New Valve guidelines suggest a significant expansion into Steam hardware

HARDWARE NEWS manhkbrady - Dec 12, 2024, 3:00 PM

It appears Valve is gearing up for a major entry into the hardware sector, with fresh Steam logos and branding across a wide range of products. Thanks to the newly discovered Logo and Branding Guidelines by Steam users on Reddit, it seems Valve is preparing to prominently feature their Steam logo.

To begin with, the “Powered By SteamOS” logo implies that 2025 could be the year for third-party devices featuring SteamOS. This allows manufacturers to sell hardware with SteamOS already installed, paving the way for third-party Steam Deck alternatives. Here’s what Steam has to say regarding this logo and branding.

The Powered by SteamOS logo signifies that a hardware device will operate on SteamOS and will boot into SteamOS immediately upon being powered on. Partners and manufacturers will provide hardware embedded with a Steam image created by or devised in close collaboration with Valve. The logo must not undergo physical alterations and should not be merged with other branding elements.

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Valve also introduced other brands and logos such as “Steam Compatible,” which applies to hardware that includes Valve-approved controller inputs. This indicates that we may soon see Steam-optimized controllers produced by third-party companies.

Furthermore, there is a “Steam Link Compatible” logo for devices that have Valve-approved compatibility with Steam Link. Steam Link is Valve’s software for PC gaming that facilitates game streaming to various devices, including other PCs, VR headsets, or clients within the same network. This suggests Valve’s intention to integrate its Steam Link software into more devices, promoting them accordingly. Additionally, a Steam Included logo is available for PCs that come with Valve’s Steam client already installed.

It appears that Valve is set to make a significant hardware move in 2025. After all, why establish such guidelines unless there is an intention to utilize them? Soon, consumers will notice Valve's Steam logo appearing in numerous places. Consequently, Steam's brand recognition is bound to increase. While Steam is already a familiar name among PC gamers, its logo may soon be visible on televisions, tablets, VR headsets, game controllers, and many other devices. This could lead to Steam's branding becoming much more recognized by those who do not typically engage in gaming.

And as always, while waiting for more exciting news, remember to use our comparison tool to find the best deal for your next favorite game.