienware, Gigabyte, Falcon Northwest, iBuyPower, Alternate, Next, CyberPowerPC, Origin, Scan Computers, Webhallen, Digital Storm, Materiel.net, and Zotac.