Accessory maker Jsaux has teased two custom front-panel screens for Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine, offering users extra style and functionality. Unlike Dbrand’s Companion Cube skin, they are intended to replace the stock magnetically-attached plastic panel with something more useful, without affecting the machine’s thermal characteristics or demanding complicated installation procedures. The company shared its design prototypes through a Reddit post, where it asked interested users to vote for the version they prefer.
As a reminder, during the Steam Machine reveal event, Valve showcased an add-on E-Ink display that caught the attention of the press. Unfortunately, when asked about it, Valve’s devs said that the panel was only for internal testing and would not be available for purchase. Thankfully, the Steam Machine front cover is designed to be swappable, allowing third parties like Jsaux to offer similar add-ons without changing the rest of the chassis.
The first Jsaux addon seems to be a sort of colour-capable pixel art/matrix display that can be used to show dates, pictures, and likely anything that doesn’t require high resolution. The second is what most enthusiasts will prefer, an E-Ink display. This one looks exactly like the prototype showcased during the press presentations held by Valve and will seemingly offer the same monitoring functionality. In other words, you will be able to keep an eye on internal sensors such as temperature and fan speed, plus metrics such as CPU and GPU utilisation.
Unlike the matrix display, this one will have a more practical role, giving users a glimpse at the state of their machine without overcrowding their game HUD. Depending on the level of customisability authorised by Jsaux, you may even be able to use it for some black and white art too.
According to the teaser picture shared on Reddit, these add-ons are scheduled to launch in 2026, probably just in time to coincide with the Steam Machine’s official release. That said, since Jsaux has asked for users’ input, it may only proceed with the most-wanted version. What is sure is that the company isn’t new to Valve’s products, as it already offers plenty of add-ons for the Steam Deck, so you can bet it will have plenty of hardware for the Steam Machine too.
