We still don’t know when Valve will launch a Steam machine, but we may not have to wait too long. Valve recently imported nearly 50 tons of “Game Consoles” into the United States in a two-day period between May 1st and April 30, according to import records viewed The Verge.
That’s more than the “go” of the stuff that Valve analyst Brad Lynch mentioned late last week — and there’s reason to believe that these containers have a new Steam Machine or Steam Frame inside, not just a bunch more portable Steam Decks. (Steam Deck is also designated “Game Console” for import purposes.)
While Valve’s shipping partners have been starving for shipments after Christmas 2025, they seem to be picking up steam, with nearly 100 tons of product moving to the US in the past two months. Meanwhile, cargo ships with names like Ever Logic and Ever Shine delivered ten 40-meter containers from China to Los Angeles, CA and Tacoma, WA, weighing a total of 127,228 kilograms (140 US tons).
Each of those 40 meter containers can weigh over 3,700kg when empty, so there is less than 140 tonnes of actual product making it into the US. But even accounting for the containers, Valve’s new shipment has a significantly different weight than before – suggesting there may be new product inside.
For several years now, each of Valve’s 40-meter ocean-going containers has held up to 42 packages with a total weight of about 14,500kg (32,000lbs), records from other countries show. That was true as recently as April 18, when Ever Sigma shipped a 14,322kg, 42-pack shipment to Tacoma, Washington with Valve partner Ingram Micro. Maybe it even had Steam Decks inside instead of Steam Machines?
But a few days later, Ever Shine delivered a much lighter 12,608kg (27,800lbs) container to Tacoma, also with 42 packages. Import records showing Valve partners that have not changed into a simple container type; it is still a standard 40 meter model weighing around 3,700kg when empty.
Valve has had at least seven similar shipments since April 23, with an average weight of 12,600kg. Subtract the weight of the containers, and you get about 53,124kg of product, packaging, pallets, and travel padding, or about 50 tons of “Game Consoles.”
Just remember that 50 tons is actually not a lot! Valve says the Steam Machine weighs 2.6kg (about 5.73lbs) per console, so the recent increase in shipments could add up to less than 20,000 Steam Machines, especially if one of them comes pre-packaged with a controller or other items that increase the weight of each package. (Valve has told us that bundles will be available.)
It appears that the Steam controller is already sold out on launch day. Unless Valve plans to build a massive stockpile, the Steam machine could go pretty fast. I’m not so sure about the Steam Frame, although I’m personally excited about the competition in the gaming headphone market.
It’s still possible everything of these bowls have Steam Deck handles inside, and there is something else that causes a change in weight. Either way, Valve is finally getting the hardware moving again. Valve designer Pierre-Loup Griffais recently told us that the company is “working hard to try and fix” the handheld so you can buy it again.
