Valve has cut deals with video game retailers EB Games, GAME UK and GameStop to establish dedicated in-store "Steam Sections" later this year for Steam gear like the Steam Controller and Steam Machines.
This is interesting because it means physical game retailers will be selling devices explicitly designed to play digitally-distributed games purchased directly from Valve's storefront.
The devices, which are expected to hit the market on November 10th, will bolster Steam's presence in retail storefronts around the world. They'll be sold alongside Steam cards, which have been available at retail since Valve first partnered with GameStop in 2012.
It's likely that GameStop will also be selling Valve and HTC's Vive VR headset when it debuts next year, as company chief Paul Raines recently voiced plans to position GameStop as "the destination for VR."