The Problem With The Steam Machine: Its Current Gen

TikiLagoonSam

TikiLagoonSam

Member
If you have an Xbox Series X or PS5, you can already play everything the Steam Machine will play in HIGHER FIDELITY. The Steam Machine is CURRENT GEN but still not as powerful. Why would anyone who owns an XBOX Series X, a gaming PC, or a PS5 buy this? This would have been a contender 5 years ago if priced competitively and people didn't own current gen yet. It is 5 years too late AND will be more expensive than the current gen consoles.

Sure it'll have free multiplayer and the Steam Sales, but will you pay $800-$1000 to buy this thing if you already have a XBX or PS5?

Next gen begins the very next year after this is released. So this won't be able to play next gen unless compromises are made, which means you can play those on PS5 and XBX too. It just doesn't make sense to me for this purchase. Am I missing something here??


When I first heard the announcement for this my first thoughts were "XBOX is cooked" and I was hyped for a new hardware in the console space that can play everything! I have't played pc games since Sim City 2000 30 years ago. I'm strictly a console gamer. Never had a powerful PC. Then I realized, this isn't an option for next gen. This will just play what I already can in lower fidelity. So my hype has pretty much died for this thing.

Is this just for collectors and the few people that don't own any current gen systems? Maybe pc gamers that don't own a console?
 
- 8GB of VRAM in 2026
- 512 Gb SSD (and people laugth for XSX or PS5 825GB)
- RDNA 3 (no FSR4 or at least, the best way)
- HDMI 2.0 (4K 60Hz RGB HDR 10 bit not working)

It's just a scam
 
Last edited:
squidilix said:
It's just a scam
Click to expand...
Cary Elwes Disney Plus GIF by Disney+
 
Most of us here are enthusiasts. According to this Valve engineer, the Steam Machine is equal or greater to 70% of the stuff Steam users are playing currently. They would know. It appears they're attempting to target the market they think wants a device like the Steam Machine the most. Mostly casuals.

The Gabecube might not be "next gen", but if it's good enough with features and quality of life people want, then it'll sell.

 
TikiLagoonSam said:
If you have an Xbox Series X or PS5, you can already play everything the Steam Machine will play in HIGHER FIDELITY.
Click to expand...
Very false. Even Bloodborne will have higher fidelity in the SM.

squidilix said:
- HDMI 2.0 (4K 60Hz RGB HDR 10 bit not working)
Click to expand...
It has a display port 1.4

seb85 said:
People just like to suck valve dick
This thing is already outdated and by the time the ps6 next Xbox pc comes out it will be dead
Click to expand...
PS6 and next Xbox will also be out of date day 1.
 
Last edited:
Theres 8billion people on earth, about 7,9 billion dont have a current gen console yet. Plenty of people left over.
TikiLagoonSam said:
If you have an Xbox Series X or PS5, you can already play everything the Steam Machine will play in HIGHER FIDELITY.
Click to expand...
No you cant, youre free to pick whichever options you want, so you can play games at max or lowest settings and theres absolutely nothing stopping you from running 8k at 2fps if you so wish.
 
Last edited:
SScorpio said:
Wait, you're telling me this isn't PC2? Damn. I got my hopes up that it was finally time to upgrade my IBM 5150 from 1981.
Click to expand...
It so funny when all these console guys who supposedly don't care about PC gaming try to come in and apply nonsensical console terms to it. Stay in your lane guys, you don't know what you're talking about.
 
I share the sentiment that generations, as we used to know them, are finished in practical terms. There will be some stuff that only runs on brand new hardware but it's gonna be limited. If a game can run on something with a decent install base it's gonna be there almost every time.
 
TikiLagoonSam said:
Sure it'll have free multiplayer and the Steam Sales, but will you pay $800-$1000 to buy this thing if you already have a XBX or PS5?
Click to expand...
How much do you want to bet it will be close to the price of a PS5?

I am not buying one of these, but only because I upgraded my PC 2 years ago. I have a Switch 2 and a PS5 Pro, I'm no longer a regular PC gamer, but I do still have hundreds of PC games in my steam account that I do occasionally want to play. Something like this would be perfect for me, someone who wants the comfort of playing in a living room with my steam library, but doesn't need Ray Tracing on it.

Edit: Also I have bad news for you about the power of the PS6 if you're worried about the power of the Steam machine.
 
Last edited:
I have a rtx 4070 and it is last generation. It considered an upper-mid tier card these days. With that said it would run circles around a PS5/PS5 pro. A 4060 would destroy a ps5 in performance. Last generation does not mean squat. If you took a PS5 console always guy and put him on a machine like this with a 4060 his mind would be blown.

If Valve does not fuck this up and price it too expensive it will reach mass appeal. If they can somehow hit the $500 price point, Sony would be shitting bricks.
 
TikiLagoonSam said:
If you have an Xbox Series X or PS5, you can already play everything the Steam Machine will play in HIGHER FIDELITY.
Click to expand...
What an absurdly stupid statement.

You could combine the series x and ps5 library, and add nintendo to it, now multiply it by 100 and you still aren't close to being able to play everything the steam machine can at the same fidelity, let alone higher.

The steam machine is gonna have more 'exclusives' than the other 3 consoles combined non exclusives.

But i guess that statement made sense for someone who only plays the newest cinematic third person games.
 
One of the pontential dangers is how long will its target price hold? Dram,vram and ssds are blowing up in pricing, it will be curious to see.
 
Last edited:
I just want a PC that has the seamlessness and convenience of a console. PC gaming has so much extra faffery compared to consoles, and in my old age, I value my time and convenience more than the highest fidelity.

Like, I'm probably gonna buy a Steam Machine just because I can turn it on and off with a controller from my couch.
 
seb85 said:
People just like to suck valve dick
This thing is already outdated and by the time the ps6 next Xbox pc comes out it will be dead
Click to expand...

This thread highlights the problem with people who can only look at anything in gaming behind the lens of a console gamer. it is an incredibly narrow view and the big picture is simply lost.
 
This is Valve entering the living room based on existing user libraries, they need an affordable solution so they can gain market share. Believe it or not, there are a lot of low-spec games Steam users play - they don't need to enter the spec arms race when Steam users who care about that probably already own a high end rig.
 
Oh no, I was talking to Gabe and he told me it would give me 5090 performance for $199 in a totally closed optimized console ecosystem like a Dreamcast 2 when it releases in 2/6/26, I guess I won't buy in his lies, thanks for letting me know and saving my precious little money guyz, keep it up!!!1
 
Last edited:
How can y'all even say something is a scam before we even know its retail price? Lmao. There's a lot of talk and rumors, but until we know for sure, it's all hearsay.

TintoConCasera said:
Stopped reading there. A PC is able to play most games from the 80s up till today. Good luck playing Thief or Unreal or your PS5.
Click to expand...
Same. There is an enormous library that a PC/Steam Machine supports that consoles don't. That's such a ridiculous statement, lmao.
 
I don't know who needs to hear this but don't be a graphics whore.

It was once a pejorative.

The graphics and performance in your game is not your game.

The best games ever, like Bloodborne and Final Fantasy Tactics, are still the best games ever despite them having shitty performance and bad graphics.

You people assumed everyone was a graphics whore like yourself but the truth is you are a very small minority. There was a time when I could make a graphics whore feel shame over their predilections. Now we live in a time of the perpetually offended but rarely ashamed. So I will not attempt this today, however know that you are looked down upon. We never hated on graphics whores because we were jealous of PC games. We did it because we are based. Looks like Gabe joined our side so that should tell you something. You have the digital foundry crew, you and them making faces for thumbnails instead of playing games.
 
Last edited:
It's just a weird segment of people that it seems to be targeting... PC gamers who want to play their existing library on their tv.

Actually now that I've typed that, maybe that's not that weird.
 
TikiLagoonSam said:
If you have an Xbox Series X or PS5, you can already play everything the Steam Machine will play in HIGHER FIDELITY. The Steam Machine is CURRENT GEN but still not as powerful. Why would anyone who owns an XBOX Series X, a gaming PC, or a PS5 buy this? This would have been a contender 5 years ago if priced competitively and people didn't own current gen yet. It is 5 years too late AND will be more expensive than the current gen consoles.

Sure it'll have free multiplayer and the Steam Sales, but will you pay $800-$1000 to buy this thing if you already have a XBX or PS5?

Next gen begins the very next year after this is released. So this won't be able to play next gen unless compromises are made, which means you can play those on PS5 and XBX too. It just doesn't make sense to me for this purchase. Am I missing something here??


When I first heard the announcement for this my first thoughts were "XBOX is cooked" and I was hyped for a new hardware in the console space that can play everything! I have't played pc games since Sim City 2000 30 years ago. I'm strictly a console gamer. Never had a powerful PC. Then I realized, this isn't an option for next gen. This will just play what I already can in lower fidelity. So my hype has pretty much died for this thing.

Is this just for collectors and the few people that don't own any current gen systems? Maybe pc gamers that don't own a console?
Click to expand...
think most people like myself for grabbing it for classic first person shooters and classic point and click Adventures
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Potential issue with steam machine
2
71
195
SomeNorseGuy replied
  • Poll
Predict the Steam Machine starting price
2 3 4 5
211
212
Shogmaster replied
  • Poll
Who is actually the target audience for the Steam Machine?
2 3 4 5
234
235
GermanZepp replied
Steam Frame, Steam controller and Steam Machine Revealed
15 16 17 18 19
922
923
Minsc replied
  • Poll
Steam Machine life time sales prediction
2 3
123
191
darrylgorn replied
Top Bottom