We may be closing in on the release date for Valve’s rumored Steam Machine. In a two-day period between April 30th and May 1st, Valve imported roughly 50 tons of 'Game Consoles' into the United States, according to import records.

These shipments follow earlier indications, with a 'ton' of containers previously noted by Valve watcher Brad Lynch. The containers could contain the Steam Machine or, more likely, additional Steam Decks.

Digging deeper, cargo ships from China have brought ten 40-foot containers to Los Angeles and Tacoma over the past two months, weighing in at nearly 100 tons of product. Each container can hold up to 42 packages, but recent shipments suggest a weight reduction, perhaps hinting at a new product like the Steam Machine.

The exact number of units is hard to determine. If we subtract the weight of the empty containers, around 53,124kg, or roughly 50 tons, could translate to fewer than 20,000 Steam Machines if pre-bundled with controllers or other items. The Steam Controller has already sold out on launch day, suggesting Valve might be creating a stockpile.

Either way, it’s clear Valve is ramping up production and distribution. The Steam Machine could arrive sooner than expected, bringing competition to the gaming headset market. Only time will tell if we’re about to get our hands on another innovative device from Valve or just more of their popular handheld console.