Valve enters the console wars [The Verge]

Which is why I always said, and hold on to your butt, it's an hybrid! Crazy right. I never said it was a PC, or a console. For me it's a new kind of system, an in-between and again I think it's fair to call it an hybrid.

Also just reading the definition again, it's stated in the beginning in fact: a video game console. A video GAME console. GAME.
A hybrid would entail games being made solely for it, and needing to run in dual-boot to access.

This is no more hybrid than a Mac Mini, form factor means nothing.
 
A hybrid would entail games being made solely for it, and needing to run in dual-boot to access.
But why?

This is no more hybrid than a Mac Mini, form factor means nothing.
No, that's YOUR definition. Why would an hybrid be only one thing? That just doesn't make sense.

I said the button didn't work because it was recognized as an Xbox One Gamepad. I couldn't remap it.
Yep, you said that. And I said who fuckin cares about the screenshot button not working for a few months. Does it sucks? Sure. But it's nothing unplayable and if your excuse to call Steam OS not ready for a seamless experience is this kind of stuff, sorry but I can't take you seriously.

No one said anything about taking screenshots (I do that with the standard command "Xbox Button+Right Trigger). If I can't have push to talk on the gamepad then yes, a game can become unplayable for me.
If. The only examples you gave are a bloatware software and the screenshot button. Woaw. That totally make the Steam Machine not ready for mass market and console like experience...

But "unplayable" wasn't really in the conversation before that. It was about compatibility which is (sadly) not guaranteed on SteamOS/Linux.
It's guaranteed for 99% of accessories and it will be fine for 99,99% of players. That's my point. So let me quote myself again because I swear you can't paid attention:

It's a new system that's aiming at both the PC and consoles user base.

It's an hybrid, with the best of both worlds and again if you don't see how they are getting closer to a console, I don't know what to tell you.

See? Never said it was a console.

Bro, I have no horse in this race, but I gotta say that you're presenting good points in an abrasive way.
That's fair, but sorry I'm a bit annoyed by people playing it dumb by questioning what is a console and finding everything they can to downplay the Steam Machine. I think it's very stupid, I had to quote like 5 times what is a console and stating that's not how I see the Steam Machine FFS.

I imagine that it just inherently makes people want to try and dispute you.
All I said was: they are getting closer to a console with quick resume, fixed HW and such. Is it really a hot take? Like, really?? And then I've put effort to explain what is a console. I had to repeat myself again and again. It can get to your nerve you know.

The new Steam Machine is doing some insane work for bringing a console-like experience to PC gaming, for sure. I'm saying this as a person who owns the original 2013 steam machine, comparing it to the experience of the modern Steam Deck. For a lot of people, their threshold for bullshit PC idiosyncrasies will be met, and it'll be a great experience.

But because the experience, by nature, will never be as tight or controlled as a console, it's reasonable that some people will have paranoia about their experience, thinking "will this work the way I want it to?" In some instances, that'll be justified.

Two things are true:
PC gaming (especially Linux using compatibility layers) is not as seamless and turnkey as a console experience.

But also:
Steam OS is and has been a gigantic leap in standardizing the PC experience, offering most of the luxuries consoles have, ever-closing the gap between the two types of platforms.
Which is why I said it's a new kind of system. For them it looks like I said "hey Valve is the new Sony/Microsoft, they are coming for the PS6 with this new CONSOLE!!!".

And let me say that there is quite the number of hassle on consoles too BTW. Let's not pretend the experience is as fluid as it was 15 years ago with way simpler system. So yeah if someone is surviving configuring a PS5, I think he'll survive configuring his Steam Machine. Don't you?
 
Without Roblox and Fortnite?
⬇️ ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Morgan Freeman Good Luck GIF
Those are big omissions for the younger crowds. Interested to see how this plays out.
 
They've already succeeded without even being on the market.


Steam generates pure revenue, and now its value is even higher.



Steam Deck – gaming on the go.


PCs – for gamers focused on high-tech performance.


Steam Machines – the perfect entry point into PC gaming or for families.
 
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Low hanging fruit typically does. SteamOS makes this a lot more console-like than your typical mini PC so these headlines write themselves.

I think this "console war" angle will probably fizzle out since we don't have the common console war metrics to judge it with. We won't have circana data telling us how many units of the console were sold unless Valve decides to go retail, which I doubt. We also won't have a bestseller games list just for this device. It will be Steam overall just as it always has been. So this may make for a good headline now, low hanging fruit as you say, but long term it is much ado about nothing.
 
They have not been able ever to produce enough of their hardware to compete with the big ones.
Also, they do not care about selling their hardware worldwide... so no real impact here.
 
They said the GPU equivalent is a 4060. Now normally, I would say that's not powerful enough.

However, given the fact that Linux is the OS, this could be a substantive power boost at a very competitive price.

If it is priced the same as a PS5 Pro, I think the value proposition would be an excellent one.
But it won't be close to a 4060 since it has DLSS which is superior to fsr.
 
I think this "console war" angle will probably fizzle out since we don't have the common console war metrics to judge it with. We won't have circana data telling us how many units of the console were sold unless Valve decides to go retail, which I doubt. We also won't have a bestseller games list just for this device. It will be Steam overall just as it always has been. So this may make for a good headline now, low hanging fruit as you say, but long term it is much ado about nothing.
So the console war was fact driven all this while? :)

We don't need facts to be mean to each other and cheer for our plastic box of choice. People will work with whatever data they get. And if there's no data, they will make something up based on concurrent users, MAU etc.. Assuming these new boxes sell, the wars will continue. It will just adapt to a new emerging paradigm.
 
So the console war was fact driven all this while? :)

We don't need facts to be mean to each other and cheer for our plastic box of choice. People will work with whatever data they get. And if there's no data, they will make something up based on concurrent users, MAU etc.. Assuming these new boxes sell, the wars will continue. It will just adapt to a new emerging paradigm.

Console war has definitely been facts driven. You are right that isn't needed for warriors to be warriors, but it helps. Without it, Steam Machine will just be an anecdote in the PC vs console skirmishes.
 
Does it take physical media or do you have to have a steam account and all your purchases are in valve cloud
 
Does it take physical media or do you have to have a steam account and all your purchases are in valve cloud

It has an SD card slot that you can use to load files. If there are Steam games on it from your PC or Deck they show up. You can install any OS you want so its media reading can't be that nerfed really
 
But it won't be close to a 4060 since it has DLSS which is superior to fsr.

They're referring to the raw power of the GPU.

I agree DLSS is better than FSR but that lead has been dwindling and there are other options out there for scaling and frame generation that are beginning to level the playing field. With what Valve has done for Linux, I wouldn't be surprised if they give some other notable second placers in software and hardware a boost as well.
 
They're referring to the raw power of the GPU.

I agree DLSS is better than FSR but that lead has been dwindling and there are other options out there for scaling and frame generation that are beginning to level the playing field. With what Valve has done for Linux, I wouldn't be surprised if they give some other notable second placers in software and hardware a boost as well.

Even if it's raw can this thing even do ray tracing?
 
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