Designed with Steam in mind, the Alienware Alpha console is now shipping and available through Dell or select retailers. Starting at $549, users can configure the Alpha with Intel's fourth generation Core i3, i5, or i7 processors along with NVIDIA's GTX Maxwell GPU. The compact box ships with an Xbox 360 wireless controller and comes with a few freebies if you are an early adopter and decide to take the plunge, including full versions of a number of titles valued at $100.

For a limited time, fans who order the Alienware Alpha will receive their consoles packed with free bonus content including the complete versions of Anomaly: Warzone Earth, Awesomenauts, Magicka, Metro: Last Light, PAYDAY 2 and Strike Suit Zero. Alienware Alpha will also include an exclusive Gauntlet in-game item, the Magicka: Dungeons and Daemons DLC, as well as Alienware exclusive demos of Defense Grid 2 and Super Splatters. Get gaming on day one with new and exciting bundled content, along with all of the existing titles gamers already have filling up their Steam libraries.

The Alpha will boot into the Alpha UI out of the box and Dell says that no keyboard or mouse is required to navigate the interface. The Alpha delivers over 600 Steam controller-supported games into your living.

You can currently grab the Alpha from Dell's Alienware site, Amazon, BestBuy.com, Fry's Electronics, GameStop, NewEgg, SamsClub.com, TigerDirect, and Walmart.

Be sure to also check out our interview with the Alienware folks for the inside story to Alpha.

Source: Alienware