Valve has missed the entire point with Steam Machines. Set to release this November 10, Steam Machines feels old and unexciting even before it has been released
You’re not having deja vu. Six years after launching a line of Linux game consoles that went down as one of the biggest tech flops of the past decade, Valve is trying once again. Only this time, its Steam Machine dreams and unusual touchpads have been rolled into a 7-inch handheld PC that looks and works like a Nintendo Switch.
Here are six reasons why this isn’t Steam Machines all over again — and, a few brand-new reasons to be skeptical.
Steam Deck comes from a company with a mixed reputation for hardware.
Valve may very well have a hit on its hands — but many fans thought the same thing back in 2014.
At least they're trying. They could just keep pulling an EGS. I think this is Valve's answer to cloud gaming, though. I don't think they want gamers streaming from the cloud, they want them on their storefront. So, if that's their reason, they'll likely support this more than they have past endeavors.
I feel they want to start the new era of portable PC gaming. They said they would offer the customized steam os for free to any companies that want to make their own portable machine.
Somebody had to get the ball rolling is what I took from that statement lol excited for the future with handhelds since I'm a primarily handheld gamer.
The hype around this thing is wild to me. It screams “new toy to use for a few months but then go play steam on my pc”
We will see. The market is unpredictable. You cannot rule out the power of a platform with good exclusive games and even when I don't support Nintendo anymore there is no denying the power of its exclusive games.
Valve, the company behind the Steam platform, spoke boldly about its SteamOS plans in the past. It was all about creating an operating system designed from the ground-up for gaming and adding this operating system to hardware known as Steam Machines.
Just you can build a better PC for the same money
That I can agree with. And that controller is horrendous.
I just never understood who would buy one of these. They are extremely overpriced for their specs, and lets be honest a Xbox One, or a PS4 for less money gives you the better experience. If you want a PC for gaming then build a PC for gaming, not one of these.
I think; and I may be wrong, that these are prepackaged PCs for people who don't know the ins and outs of building one. But want the power of a PC. Not having to worry about whether this or that is up to par with another component could be convenient for some.
I applaud them for their ambition.
But there are not that many good quality games that run on linux to warrant buying this machine.
I see it is a stepping stone to get PC gaming to the masses with 'ease', but they are missing a few of those stones...