OneXPlayer looking at shipping handhelds with SteamOS like the Steam Deck

so...
it started!

the oem revolution is here!

i know we had some micro consoles with linux or android before, but i think steamOS will take things to the next level, valve bet is starting to pay of.

maybe things will be like with android x windows, microsoft didnt lose their dominance on the desktop, yet android surpassed then in the user count growing in another class of device.

maybe video game consoles will be the next battleground, or maybe the desktop market will shake, i dont care the result, the future looks bright!

[edit]
ok i could swear they were a bigger company, but i can foresee companies like alienware being the next to enter this market.


Last edited by elmapul on 31 March 2022 at 1:43 pm UTC

I'm happy that Steam's tech is being adopted by other handheld manufacturers - reaping the benefits of FOSS, so to speak.

But I must say I find these expensive devices kind of a dead end. At that price point you are more or less competing with actual gaming PCs, that have a plethora of conveniences to offset not being portable - with the line a bit blurred for laptops, which are kind of portable. And also competing with phones/tablets, that are the mainstream portable devices, with lots of support, and have a lot of benefits to compensate not having access to x86 applications (i.e., Windows games). The subset of games that people would rather play on portable than on a full PC, but can't get (or a similar game) on a tablet, and that require such high-end hardware, might not justify the cost.

A cheaper device might not run _all_ the games or have the bestest quality, but it just doesn't need to compete in the same way. It could appeal to all the people that don't know or don't care about the hardware differences, and be cheap enough that people can just get it in addition to their main gaming PC. There is a reason Valve and Nintendo made sacrifices to reach the more moderate price points.

There is a reason Valve and Nintendo made sacrifices to reach the more moderate price points.

completely agree, its just a matter of seeing PS3 lauch price and how it affected it.
or even the last gen PS4 vs xbox one, sony was selling much more than microsoft, due to (among other things) it being more powerfull and the marketing fiasco microsoft did at the begining of the gen.


microsoft removed xbox requirement puting the price on pair with ps4, and that was not enough, then they did an price cut of 50USD, and that was enough for a little bit, the reason why that was not enough is because sony followed their price cuts.

entrey cost is very important for an gaming device to sell tens of millions of units, more than the price of the games after the initial purchase it seems.


Last edited by elmapul on 31 March 2022 at 2:26 pm UTC

entrey cost is very important for an gaming device to sell tens of millions of units, more than the price of the games after the initial purchase it seems.

This and game availability are the two most important aspects imho - Deck has both

I think a lot of these handheld game device manufacturers are ecstatic over how the Steam Deck has legitimised the PC handheld game space.

From what I've read and watched folk enjoy the SteamOS interface, it integrates so much more nicely than what was previously possible with Windows based handhelds.

I think game device manufacturers really want a slice of that game oriented integration that SteamOS provides especially if Valve is footing the bill.

But I must say I find these expensive devices kind of a dead end. At that price point you are more or less competing with actual gaming PCs

I know, right? Same here. And yet, we have seen one kickstarter after another succeed (or indiegogo), and get funded in record time: AYA Neo, OneXPlayer, GPD Win, whatever, all more expensive.

Another thing that it's a serious question from me and I still don't get is: what is this device offering that is so important, that a small laptop cannot? What is the use case?

But I must say I find these expensive devices kind of a dead end.

It's a question of scale. The price per unit is vastly different if you're buying a thousand compared to if you're buying ten million, multiplied out by every component in your device.

Of course the price that Microsoft will charge you for an OEM licence is also a lot different if you say, "actually, we're thinking of using Linux instead," so the visibility of SteamOS will help these companies even if they decide to stick with Windows as a differentiator from the Steam Deck.

I think a lot of these handheld game device manufacturers are ecstatic over how the Steam Deck has legitimised the PC handheld game space.

Not all of them: the GPD boss went on a public rant about how the Deck was terrible because it couldn't run pirated games. I think he was feeling rather threatened by it.

Valve has previously stated they believe they've created a new category of PC gaming with the Deck, and they welcome the idea of other manufacturers shipping devices with SteamOS preinstalled. This will grow their market share.

It's been noticed by all that other manufacturers have a major disadvantage compared to Deck when it comes to hardware cost and value. I think Valve could do something about this if they truly wish to grow their marketplace.

Their own hardware is partially subsidized by the fact of them taking 30% from each game sold on their platform. They could also help other manufacturer's subsidize their hardware, in order to make it more competitively priced, thus growing Steam's market share.

I'd bet it would be in Valve's best interest to offer a share of that 30% for every game sold through SteamOS by another manufacturer's device. This could expire after a decided value was reached.

In this way they can encourage other manufacturers to join the handheld PC ecosystem, if their hardware is partially subsidized they can offer more aggressive pricing and thus sell more units. This in turn will grow Valve's market share.

Another thing that it's a serious question from me and I still don't get is: what is this device offering that is so important, that a small laptop cannot? What is the use case?

These devices let you play games while you're just holding the device. Laptops (especially gaming laptops) don't: the operation of those is the same as the old luggables - you can move them from one static location to another, which is an advantage over a big desktop, but you can't just play on them wherever.

but you can't just play on them wherever.

the toilet.. you mean the toilet.

But I must say I find these expensive devices kind of a dead end. At that price point you are more or less competing with actual gaming PCs

I know, right? Same here. And yet, we have seen one kickstarter after another succeed (or indiegogo), and get funded in record time: AYA Neo, OneXPlayer, GPD Win, whatever, all more expensive.

Another thing that it's a serious question from me and I still don't get is: what is this device offering that is so important, that a small laptop cannot? What is the use case?

we see a lot of sucessful kickstarters because there are a few people who are willing to pay for it, but if you take a look at the number of people who actually funded it, its not even close to the ammount of people who buy an nintendo, sony or microsoft console.
a few thousands vs tens of milions.

as for what they are offereing, have you ever hold an portable console or even an controller on your hand? they arent even comparable, that is like comparing using an phone to make an call to bringing your laptop to the streets and holding then next to your ear to make an call.

Another thing that it's a serious question from me and I still don't get is: what is this device offering that is so important, that a small laptop cannot? What is the use case?

Can't play on a laptop while standing up on the train*. Goodness knows I've spent enough days on Melbourne public transport where there was no place to sit in the past…

*At least, not without additional hardware and looking really goofy.


Last edited by Philadelphus on 16 July 2022 at 3:57 am UTC

Not all of them: the GPD boss went on a public rant about how the Deck was terrible because it couldn't run pirated games. I think he was feeling rather threatened by it.

Haha, what? Besides, why couldn't you run pirated games on the Deck? Removing the copy protection generally makes it easier to run things.

I was shocked when Pools of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor just worked out of the box with the CD check. I don't think it will even work on Windows 10.

But I must say I find these expensive devices kind of a dead end.

It's a question of scale. The price per unit is vastly different if you're buying a thousand compared to if you're buying ten million, multiplied out by every component in your device.

Yeah, it's not like any company can make a large "print run" to get cheaper costs (and dilute the costs of development, customized parts, and so on). But then you also need higher margins due to selling fewer units, and since it is going to be expensive anyway those companies just go all in and make it a high-end device, since they are going to market mostly to a small niche of people with a lot of money. There is a market for that, but it is severely limited.

I'm looking more for the equivalent of chromebooks for this form factor than for the equivalents of Alienware.

but you can't just play on them wherever.

the toilet.. you mean the toilet.

Sssh, don't reveal the Valves secret plan to make profit. Selling replacement devices for all those Decks that have been dropped into the toilet.

Haha, what? Besides, why couldn't you run pirated games on the Deck? Removing the copy protection generally makes it easier to run things.

Google translate

Therefore, although G fat verbally supports Windows (it seems that he has not found the source), some people think that G fat has lofty goals and ambitions in all directions. But I think you Naive, the pattern is broken, and you don't understand the logic of capital. Think about it, selling a hardware that supports Windows 10 to a player who plays pirated games without making money or even losing money, what does he want, just a smile from Bojun? No capital is going to lose money and make a profit.

but you can't just play on them wherever.

the toilet.. you mean the toilet.

Sssh, don't reveal the Valves secret plan to make profit. Selling replacement devices for all those Decks that have been dropped into the toilet.

Their next version of course will have IP68 rating...

I always thought that was how smart phones were thought up.

entrey cost is very important for an gaming device to sell tens of millions of units, more than the price of the games after the initial purchase it seems.

This and game availability are the two most important aspects imho - Deck has both

There is one other vital thing (which goes double for portable devices): The technology being able to fit into the user's life, instead of expecting the user to change their life to fit around the technology.

If anyone remembers the Rabbit mobile telephones that launched in the UK in the early 1990s and then quickly died out during the same period, those were an example of that very issue - it turned out that people didn't want a mobile-phone that couldn't take incoming calls and which required you to drive to specific locations and park close enough to them in order to (hopefully) place outgoing ones.

There is a reason Valve and Nintendo made sacrifices to reach the more moderate price points.

completely agree, its just a matter of seeing PS3 lauch price and how it affected it.
or even the last gen PS4 vs xbox one, sony was selling much more than microsoft, due to (among other things) it being more powerfull and the marketing fiasco microsoft did at the begining of the gen.


microsoft removed xbox requirement puting the price on pair with ps4, and that was not enough, then they did an price cut of 50USD, and that was enough for a little bit, the reason why that was not enough is because sony followed their price cuts.

entrey cost is very important for an gaming device to sell tens of millions of units, more than the price of the games after the initial purchase it seems.

But there's a reason why Sony, Microsoft and Valve afford to make something like this cheap, and others can't. They make money from games sold for the console too. So if, say, they make 0 money from selling the hardware it doesn't matter. Even if they lose a little bit it doesn't matter.

But a company that doesn't make any money from people buying games on Steam (but on their handheld) can't afford to bring the price down as much as Valve can. They could only compete in price if either they make their own store, or if Valve cuts them a check for people playing Steam games on their platform.

I was shocked when Pools of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor just worked out of the box with the CD check. I don't think it will even work on Windows 10.

I love that game, but is a bag of worms in terms of bugs, and usually was easier to get it working on wine than Windows ever since the days of Vista.

Alas, there are many older games that do require CD check that you have to use a noCD cracked exe


Last edited by Thetargos on 1 April 2022 at 2:12 pm UTC