Alienware Alpha is a Windows-ready Steam Box out this holiday

Alienware plans to release a Steam Machine this year for the living room which is Windows-based.

Speaking with Joystiq at E3 2014 this week, Alienware Alpha is a gaming PC designed for the living room out this holiday season for $550.

It comes with an Xbox 360 controller, a dongle for up to four Xbox 360 controllers, and games will run 1080p and at 60fps.

"It's absolutely Steam-ready," said the firm's mrketing director Bryan de Zayas. "It's not that we're bypassing Steam. It's critical. They have the majority of the digital downloads."

The release is in response to Valve delaying Steam Machines into 2015. Alienware didn't want to wait until next year, as it had planned on releasing its Steam Machine announced during CES 2014, in September.

While it will release early as a Windows system - which can also be customized - Alienware Alpha will be compatible with the Steam Controller and SteamOS once Valve releases both to the masses.