A new steam link would have been nice
Ya know what's crazy? I got a Steam link when it became available and it barely worked because my computer and router sucked more than I realized at the time. Then last year someone made a video about it and said how awesome it was and I remembered I had it and plugged it in.
They were right! It still works great, and since I've upgraded everything since then, I now know my computer was the bottleneck back then. I'm curious what new features a new Steam link could add to make it worth a whole new device at this point.
This rumor has been going around for a few months now, mostly because of some commits targeting new unknown hardware to SteamOS afaik.
I hope the rumor is true, I love my steamdeck but something a bit more powerful that allows me to play Steam games in 4k on my TV would be awesome. If they run the same exact OS as on the steamdeck you could even do stuff like ad-free youtube using Firefox.
but something a bit more powerful that allows me to play Steam games in 4k on my TV would be awesome.
I got news for you! You can literally build a computer to do this right now, no need to wait for steam.
I know that. I want something ready to go with a dedicated controller and not fiddle around with components myself that may run too hot or are too noisy etc.
Good news: pre-built PCs are also a thing.
Pre-built PCs come with Windows and are not suited for a console-like experience out of the box like a machine with a preinstalled OS for gaming (whether that be SteamOS, Orbis (PS4/5), Horizon (Nintendo Switch), or Xbox's OS).
Not everyone is comfortable with installing their own OS/deleting Windows either, regardless of how easy it is.
Something like a Steam Machine 2 can really appeal to console gamers who want to dip their toe into PC gaming while still maintaining a console-like experience.
Yeah I get all of that. I'm just saying if you want to do it, you can, today. And it's not even terribly complicated.
technically? yes
but don’t act like it’d be the same
aesthetics, build quality, assurance that it’d all work smoothly, the whole experience just wouldn’t be the same
which is to say nothing about the fact that SteamOS doesn’t really work on hardware that’s dissimilar to the steamdeck… if they released a console, one would assume it would have higher specs
aesthetics, build quality, assurance that it’d all work smoothly, the whole experience just wouldn’t be the same
You're right, it'd probably be way better...and it would be customized to your preferences and price point.
which is to say nothing about the fact that SteamOS doesn’t really work on hardware that’s dissimilar to the steamdeck…
You're right again, you could use Bazzite or Nobara or Chimera and have an even better experience. Ask me how I know.
Do you want some eggs? I got news for you! You can literally build a chicken shed right now, no need to wait for farmers.
Seriously, the same captain obvious answer all the time when a Steam console is mentioned. It’s infuriating. Consoles exist for a reason, to provide a ready and verified environment for playing games without any fiddling.
Can I build a chicken? That's the real question..
Please don't fuck a chicken
I would argue that's no longer the case.
I was a long time console gamer, for exactly the reasons you mentioned- no fiddling. I was time-poor, so I wanted to be able to slip the cartridge/disc in, and just play.
Those days are gone, my friend. I turn my console on less and less. Every time I do, I need to download game updates. But I can't do that unless I download the system update. I need to sign in to various networks just to be able to do this. Usually with a paid subscription.
There's also been some arm SoC work by valve, could be they're gearing up for a new SteamStation, could be that they're opening up SteamOS for 3rd party manufacturers like Lenovo. Only time will tell.
Steam Machine 3: This time it's personal.
Instead of the Electric Boogalo, it's the Steam Dreamaroo.
Good things come in 3s....
Not at valve they dont
Again?
Third time's the charm. Well, in their case second time was the charm, the steamdeck was such a success that I understand the decision to try out the steam machines idea once again.
If they build it as an actual console rather than the previous thing where anyone could put out a PC, install SteamOS on it, and call it a Steam Machine, then it will probably be genuinely competitive with Xbox. Sure, it'll still be a standard X86-64 system running Linux, but they need brand control.
The article has been updated, this isn't true unfortunately.
Instant pre-order for me. Steamdeck has been by far my favorite gaming console but TV performance is only good for low requirement games and I'd love the same experience for proper 4k gaming even if it's medium fidelity.
Overall, this makes sense. We've kind of acted like console gaming is somehow separate from computer gaming because of consoles exclusive monopolies on various titles, but it's become much clearer over time that it's actually PC which has been gather exclusive titles by... just... Being easy to develop for with no requirement to port? It looks more and more like we're seeing PC taking over the gaming space more and more. Hopefully valve can pull this off right.
There are still advantages to a fixed platform like the Steam Deck. It makes a fixed hardware platform to optimize for. Anything that runs on Deck should also run on another PC.
Likewise, a Steam Box that was popular enough would provide a target hardware platform with higher spec.
Most hardware manufacturers will have too high paced a release schedule, so unlikely to provide a stable hardware spec.
This could be nice for folks that want a console-like living room experience that "just works".
Me? I built a Linux HTPC a dozen years ago and have periodically updated the graphics card (it gets the hand-me-downs from my main gaming PC) so I don't need this. I'm far more interested in a Steam Controller 2 😄
I run Bazzite HTPC Version on my gaming rig, i would consider this the best console experience nowadays. A huge amount of games, no need to rebuy games i allready owned on a previous PC and most games run out of the box just fine.
I'm not the target for such device, I play on my PC and on the Deck when on the couch. But I wish the rumor is true, it will boost PC gaming as a whole
Something something steam link…
I'm not sure what would be the point. Isn't it "just" a PC with Steam OS running on it? Would it be to help people just default to SteamOS?
Having a popular, standardized pc with fixed hardware and OS would enable game developers to aim that as minimum(or recommended) requirement and to optimize their games for that. And since it will be running linux, this means that gaming in linux would become even more mainstream and better supported too.
Also being theoretically not portable, it could be more powerful than the Steam Deck making emulation even easier.
aren't the other consoles just pcs with custom os?
Kinda, but not quite. The main difference, imo, is that consoles have several anti-tampering measures in place, often as exclusive hardware, to ensure owners don't jailbreak. The PC is, by design, open and "unsafe", without measures to stop owners from doing whatever.
When the first Steam Machines were announced years ago, I assumed they'd all be running the same hardware like consoles do, and I thought that was actually quite a good idea because it could give game devs a sort of "baseline" set of hardware to aim for, as opposed to the sort of "vaguely make it run on Windows" system we seem to have currently. So if the new ones are all more-or-less the same kit like the Steam Decks are, and they take off well enough, it could be handy in that way I guess.
Plus it'll presumably run SteamOS so more Linux exposure which I always appreciate.
Optimization profiles for games to target the specific hardware. It would be for people that want a steam deck like device that isn’t portable. Which would probably sell more units than a steam deck now. If priced right I would put it in my living room. It just needs to have the QOL that comes with console for couch gaming.
Ok. And how much will it cost?
From reddit:
is this trust worthy?
Extasis mentions this guy handledeck as the source
https://xcancel.com/HandleDeck/status/1886501899832021224#m
which links to this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgKzbHIWDK4
which just mentions this article https://www.phoronix.com/news/Mesa-25.0-RADV-RDNA4-State
saying: "by reading this article carefully we can come up to the conclusion that..."
Seems all bullshit.
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