I just want to say thank you all for your comments. You gave me a lot to think about. I'm still skeptical about how well a second Steam Machine would sell (IF that's even what we're getting, as a few of you mentioned), but I'm a little more optimistic about it.
I don’t think it’s that simple. I purchased a steam deck because I lack the ability to make one. The 3 primary tv’s in my house along with my desk and my wife’s all have desktop pcs (fudging the numbers a little because 2 of the TVs are connected to the same pc, which also acts as a server for family photos/videos.) the point being people don’t need steam to build them a small form computer, and most of the people that want that can do it themselves.
@@RJN9008 i built both of my PCs and have been running linux since 2004. I will still buy a new steam machine and I think it would be a good option for normies as well
@@RJN9008You dont need that, if valve releases steam controller 2 with same trackpads and could give me steamdeck experience on big screen i would totally want that, note that you can get way more performance on weaker hardware when you get device on linux configured for gaming
True, but I think it's success is highly relative. In the handheld PC market, absolutely. But compared with consoles, it's a flop (not that the Steam Deck is or should be competing with them).
Its because many people are moving from windows to linux, steam is trying to cap on the linux market share considering it went from less than 1% to over 3% in the past couple years.
Unfortunately, I think there's a limit to how much the needle will be moved. Most people will not try something knew if they're familiar for something for a long time. Unless something major happens, they're unlikely to switch from whatever they're using. Windows is too ingrained in people's lives. At best, Linux will hit 9%, but I see 6% or 7% being the realistic number.
@iamxeracon the major thing happening is Microsoft starting to charge for their services. Look up how they are extending support for windows 10 and their plans for windows 11. You pay a yearly rate just to be able to receive updates for your computer. If they keep going with their terrible business practices many more will move over. I feel
@@Deny-defend-depose420 Yes, Microsoft is shameful for the practices being used, but people tolerate a lot of things. Microsoft continues to push bloat and spyware, but most people don't care as long as they can still do what they usually do (because that's all they know). I would love to see Linux with a 27% share but I know it isn't realistic. Too many people don't care to switch.
@peppefailla1630 according to global stat tracker, Linux is at 4.05%, if you include chrome os, then Linux is already at 6.29%. Linux is climbing but it's got a long way to go (unless you want to talk servers)
very much needed: more and more people are getting fed up with windows, specifically because microsoft is taking ownership away from the end user, and the usual privacy concerns. the reason people stick with windows is because it's the best gaming OS, or was, until the steam deck released, proving that under the right circumstances, gaming on linux is almost indistinguishable from gaming on windows. making a high power steam deck (like the steam machine) would be a boon for probably millions of users that want to game on pc, without depending on windows.
I certainly think a new Steam Machine has a place in the market, as the console market has never really been weaker than it is right now. Nintendo has long since carved out their own parallel market which doesn't directly compete with Xbox or Playstation. Xbox is currently in the process of evaporating their brand in order to turn everything into a subscription service (including Windows itself in some cases) - partly because they recognize the threat that Proton presents to Windows as an exclusive development platform. This is where Microsoft's priorities lay right now - NOT in competing with Sony. The only time that Microsoft has ever been concerned with Sony was when Sony was trying to pass off their PS2 as having an upgrade path to a livingroom PC. Though, this turned out to mostly be smoke and mirrors to skirt European import tariffs on luxury electronics. Sony is really the only player left in the traditional console space... and their position is tenuous. Their bread and butter marquee titles which sell their platform now take so long to create and cost so much money, that it's nearly now at an unsustainable point - and costs are only going to keep rising going into next generation. Sony has had to release their games on PC to bring up the profit margin to an acceptable level - but this also reduces demand for Playstation hardware, as you can now play them elsewhere. Though unlike Microsoft, Sony can't afford to make their console into a loss leader for another initiative. Playstation is by far Sony's largest profit maker, and if Playstation crumbles - the entire corporation will splinter apart and likely go down with it. So Valve has a fantastic opportunity right now to release a "consoleized" PC that plays both Xbox and Playstation games - as well as the existing library of PC titles stretching back 40 years and emulation thanks to near effortless setup thanks to third party plugins like Decky Loader. They are the only platform capable of overcoming the "digital headstart" that Sony received in the last generation (Phil has already admitted that Xbox lost that race). Whereas the previous Steam machine had poor compatibility and no hardware reference from which third parties could build on - a new Steam Machine with Proton would "just work" with pretty much everything out of the box with very little tinkering and provide developers with a hardware profile to target for pre-configured graphics optimization and patches. Will it be a success or not? Maybe, but there has never been a better time for Valve to strike.
That's a good argument. I didn't think about the console market being so different from what it once was that it could give Valve some kind of foothold in making its own niche in the market. And who knows, if Valve is successful, maybe we could see other companies make their own "PC consoles."
The console market is perhaps the weakest it's ever been right now. I have a desktop PC in my living room right now as a result. It's me, I'm the target audience. That said, I largely agree with concerns on upgradability. It would see an even stronger market if they ended up using a mini-ITX form factor with normal PC parts and 2-3 default presets. Even so, thanks to the current state of Proton, the average Steam user has access to more controller compatible games than any Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo console ever will, which even a non-upgradable machine could run for the rest of its life. The real question is how upgradability will affect price. If they can get a competitive machine on the shelf for $500, they will sell, upgradable or not.
I think it hinges on software support and setup. I've definitely wanted a steam machine for a while. I've built a fair few PCs but the reason I haven't built a "console PC" is because holo iso has no support, steam OS doesn't really exist yet, and hardware is expensive.
I can see a point to a steam machine now. Hell I could back then. In essence the point was to get console gamers who don't CARE about upgrades and want a more console-like experience a way into the PC game market. However back then it had two MAJOR issues worked against it back then. 1) Windows compatibility was garbage back then, meaning most games on Steam could NOT be played on the steam machines. With proton as it is now, that is simply not the case anymore. 2) Valve made the same mistake 3DO made back in the day: they licensed out the standards and let everyone else make the hardware without getting involved. For 3DO, this meant a whole bunch of machines in the console market not making money on their software library, so they wound up charging the full price of the hardware to make their money and consoles that were 3X the cost or more of the main competition. Doesn't matter how advanced they were, that killed them when going up against the SNES and Genesis. Same thing happened to first Steam machines against the PS3 and 360. This time, however, Valve is stepping in, which means they also set a standard price others will have to get somewhat in line with to compete. This is a correction we've already seen the effect of on the Steam Deck... before it existed, handheld PCs were already out there, but they were 2-3X what they are now that the hardware makers have to compete in price on what was once a niche market but has been cracked wide open. Between that and console getting more expensive, I think they've got a shot if they can get their box within striking distance of what a console costs today (so $500-$700).
Those are some good points. The second one is especially interesting to me. A $600 Steam machine now would be more palatable than back then. Thank you for this insight!
Since the Ally and other Windows handheld PCs got big, people have been trying to get SteamOS on there. Bazzite and Chimera are great but they're not quite there, and they require some faffing. This would allow people to have nore powerful devices running SteamOS out of the box, you could even release multiple SKUs of the same handheld bundled with either Windows or SteamOS on it You're talking a lot about desktop, I doubt this is what it's for. I'm sure we will get some Steam Machines in the same way that we have Android boxes geared at gaming, its not what the OS is designed for but there certain is a niche for it. But having Ally/Legion power with official SteamOS is a potential game changer
That would be cool if that's what they're doing. It would open up a lot of options for users. At the same time, I do hope that development for SteamOS goes beyond handhelds so people can download it on desktop.
Upgrades aren't as much of a concern depending on the price point. The main reason consoles are usually better optimized is because it has a set hardware for developers to work with. A steam console would be awesome and allow for people to move away from windows and hopefully many more developers can build with Linux and steam.os in mind.
I thought they had moved on from this with the Steam Deck. Are we sure that's what they mean? As I had heard it, they were looking towards putting SteamOS on other devices, which makes sense. If you install SteamOS, you're probably using the Steam Store to buy games and it being a free alternative to Windows means PC gaming becomes more accessible as Windows costs upwards of $100+ for a single key.
Perhaps, perhaps not. I'm not on Twitter, so I can't scavenge through Brad's page to see if there's any other information that he has. I can only only work with what I have. Based on the article and the one post I have, a new console seems to be the case. But if they aren't making one, then we'll find out later on. I'm waiting for the full release of SteamOS, though!
Oh boy if this is needed. They're not aiming at the pc market, but at the console market. They want to compete with Sony and (mostly) Microsoft, showing them how to succeed into building an ecosystem and succeeding in what even Microsoft hasn't been able to do. David vs Goliath basically
I don't fully agree. I think this is the perfect type of product for someone who'd normally just use a console. Most people aren't technical enough to build their own computer and buying a prebuilt is usually an iffy venture. Plus it still requires you at least have the knowledge of the parts you're buying, which someone new to PCs won't have a clue. Like how is someone with only a background with using Xbox supposed to know what an RTX 4080 is? Or how about the difference between an Intel 14900K vs an AMD 9800x? I know as PC gamers we always assume it's not so bad as we already do it, but PC gaming is rather enthusiast. I think this could be the PC they could have if they want one. Plus using SteamOS could take out a lot of the flaws and bugs that Windows tends to have. Losing out on a few games due to Linux likely doesn't matter to those type of people anyways as they're already used to Xbox or Playstation missing out on games. And upgradability also means nothing to them. These people would never touch their own hardware and are the type to send it to a repair shop instead. If they don't have the confidence to open it up, they're never going to upgrade the hardware. And we do have laptops with upgradability like the Framework, but I don't think most people care about it. Again upgrading and taking apart your hardware is very enthusiast. I don't even expect random people to do the bare minimum of installing a new SSD in it.
The "plug and play" aspect would be useful for a console gamer. But I think because of that that they won't have any idea of what Linux is and how it differentiates with Windows. They'll think "Oh, an easy way to play PC games?" and buy one without knowing that many popular competitive games might not be compatible (some I blame on the devs for not enabling support when it's possible or disabling support, like GTA Online). I would like them to know what they're signing up for before making the switch to a Linux-based system. While I would like more people to use it, I think jumping in without any idea of the differences between it and Windows would arguably make things worse. And I agree that upgradability would be more of an enthusiast thing, at the end of the day, a Steam Machine is a PC. And even if a user doesn't want to upgrade it, the option to upgrade it should still be present.
Yeah, they're quite weak. And even worse, Nvidia has long since dropped support for those GPUs, and since there are no open-source drivers for them, there's little chance for them to run games within the past five years.
@@loz9324 That goes into the issue I have with the design of the system (and the potential design of the rumored one. Without the ability to upgrade the hardware like a normal PC, these systems will lose out on the maximum longevity they could have. I'm not saying users should upgrade, but the option should be there.
This steam machine very well has a place. Console users are getting screwed over on xbox as well as ps5. Steam prices are really good tbh. Not everybody also wants to buy or build a PC and mess with Windows. This is exactly for that. You might say use Linux, but no it isnt exactly user friendly. Prepare to use a Terminal. Steam machine itself is looking like a plug and play solution. I myself am most interested in the newer Steam Controller 2. Other stuff this will probably cause, maybe even at the high end trying to compete with Sony, which pretty much runs the console monopoly, its good for consumers. Increasing the relevance of Linux in the gaming sphere is also good, since well who the heck enjoys using Windows honestly? Valve is also pretty much one of the last companies with some dignity and transparency. They have very good refund policies and i am sure they would treat consumers better than Sony or Microsoft.
I can agree for the most part. There are some very pro-consumer practices on Steam (and PC in general). And while a Steam machine 2 would help boost the Linux market share (as the Steam Deck already has), I don't think this would do a whole lot. At best, Linux would be 9%, and I feel like that's being generous. A lot of people don't want to lose access to games that are incompatible due to anti-cheat. The one thing I'll disagree though is that Linux isn't user friendly (or at least that it can't be). It's simple enough to use it without ever touching the terminal. Most programs needed can be installed via the GUI package installer that came with their desktop environment as well as updates, and if most people know how to use an app store on their phone, they can use that. I only use a terminal if there's something really specific that I want like a developing project. But Pop OS! is a great OS for newcomers.
i think the beauty of it will be that its for both enthusiasts AND normies. a lot of enthusiasts will buy anything valve puts out whether they need to or not.
@ I don’t even like that I had to open my ps5 up to add a ssd I like how Microsoft did it with like the memory card idea simple easy stupid that’s a big reason I have not got into pc it’s just a lot to get into and consoles are just plug in and play well PlayStation kinda always been a lil more complicated to me then xbox but still not pc level
I hate everything about pc other than pc gaming, upgrading them is boring and a hassle, I’d rather use a mac for anything other than gaming one of the reasons I abandoned pc gaming a 600 dollar box that plays steam games and can boot Linux for some extra functionality would be a welcome change from the stale console landscape after Microsoft and Sonys limp wristed efforts over the last 2 generations
The one issue that I have is that console gamers might not understand what they would be getting themselves into. While I love Linux, people might be confused or angry because they can't play Fortnite, Rainbow Six, Apex Legends, or any other competitive game that uses an incompatible anticheat.
If you are creating a whole new os, convincing developpers to make it run smooth on SteamOS. You want to run your OS on multiple platforms. If the price is right they Playstation and Xbox will have some competition. And every 5-10 years you do hardware upgrades. I see milenials buy this for their kids, cause they have a giant steam library themselves, and they don't hav to touch daddy's main rig to play games x) And pc games are most of the time more cheap than the console version.
Steam Machines were overpriced and underpowered. Now however we have Proton and thousands of verified games. Of course once Steam OS is launched anyone can make A Steam console.
I really want SteamOS to be released. I think that's what a lot of people are waiting for. That being said, I doubt that the improvements with Proton are enough to turn the tide. A lot of people who play competitive multiplayer games will skip because of anticheat incompatibility (though that partially is because of devs).
I just want to say thank you all for your comments. You gave me a lot to think about. I'm still skeptical about how well a second Steam Machine would sell (IF that's even what we're getting, as a few of you mentioned), but I'm a little more optimistic about it.
The Steam Deck is basically a steam machine kid. And it is very successful!
I don’t think it’s that simple. I purchased a steam deck because I lack the ability to make one. The 3 primary tv’s in my house along with my desk and my wife’s all have desktop pcs (fudging the numbers a little because 2 of the TVs are connected to the same pc, which also acts as a server for family photos/videos.) the point being people don’t need steam to build them a small form computer, and most of the people that want that can do it themselves.
@@RJN9008 i built both of my PCs and have been running linux since 2004. I will still buy a new steam machine and I think it would be a good option for normies as well
@@RJN9008You dont need that, if valve releases steam controller 2 with same trackpads and could give me steamdeck experience on big screen i would totally want that, note that you can get way more performance on weaker hardware when you get device on linux configured for gaming
Yes, but you can't easily build your own portable steamdeck like PC. There something different to offer rather than just a PC you connect to a TV.
True, but I think it's success is highly relative. In the handheld PC market, absolutely. But compared with consoles, it's a flop (not that the Steam Deck is or should be competing with them).
Its because many people are moving from windows to linux, steam is trying to cap on the linux market share considering it went from less than 1% to over 3% in the past couple years.
Unfortunately, I think there's a limit to how much the needle will be moved. Most people will not try something knew if they're familiar for something for a long time. Unless something major happens, they're unlikely to switch from whatever they're using. Windows is too ingrained in people's lives. At best, Linux will hit 9%, but I see 6% or 7% being the realistic number.
@iamxeracon the major thing happening is Microsoft starting to charge for their services. Look up how they are extending support for windows 10 and their plans for windows 11. You pay a yearly rate just to be able to receive updates for your computer. If they keep going with their terrible business practices many more will move over. I feel
@@Deny-defend-depose420 Yes, Microsoft is shameful for the practices being used, but people tolerate a lot of things. Microsoft continues to push bloat and spyware, but most people don't care as long as they can still do what they usually do (because that's all they know). I would love to see Linux with a 27% share but I know it isn't realistic. Too many people don't care to switch.
we're at about 4.5% and according to bloomberg we're gonna overcome 5% before the end of Q1 2025
@peppefailla1630 according to global stat tracker, Linux is at 4.05%, if you include chrome os, then Linux is already at 6.29%. Linux is climbing but it's got a long way to go (unless you want to talk servers)
very much needed: more and more people are getting fed up with windows, specifically because microsoft is taking ownership away from the end user, and the usual privacy concerns.
the reason people stick with windows is because it's the best gaming OS, or was, until the steam deck released, proving that under the right circumstances, gaming on linux is almost indistinguishable from gaming on windows.
making a high power steam deck (like the steam machine) would be a boon for probably millions of users that want to game on pc, without depending on windows.
Yeah, I do know that there are people waiting for a desktop version of SteamOS.
I certainly think a new Steam Machine has a place in the market, as the console market has never really been weaker than it is right now. Nintendo has long since carved out their own parallel market which doesn't directly compete with Xbox or Playstation. Xbox is currently in the process of evaporating their brand in order to turn everything into a subscription service (including Windows itself in some cases) - partly because they recognize the threat that Proton presents to Windows as an exclusive development platform. This is where Microsoft's priorities lay right now - NOT in competing with Sony. The only time that Microsoft has ever been concerned with Sony was when Sony was trying to pass off their PS2 as having an upgrade path to a livingroom PC. Though, this turned out to mostly be smoke and mirrors to skirt European import tariffs on luxury electronics.
Sony is really the only player left in the traditional console space... and their position is tenuous. Their bread and butter marquee titles which sell their platform now take so long to create and cost so much money, that it's nearly now at an unsustainable point - and costs are only going to keep rising going into next generation. Sony has had to release their games on PC to bring up the profit margin to an acceptable level - but this also reduces demand for Playstation hardware, as you can now play them elsewhere. Though unlike Microsoft, Sony can't afford to make their console into a loss leader for another initiative. Playstation is by far Sony's largest profit maker, and if Playstation crumbles - the entire corporation will splinter apart and likely go down with it.
So Valve has a fantastic opportunity right now to release a "consoleized" PC that plays both Xbox and Playstation games - as well as the existing library of PC titles stretching back 40 years and emulation thanks to near effortless setup thanks to third party plugins like Decky Loader. They are the only platform capable of overcoming the "digital headstart" that Sony received in the last generation (Phil has already admitted that Xbox lost that race). Whereas the previous Steam machine had poor compatibility and no hardware reference from which third parties could build on - a new Steam Machine with Proton would "just work" with pretty much everything out of the box with very little tinkering and provide developers with a hardware profile to target for pre-configured graphics optimization and patches.
Will it be a success or not? Maybe, but there has never been a better time for Valve to strike.
That's a good argument. I didn't think about the console market being so different from what it once was that it could give Valve some kind of foothold in making its own niche in the market. And who knows, if Valve is successful, maybe we could see other companies make their own "PC consoles."
The console market is perhaps the weakest it's ever been right now. I have a desktop PC in my living room right now as a result. It's me, I'm the target audience. That said, I largely agree with concerns on upgradability. It would see an even stronger market if they ended up using a mini-ITX form factor with normal PC parts and 2-3 default presets. Even so, thanks to the current state of Proton, the average Steam user has access to more controller compatible games than any Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo console ever will, which even a non-upgradable machine could run for the rest of its life.
The real question is how upgradability will affect price. If they can get a competitive machine on the shelf for $500, they will sell, upgradable or not.
I think it hinges on software support and setup. I've definitely wanted a steam machine for a while. I've built a fair few PCs but the reason I haven't built a "console PC" is because holo iso has no support, steam OS doesn't really exist yet, and hardware is expensive.
bazzite is a fine options for what you are looking for
I can see a point to a steam machine now. Hell I could back then. In essence the point was to get console gamers who don't CARE about upgrades and want a more console-like experience a way into the PC game market. However back then it had two MAJOR issues worked against it back then.
1) Windows compatibility was garbage back then, meaning most games on Steam could NOT be played on the steam machines. With proton as it is now, that is simply not the case anymore.
2) Valve made the same mistake 3DO made back in the day: they licensed out the standards and let everyone else make the hardware without getting involved. For 3DO, this meant a whole bunch of machines in the console market not making money on their software library, so they wound up charging the full price of the hardware to make their money and consoles that were 3X the cost or more of the main competition. Doesn't matter how advanced they were, that killed them when going up against the SNES and Genesis. Same thing happened to first Steam machines against the PS3 and 360.
This time, however, Valve is stepping in, which means they also set a standard price others will have to get somewhat in line with to compete. This is a correction we've already seen the effect of on the Steam Deck... before it existed, handheld PCs were already out there, but they were 2-3X what they are now that the hardware makers have to compete in price on what was once a niche market but has been cracked wide open. Between that and console getting more expensive, I think they've got a shot if they can get their box within striking distance of what a console costs today (so $500-$700).
Those are some good points. The second one is especially interesting to me. A $600 Steam machine now would be more palatable than back then. Thank you for this insight!
Since the Ally and other Windows handheld PCs got big, people have been trying to get SteamOS on there. Bazzite and Chimera are great but they're not quite there, and they require some faffing. This would allow people to have nore powerful devices running SteamOS out of the box, you could even release multiple SKUs of the same handheld bundled with either Windows or SteamOS on it
You're talking a lot about desktop, I doubt this is what it's for. I'm sure we will get some Steam Machines in the same way that we have Android boxes geared at gaming, its not what the OS is designed for but there certain is a niche for it. But having Ally/Legion power with official SteamOS is a potential game changer
That would be cool if that's what they're doing. It would open up a lot of options for users. At the same time, I do hope that development for SteamOS goes beyond handhelds so people can download it on desktop.
Upgrades aren't as much of a concern depending on the price point. The main reason consoles are usually better optimized is because it has a set hardware for developers to work with. A steam console would be awesome and allow for people to move away from windows and hopefully many more developers can build with Linux and steam.os in mind.
I thought they had moved on from this with the Steam Deck. Are we sure that's what they mean?
As I had heard it, they were looking towards putting SteamOS on other devices, which makes sense. If you install SteamOS, you're probably using the Steam Store to buy games and it being a free alternative to Windows means PC gaming becomes more accessible as Windows costs upwards of $100+ for a single key.
Perhaps, perhaps not. I'm not on Twitter, so I can't scavenge through Brad's page to see if there's any other information that he has. I can only only work with what I have. Based on the article and the one post I have, a new console seems to be the case. But if they aren't making one, then we'll find out later on. I'm waiting for the full release of SteamOS, though!
Would buy right away
Truth be told (especially after going through all the replies), so would I.
Oh boy if this is needed. They're not aiming at the pc market, but at the console market. They want to compete with Sony and (mostly) Microsoft, showing them how to succeed into building an ecosystem and succeeding in what even Microsoft hasn't been able to do. David vs Goliath basically
I don't fully agree. I think this is the perfect type of product for someone who'd normally just use a console. Most people aren't technical enough to build their own computer and buying a prebuilt is usually an iffy venture. Plus it still requires you at least have the knowledge of the parts you're buying, which someone new to PCs won't have a clue. Like how is someone with only a background with using Xbox supposed to know what an RTX 4080 is? Or how about the difference between an Intel 14900K vs an AMD 9800x?
I know as PC gamers we always assume it's not so bad as we already do it, but PC gaming is rather enthusiast. I think this could be the PC they could have if they want one. Plus using SteamOS could take out a lot of the flaws and bugs that Windows tends to have. Losing out on a few games due to Linux likely doesn't matter to those type of people anyways as they're already used to Xbox or Playstation missing out on games.
And upgradability also means nothing to them. These people would never touch their own hardware and are the type to send it to a repair shop instead. If they don't have the confidence to open it up, they're never going to upgrade the hardware. And we do have laptops with upgradability like the Framework, but I don't think most people care about it. Again upgrading and taking apart your hardware is very enthusiast. I don't even expect random people to do the bare minimum of installing a new SSD in it.
The "plug and play" aspect would be useful for a console gamer. But I think because of that that they won't have any idea of what Linux is and how it differentiates with Windows. They'll think "Oh, an easy way to play PC games?" and buy one without knowing that many popular competitive games might not be compatible (some I blame on the devs for not enabling support when it's possible or disabling support, like GTA Online).
I would like them to know what they're signing up for before making the switch to a Linux-based system. While I would like more people to use it, I think jumping in without any idea of the differences between it and Windows would arguably make things worse.
And I agree that upgradability would be more of an enthusiast thing, at the end of the day, a Steam Machine is a PC. And even if a user doesn't want to upgrade it, the option to upgrade it should still be present.
Yeah, I’ve been hearing the same rumor and the first ones weren’t very powerful.
Yeah, they're quite weak. And even worse, Nvidia has long since dropped support for those GPUs, and since there are no open-source drivers for them, there's little chance for them to run games within the past five years.
I honestly love my Steam Machines still. They’re Alienware Alpha’s, and they make fantastic closet servers for the house
@@iamxeracon they stopped supporting a product that came out 10 years ago? Color me shocked!
@@loz9324 That goes into the issue I have with the design of the system (and the potential design of the rumored one. Without the ability to upgrade the hardware like a normal PC, these systems will lose out on the maximum longevity they could have. I'm not saying users should upgrade, but the option should be there.
This steam machine very well has a place. Console users are getting screwed over on xbox as well as ps5. Steam prices are really good tbh. Not everybody also wants to buy or build a PC and mess with Windows. This is exactly for that.
You might say use Linux, but no it isnt exactly user friendly. Prepare to use a Terminal.
Steam machine itself is looking like a plug and play solution.
I myself am most interested in the newer Steam Controller 2. Other stuff this will probably cause, maybe even at the high end trying to compete with Sony, which pretty much runs the console monopoly, its good for consumers.
Increasing the relevance of Linux in the gaming sphere is also good, since well who the heck enjoys using Windows honestly?
Valve is also pretty much one of the last companies with some dignity and transparency.
They have very good refund policies and i am sure they would treat consumers better than Sony or Microsoft.
I can agree for the most part. There are some very pro-consumer practices on Steam (and PC in general). And while a Steam machine 2 would help boost the Linux market share (as the Steam Deck already has), I don't think this would do a whole lot. At best, Linux would be 9%, and I feel like that's being generous. A lot of people don't want to lose access to games that are incompatible due to anti-cheat.
The one thing I'll disagree though is that Linux isn't user friendly (or at least that it can't be). It's simple enough to use it without ever touching the terminal. Most programs needed can be installed via the GUI package installer that came with their desktop environment as well as updates, and if most people know how to use an app store on their phone, they can use that. I only use a terminal if there's something really specific that I want like a developing project. But Pop OS! is a great OS for newcomers.
If they make a steam machine 2 its not a pc it’s for lazy people like me that just wants a console for steam I am the lazy lol
i think the beauty of it will be that its for both enthusiasts AND normies. a lot of enthusiasts will buy anything valve puts out whether they need to or not.
@ I don’t even like that I had to open my ps5 up to add a ssd I like how Microsoft did it with like the memory card idea simple easy stupid that’s a big reason I have not got into pc it’s just a lot to get into and consoles are just plug in and play well PlayStation kinda always been a lil more complicated to me then xbox but still not pc level
I hate everything about pc other than pc gaming, upgrading them is boring and a hassle, I’d rather use a mac for anything other than gaming one of the reasons I abandoned pc gaming
a 600 dollar box that plays steam games and can boot Linux for some extra functionality would be a welcome change from the stale console landscape after Microsoft and Sonys limp wristed efforts over the last 2 generations
The one issue that I have is that console gamers might not understand what they would be getting themselves into. While I love Linux, people might be confused or angry because they can't play Fortnite, Rainbow Six, Apex Legends, or any other competitive game that uses an incompatible anticheat.
If you are creating a whole new os, convincing developpers to make it run smooth on SteamOS. You want to run your OS on multiple platforms. If the price is right they Playstation and Xbox will have some competition. And every 5-10 years you do hardware upgrades. I see milenials buy this for their kids, cause they have a giant steam library themselves, and they don't hav to touch daddy's main rig to play games x) And pc games are most of the time more cheap than the console version.
Oh, and with the recent family share feature that would really help!
@@iamxeracon Yeah, indeed, I heart first of it this week, nice of Steam :D
Steam Machines were overpriced and underpowered.
Now however we have Proton and thousands of verified games.
Of course once Steam OS is launched anyone can make A Steam console.
I really want SteamOS to be released. I think that's what a lot of people are waiting for. That being said, I doubt that the improvements with Proton are enough to turn the tide. A lot of people who play competitive multiplayer games will skip because of anticheat incompatibility (though that partially is because of devs).