What Is a GabeCube, and Why the Steam Machine Has Become Meme Gold
Valve’s recently-announced Steam Machine has been a hot topic this week, as the PC that’s made to look like a console could quickly shake up the industry. The Steam Machine is a nearly featureless 6-inch cube that aims to bring a new form of gaming to fans, and there are plenty of reasons to be excited about it.
The announcement of the Steam Machine came as a surprise, as Valve dropped the news pretty casually. Although the first version of the Steam Machine failed to wow gamers, this new and improved iteration may have what it takes to really throw a wrench in console gaming. Of course, it’s important to note that the Steam Machine is still technically a PC, but with its minimalist design and Steam library full of options, including PlayStation and Xbox exclusives, it could prove to be incredibly tempting to diehard console fans. Beyond the impressive announcement, the Steam Machine’s viral nature has also given rise to a brand-new meme: the GabeCube.
The GabeCube Honors the Legacy of Valve Co-Founder Gabe Newell
- Valve was founded by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington in 1996.
- Before Valve, the two were employees at Microsoft.
- Valve’s debut game was Half-Life, which would become a huge influence on the FPS genre.
While Mike Harrington left Valve in 2000, Gabe Newell continued to steer the company ship into the future. In 2003, Steam officially launched, and since then, it has grown into the number one platform for PC gaming. Between the continuing success of Steam and other hit Valve-developed games like the Portal series, Team Fortress 2, Dota 2, and Left 4 Dead, the company has managed to maintain an incredibly positive reputation among the gaming community.
Because of Valve’s strong track record of well-received titles and sales practices that are seen by many as incredibly consumer-friendly, Gabe Newell has become revered when it comes to gaming-focused internet culture, often becoming the subject of memes. One meme in particular is “Good Guy Gabe,” which is used as a way to applaud the Valve co-founder for his business decisions that are seen as putting gamers first. Now that the Steam Machine has hit the scene, many are lovingly referring to it as the “GabeCube.”
How Did the GabeCube Meme Start?
This is the biggest question. For those who have seen videos, posts, and news articles on the internet discussing the Steam Machine, it’s difficult to find one without a comment that refers to the product as the GabeCube (a combination of Nintendo’s GameCube console and the name Gabe). These comments usually amass a lot of likes, but it seems like the original source of the meme may be Reddit. On the Steam subreddit, a link to the official announcement was shared by user Ticha22608. On that same day, user SPYYYR simply commented on the post, “Introducing: The GabeCube.” That comment alone already has over 8,000 likes, and while there are many on the internet calling the Steam Machine by its meme-ified nickname, this Reddit comment is the earliest mention I can find.
The Steam Machine could be solid competition for Xbox and PlayStation, and while it’s unclear just how successful the product will be, the hype and viral memes that it has inspired is making it clear that there’s already a lot of interest. Valve has also revealed plenty of exciting features that can be expected from the Steam Machine.
Everything Confimed About the Steam Machine, So Far
- SteamOS
- 6x more powerful than the Steam Deck
- 6 inches in size
- 1 Gigabit Ethernet
- DisplayPort 1.4
- HDMI 2.0
- One USB-C port
- Four USB-A ports
- 4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR
- Two storage sizes: 512GB and 2TB (can be expanded with microSD)
- Built-in power supply
- Customizable LED strip
- Customizable faceplate
Valve has also confirmed that Steam Machine users can still download their own apps and even a different operating system if they prefer.
Gabe Newell has become revered when it comes to gaming-focused internet culture, often becoming the subject of memes.
Valve Still Has Yet to Answer Two Important Questions About the Steam Machine
As exciting as the Steam Machine is, Valve is currently keeping its price point and release date under wraps. Many are eager to know when to expect the product to launch, but the price is the question most gamers want answered first. The cost of the Steam Machine is going to be the defining factor in whether Valve is able to convert console lovers to a PC or not. If the company wants to compete with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, then the Steam Machine having a price tag closer to the $600 range would be huge. Right now, there is only speculation regarding the Steam Machine’s price, but it’s definitely the main question on a lot of minds.
It may be a while before Valve reveals how much the Steam Machine will cost, but the wait hopefully won’t be too long. This year’s Game Awards could be a solid stage to announce further details, but only time will tell. After the huge failure of the original Steam Machine, it will be fascinating to see exactly what else Valve does to show gamers that it’s learned from its past mistakes. The OG Steam Machine was simply too expensive and seemed too daunting for more casual gamers, but this fresh take on the PC might mark a new era.
The original Steam Machine only sold around 300,000 – 400,000 units. However, Valve’s Steam Deck has performed much better, with an estimated 4 million units sold since its 2022 launch. This is hopefully an indication that the new Steam Machine will be more well-received.
The Steam Machine is one of the most intriguing announcements of the year, so far, and that’s saying a lot, since 2025 has been filled with huge news. Between major moments like GTA 6‘s multiple delays and the launch of Switch 2, Valve revealing the Steam Machine is closing out the year in a massive way.