The HAZE vs. The Steam Machine

On June 29^th of 2026, Valve released the Steam Machine, a small form-factor gaming computer that runs Steam OS and the digital Steam Storefront. Leading up to this release, many gamers were excited at the possibility of what it offered: a console-like experience with direct access to the Steam Library, from the comfort of their living room. Leading up to the release of the Steam Machine, Valve shared the specs of the upcoming release, revealing the internal components of the system were composed of semi-custom AMD-based parts, upgradeable memory up to 16GB, and only two versions of storage. This led to our team at AVA Direct taking a closer look at what’s available on the market and developing something that we thought could not only compete with the Steam Machine, but surpass it, so we came up with the HAZE.

Hardware

As mentioned before, the Steam Machine hardware includes custom AMD GPU and CPU hardware. The technical details have been listed, and they are comparable to the base PlayStation 5 by Sony, which isn’t what people expected upon the announcement of the Steam Machine. The machine being unable to reach 60 frames per second or 4K graphics isn’t by itself a deal breaker, but for us we decided to deliver that with the HAZE. Allowing for fully customizable components to be put in and getting the 4K gaming experience that people were expecting from the Steam Machine.

Availability

The other surprise of the Steam Machine’s launch was that, unlike the traditional order-and-delivery method that most console developers do, Valve instead went with a lottery-based system. Upon creating an account with Steam, users eligible to purchase a Steam Machine are selected via a lottery system. This system is designed to prevent scalpers, people who buy hardware on mass from companies and then re-sell them at inflated prices on other websites. With the HAZE on the other hand, as soon as an order is put in with us, we order the parts our customer wants, have them delivered to our facility where they are assembled and tested, and then shipped out to customers. While the Steam Machine’s method is a deterrent for scalping, it does put all potential owners on a waitlist with no prediction of when the system will arrive, whereas with AVADirect, ordering the HAZE means that the order is placed straight away and the customer is informed of all stages of the assembly and testing phases.

Results

While the Steam Machine is cemented hardware for console-based PC gaming, the HAZE’s customization options and wider availability and allow for a much more enhanced gaming PC-based experience. While both systems can do the same thing, the HAZE’s performance at 4K gaming running at a consistent 60FPS outpacing the Steam Machine, which can struggle to reach that benchmark. And while the Steam Machine’s purchasing practices are heavily regulated to combat scalping, our HAZE is readily available to be delivered within 3       to 4 weeks of placing an order. These aspects highlight why the HAZE at the moment is the superior choice when it comes to a mini gaming PC that you can own.