There's a whole bunch of hints and speculation going around right now, showing that Valve may be working towards a new kind of Steam Machine. Suddenly, their new Steam Controller 2 that was leaked, along with the new SteamOS branding guidelines make a whole lot more sense if this is true.
While the SteamOS branding mentions third-party vendors using it, and we know they're working towards releasing SteamOS for other hardware vendors for their handhelds, having a standard way to show it also helps Valve keep it the same across multiple of their own devices.
As for the Steam Controller 2, it makes even more sense with this because otherwise the target for people to buy it would have been reasonably small. Sure there's all the people with a Steam Deck, but it would be only a percentage of people with one that would buy a Steam Controller 2, and a lot of other people on PC already have their preferred gamepad. So, having a fresh Steam Machine would pretty much need a dedicated controller, unless Valve bundled it with a third-party controller, but that leaves Valve at the mercy of another hardware vendor on features and support.
The speculation and leaks on some form of new Steam Machine from Valve come initially from a Reddit post, where a user pointed out a change to the Linux kernel used by Steam Deck / SteamOS. It mentions a change for HDMI CEC for Fremont, with code that references AMD Lilac. Lilac on Geekbench being a mixture of different AMD chips like the Ryzen 8540U and Ryzen 7735HS.
On X / Twitter, VR enthusiast Brad Lynch mentioned in a thread after more digging through Valve's code noting "But also that Quanta Computer, Valve’s Steam Deck manufacturer, is giving feedback on it" and "All references to Fremont ensure checks for a full-size HDMI Type-A port you’d see on TV-focused consoles and other desktop computers that don’t have a dedicated GPU with its own HDMI ports". Lynch is the one that has been covering a lot of the leaks for the upcoming Valve Deckard VR headset.
November next year will also mark 10 years since Valve's original Steam Machine launch. That would be a pretty good time for Valve to announce something don't you think?
Things have changed dramatically since the original failure of the Steam Machine launch, which kicked off Valve's effort on everything that made up the Steam Deck. We have Proton now, the real important bit, which runs tens of thousands of Windows games and Proton compatibility is continuously improving to the point where so many games really do just work (but we still have the anti-cheat problem). We have another big update to Proton 9 coming soon too.
It's going to be really interesting to see what becomes of all this. Very exciting time to be a Linux / SteamOS gamer.
What do you think this is all for? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Viesta2015 5 days ago
If this supports VR... this will be the ultimate budget PC VR. :)
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Quoting: kuhpunktI don't see how this makes any sense...
A Steam Deck 2, but plugged in? It looks like it's a PC with a new AMD APU. What does that have to do with the Steam Deck being released in Australia?
Basically, assuming this Steam Machine 2 has nothing to do with VR, its better performance would essentially make the Steam Deck redundant, which would be a shame since it just released in Australia.
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I seem to remember when the original Xbox came into the console market, people were saying similar things to what I've heard now: hardly anyone is gonna want a PC in a box that plugs into your TV... Yet here we are.
I stopped buying consoles (except the Switch, for my son) once Valve started supporting Linux. I don't have any interest in getting a new Sony or Microsoft system, but I would be very interested in a Valve one, for the right price and specs. And I've been using a PC hooked up to my TV as a game console ever since Big Picture Mode came out.
More than anything, I am mostly interested in the controller, though. I have one of the first Steam Controllers, and it was good, but the Steam Deck's design is more comprehensive. At the very least, I'll get one, and if it's good, I'll replace all my DualShock 4s with them. And possibly the Steam console, too.
I stopped buying consoles (except the Switch, for my son) once Valve started supporting Linux. I don't have any interest in getting a new Sony or Microsoft system, but I would be very interested in a Valve one, for the right price and specs. And I've been using a PC hooked up to my TV as a game console ever since Big Picture Mode came out.
More than anything, I am mostly interested in the controller, though. I have one of the first Steam Controllers, and it was good, but the Steam Deck's design is more comprehensive. At the very least, I'll get one, and if it's good, I'll replace all my DualShock 4s with them. And possibly the Steam console, too.
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Quoting: PyreticQuoting: kuhpunktI don't see how this makes any sense...
A Steam Deck 2, but plugged in? It looks like it's a PC with a new AMD APU. What does that have to do with the Steam Deck being released in Australia?
Basically, assuming this Steam Machine 2 has nothing to do with VR, its better performance would essentially make the Steam Deck redundant, which would be a shame since it just released in Australia.
Don't forget - you could always remote play on the Deck to whatever this new box is, too. Would probably even save a ton of battery life! 😉
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Quoting: PyreticQuoting: kuhpunktI don't see how this makes any sense...
A Steam Deck 2, but plugged in? It looks like it's a PC with a new AMD APU. What does that have to do with the Steam Deck being released in Australia?
Basically, assuming this Steam Machine 2 has nothing to do with VR, its better performance would essentially make the Steam Deck redundant, which would be a shame since it just released in Australia.
Why would it make a Steam Deck redundant?! It wouldn't. It would be a powerful stationary device. The point of a Steam Deck is having a mobile device.
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Quoting: CatKillerThere wouldn't be much demand for it with exclusives, either, and neither Valve nor Steam customers like exclusives.
i know a lot of people hate the pratice of making exclusive games, but hating something dont change the facts, and the facts are: exclusive games sell hardware.
im not saying i support this pratice or we should support.
the issue is not that exclusives dont sell, the issue is that valve isnt in the market of making games, they barely make anything and when then do its all in the same genres of moba or shooters.
if they were more like nintendo having an famous franchise in each genre or made exclusivity deals like that, they would sell a lot.
Quoting: CatKillerThe market would be "people that want an HTPC but don't want to set up an HTPC." That's pretty small - HTPCs are pretty easy to set up.the issue is that you are seeing this as "the market of htpc" not, the market of gaming devices for the living room.
how do you explain that playstation 4 sold hundreds of millions? not to mention, steamdeck have much more games than nintendo switch, and AAA games while switch barely have any AAA beside nintendo own games, but switch sell in a month what the deck sell in a year, how do you explain that?
you are saying that the market of HTPC is small , but you ignore WHY its small, if the price was the only reason then switch shouldnt be outselling the steam deck that much.
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Quoting: kaktuspalmeWhat makes it a success compared to creating your own HTPC:5. it need to be a silent device as well
1. Standardized hardware, meaning, game creators can create custom profiles like they do for the steam deck.
2. You don't have to build it yourself
3. Probably competitive pricing
4. Perfect support for things like CEC and bluetooth wake up. Turning on the steam controller turns on the console and the TV.
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Quoting: kuhpunktThe point of a Steam Deck is having a mobile device.
Fair point.
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ElectricPrism 4 days ago
Quoting: liamdThings have changed dramatically since the original failure of the Steam Machine launch [...]
Quoting: elmapul[...] since the steam machines floped [...]
I'm not complaining, 10 years ago Valve laid the foundation for technologies which have had millions of sales and increased the Linux gaming catalog by ten thousand plus. An itteration of the SteamOS software platfom is also part of the current success of Steam Deck and future devices.
For for sensationalism, and engagement purposes the sky is always falling ;D And maybe for a cool comeback story?
Quoting: elmapul[...] jokes aside im not sure there is demand for it without exclusives [...]
I postulate that exclusives are not necessary as long as the Mainline Device outperforms other options. Case & Point -- Half-Life Alyx + Valve Index.
If the experience on other devices is sub-optimal -- then optimal experience will drive sales even without exclusivity. This was the case when iPad & iTunes experience on Windows was slow, crashie, and bad in the early 2000s which led to the sale of iMacs for people who wanted a better iTunes and therefore iPod experience.
The Valve Index experience is just better -- Valve Steam Deck is just better.
Historically too it was part Alienware's fault -- apparantly they had a decent amount of hardware problems which Valve got the bad flack for when really it was just Dell not having their devices completely baked yet.
Quoting: CatKillerThe market would be "people that want an HTPC but don't want to set up an HTPC." That's pretty small
I wouldn't underestimate the market -- for example PlayStation 2 and Xbox were both purchased in hundreds of millions of units primarily because it was also a DVD player -- later PlayStation 3 was similarly purchased to double as a BluRay player.
Additionally, a lot of people when they use a Living Room game console ask for things like "Web Browser", "Netflix", etc... as seen in the advent of Smart TV drawing sales.
Quoting: CatKillerIt could make the primary interface Steam rather than Kodi for some folks, though, especially if they can integrate some Kodi-style functions into Steam.
My experience with Kodi has been abysmal. I still can't really find a optimal remote that does all the functions without a hundred extra buttons. (Are you listening Valve? Maybe make a Valve Remote please?)
The amount of time required to research addons and configure Kodi is too much of a entry barrier. I would rather save my time and throw money at something to save me my time. I would even buy Kodi Plus or something if it meant a system that went toe to toe with SmartTV functions without the nonsense in a FOSSy way. It's totally okay to sell FOSS @Kodi. (Eg: Redhat, Ubuntu, Linux Autos, etc..)
Quoting: CatKillerThey've learned some useful lessons from the Steam Machines, of course. They've got their own hardware expertise and pipeline now, so they aren't reliant on OEMs [...] They've got Proton now, so they've got 80-90% of the Steam catalogue working without relying on game devs, rather than the ~40% that game devs managed last time.
Excellent points. Having those manufacturing industry channels and professional resources really has paved the way for Steam Deck, and for future achivements. Which is why this is a really exciting prospect even if it is just speculation at this point.
Quoting: CatKillerI don't expect it to be a big seller. Even with Valve managing to keep the price low with Steam revenue and modest economies of scale.
From the Valve interviews I recall that they were very modest and Steam Deck sales exceeded their expectations quite a lot.
I think they will approach the market with this same modesty and probing it will reveal at least millions of sales if the price is able to be competitive.
Quoting: kaktuspalmeValve proved they can create a console like experience on handhelds.
They can do it for sure now on stationary consoles too.
[...] there's the rumor about the new Steam Controller. That fits perfectly into the picture. [...]
Edit:
What makes it a success compared to creating your own HTPC:
Yes.
Quoting: kaktuspalme11. Standardized hardware, meaning, game creators can create custom profiles like they do for the steam deck.
Exactly. Having hardware helps developers zero and provide a consistent experience. Computers are thousands of times more powerful than 20 years ago, standardization really helps developers and customers.
Quoting: kaktuspalme2. You don't have to build it yourself
Enthusiasts may underestimate the value of this. Building a few servers or desktops can be fun as an enthusiast, but as a job after a few dozen it gets tiring and the hours required to prepare, oranize, build, troubleshoot all these machines is multiplied the more devices you own -- there is a serious advantage of just being able to offload that work, and making sure everything is compatible -- for a lot of people it is well worth a small cost difference, plus a standard warranty. Again, excellent points.
Quoting: kaktuspalme3. Probably competitive pricing
I know Gabe Newell called Steam Deck competitive pricing "painful" but if they could make a Steam Machine v3 (I'm skipping 2 as SteamOS is v3) -- have competitive pricing, it could really multiply uptake as it has in the case of Steam Deck. I am hopeful the base model costs about 499.
Quoting: kaktuspalme4. Perfect support for things like CEC and bluetooth wake up. Turning on the steam controller turns on the console and the TV.
It's possible to achieve those things with building a HTPC yourself, but it's way harder to get it to the comfort level of like a Playstation. Things like CEC usually don't even work on normal AMD and Nvidia GPUs.
To go along with that point -- I would like to see new Valve Consoles double as a Wireless Access Point -- this will alow Steam Deck players to link up to the Console for multiplayer games in situations where a person doesn't have a wireless router, the technology could be extended to Steam Decks interlinking without a wifi router as well when mobile.
Quoting: Viesta2015If this supports VR... this will be the ultimate budget PC VR. :)
Very true. That could increase the value of the device significantly for a "Plug & Play" VR experience without wires.
Quoting: Viesta2015Don't forget - you could always remote play on the Deck to whatever this new box is, too. Would probably even save a ton of battery life! 😉
I do this regularly with CyberPunk 2077 -- 7900 in the Workstation does a great job at crunching the graphics and serving to the Steam Deck.
Also, Steam Deck isn't going anyware, it's an amazing controller to play games well worth using just sitting in front of a Gaming PC or a Gaming TV. (Maybe the Steam Deck touch screen should be the Kodi Remote I have been seeking)
Quoting: elmapulQuoting: CatKillerThe market would be "people that want an HTPC but don't want to set up an HTPC." That's pretty small - HTPCs are pretty easy to set up.the issue is that you are seeing this as "the market of htpc" not, the market of gaming devices for the living room.
how do you explain that playstation 4 sold hundreds of millions?
Exactly. Marketing is like that -- "The Cloud", "AI" pulls billions of dollars of investment money. "HTPC" as a buzz-marketing-word is no longer being worked in the same way you don't hear "Palm Pilot" or those mini windows handeld things.
Quoting: elmapulnot to mention, steamdeck have much more games than nintendo switch, and AAA games while switch barely have any AAA beside nintendo own games, but switch sell in a month what the deck sell in a year
Another good point -- I personally want to bring my purchases and content with me. This is a valuable feature, and Nintendo games although attuned to the hardware well have visibly inferior graphic that are slightly annoying.
Somewhere in their Japan HQ they lost the spark and might as well be IBM now, cold, soulless, not gamers, just businessmen tonedeaf and astranged from their customers and products in some bureaucratic five-eyes hell. (Eg: the Pokemon Go Scandal)
It's no wonder Xbox has had no trouble for a while eating their lunch -- not that I follow the console wars closely anymore -- PC is just better.
If it is a new Steam Console, With careful planning, and skilled work, I have no doubt Valve will hit another homerun seeing what they've done with Steam Deck.
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