*** Valve Steam Machine ***

I think I will get one... I'm embeded to the playstation ecco system and have had every console and handheld since the first playstation. There's just something about the ps5 that hasn't grabbed me, heck it took me ages to get a ps4 and I can still play a lot of new releases on it; if I wanted to... it's just not been used in nearly a year.

I have been thinking of getting the steam deck, as I been retro gaming on the miyoo mini plus a lot more in the past year and a half.... I really want to play some of the old retro pc games but the steam deck is just to big for me...

This steam machine looks like it's what I've been looking for as I was looking getting a NUC... if they release a smaller handheld that I can stream gaming from it, kinda vita and ps4/5 setup, it would be ideal.
 
I’ve got a 9th gen i9 and a rtx 2080, I’m contemplating it instead of upgrading my PC.
 
Steam Machine revival might be decent for those who want a console replacement with the steam library.
 
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They can take the controller and shove it - bought the last one, never again.

Steamdeck is nice (had one since 2022) but there's a shedload of newer games which are suitable (sports etc) and won't run because of anticheat/drm stuff. Its not something I'd recommend buying now - I've had plenty of fun out of it but the APU is 4 years old.

Steam machine? Ermm no thanks. Again we've heard this all before and the problem is that none of the major game designers code for anything as niche as Steam hardware so no optimisations. Yes its going to be mesa but so what?

Want a "Steam Machine"? Pick a case, any case. Put AMD hardware in it. Install Bazzite. Job done.
 
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I was itching to buy a midrange PC and installing Bazzite. Maybe i won't have to now.

Surprised they are bothering with VR though, as the units out already are hardly thriving.
 
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Always had a passing interest in VR but nothing ever managed to sell itself enough to justify the price or the space it took up. Curious to see how the price and support lines up for the Frame as it might be enough to finally pull the trigger.

 
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Steam Deck 2 must be years away then. I have no use for the Steam Machine but good luck to them I guess. Surely their own device will do better than the last time they tried by partnering up with other companies.
 
I can see this as a great way to pull more peple over the PC gaming, the steam deck has been one of my most used devices I have ever purchased.
 
Really strong video on the new Steam Machine from Digital Foundry. In summary their high level guess is something in price/performance that will sit between the Xbox Series S and (base) PlayStation 5. The GPU is estimated to be between a 6600 and 7600, as a cutdown chip. They hope its $399.


A few thoughts that struck me:
  • The new controller look awesome. TMR modules, HD haptics, new charging puck, new proprietary wireless connectivity amongst lots of features.
  • The Steam Machine has dedicated Bluetooth Radios and not using the Wifi card for BT like most PCs.
  • Ability to wake the Steam Machine from the controller(!!!).
  • HDMI-CEC support(!!!)
  • Changeable faceplates, option to print your own.
  • An LED light that could be programmed to show things like download progress
  • No FSR 4 support currently
  • Future option for OEMs to make their own Steam Machine.
  • Runs at very similar 200W under load as existing consoles; PS5, Series S|X.
  • Like Steam Deck can install Windows 11
Overall if you're not a power-hungry PC gamer I can see this as a machine you could chuck in your office as much as your lounge. A super quiet box which might have more reasons to own over the sort of small form factor Minisforum, Beelink type PCs. Some unique features with answers to long-standing PC problems, i.e. one-click to start the machine.

The big issues are going to include game support. None of those big DRM/Kernel-level Live Service games like Apex, COD, BF6, FC, Fortnite etc. are going to run. That will mean it's not going to appeal to the mass market, but that's a challenge Valve has to overcome with any Steam OS based device.

My own opinion is wow. Love it. It's a far more compelling offering of what full-screen PC gaming looks like than what Microsoft has so-far presented.

PS. Is it time for the two gaming forums to be merged, or rules amended? In the PC Games sub-forum we have Steam Deck, Lenovo and ASUS ROG threads. And in the Console Games & Hardware sub-forum we have ROG Ally X and now a Steam Machine thread. So some inconsistencies. I appreciate the lines are blurring to the point the service you play on is becoming more important than the hardware.
 
I like how they're going for the interconnected ecosystem of Steam Deck, Controller, Machine and Frame. That's the main thing that grabs me with this announcement.

As always though, the price will be the determining factor as to whether I am truly interested or not lol.
 
Those specs in 2026? No chance. And it will be stupidly overpriced - hence Valve staying mum for now. Too little, too late.
 
As long as the price is amongst existing console offerings it will be fine.

I think too much is made of the specs. The Steam deck is still great due to its design and how it works, despite being ‘underpowered’. If you want 4k AAA, RT etc then yeah it’s obviously not for you. However I bet as a pickup and play experience it will be better than most gaming PCs and I’m also sure it will play almost all of the games I have in my Steam library.

Is the OS likely to be available for other specs? That would be awesome as then we could pump up the specs and get lost of the experience. I know Bazzite etc. (I game on Linux myself) but a Steam OS would be great.
 
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alex24 said:
Is the OS likely to be available for other specs? That would be awesome as then we could pump up the specs and get lost of the experience. I know Bazzite etc. (I game on Linux myself) but a Steam OS would be great.
Click to expand...

So Valve have talked about the possibility of OEMs being able to build their own Steam OS-based 'consoles' in the future. And obviously they have done similar with the Lenovo/ROG handhelds with official Steam OS support. So it sounds like they will continue that partner approach rather than release the OS into the wild.

Worth pointing out that if you have AMD hardware then Steam OS is likely usable even now. I've installed it on an AMD based Minisforum PC and it's worked flawlessly despite not being 'officially' supported.
 
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