Every PC gamer has heard of Valve, the well-known (and well-loved) creator of classic games like Team Fortress 2 and Half Life. Valve also operates Steam, the world’s most popular online PC gaming distribution platform.
However, it will soon be time to add another title to Valve’s record: “hardware manufacturer.” That’s right, Valve is preparing to enter the hardware market. Early reports point towards Valve developing a new mouse and keyboard for PC gamers, although nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
The rumors stem from an announcement Valve made regarding the current state of the PC hardware industry:
“[We are] frustrated by the lack of innovation in the computer hardware space…even basic input, the keyboard and mouse, haven’t really changed in any meaningful way over the years…there’s a real void in this marketplace, and opportunities to create compelling user experiences are being overlooked.”
That statement was taken from a job posting that was recently listed at Valve. The job is for an ‘Industrial Developer’, and it appears that the new employee would be jumping into an existing project as opposed to developing a new project altogether. In other words, Valve already has some big ideas cooking and they’re just waiting for the right developer to bring their plans to fruition.
At this point, the fact that Valve is jumping into the hardware market isn’t a rumor: it’s officially confirmed thanks to that job posting. This is exciting news for PC gamers all over the world.

Steambox and other rumored Valve hardware

This isn’t the first time that Valve has been rumored to be developing hardware. Earlier this year, a Valve Steambox was rumored to be in production. The Steambox would reportedly feature high-end technical specifications and would be geared specifically for gamers. Meanwhile, in April, Valve was hiring hardware developers for a “wearable computing” project.
It looks like Valve could soon become a lot more than just a PC gaming software company. If Valve brings its same commitment to quality to the world of PC hardware, we can expect great things for computer users in the future. Stay tuned to our blog for more info!