Where did the jump in logic from suggesting the possibility of offering alternative storefronts(as an EU preventative measure, at that) to necessitating alternative operating systems? Why in the christ would they do that? All they need is a disclaimer that M&KB support might be required. What you are suggesting would COMPLETELY sidestep the make money part of this whole thing, lmao. Game Pass only runs games natively on Windows...
Why would they need gamepass on the steam side if they already have an xbox side with gamepass? That makes no sense. A disclaimer that you might need a keyboard just to run a game? That's stupidity.
As to making money, they wouldn't even consider the steam side idea unless they are getting a cut from valve.
And as a PC gamer and a Day One Steam Deck owner, BULLSHIT. A thousand trips to desktop mode(ahem, fucking Linux) and back using shitty bluetooth mouse and key to fix games that otherwise would require zero fiddling in Windows SCREAMS BULLSHIT.
Not sure how you are using your steam deck, but the only time I have ever needed desktop mode is to do PC like things (not console like things). Thinks like emudeck or loading Xbplay, all not needed in the case of a dual purpose traditional console.
Where are the people using Steam OS on their PC's? Right. So what's the GUI difference between Xbox OS and Steam OS? Proper controller support and sidebar submenus? Like some of the stuff they were showing at Build 2024? lol. Pretty sure Microsoft would DARE that route before literally ANYTHING you have suggested...unless they actually ARE trying to acquire Valve, hahahaha.
Most people who use PC's for gaming are using them dual purpose at a monitor, with a mouse and keyboard, no reason for leaving windows at all. As to Xbox OS and Steam OS, not much difference, just that once supports a different set of games. (and thus the appeal to potential buyers)
For a real possibility they go with a full front end in this case, they would need to make it truely plug an play.
And no doubt they are trying to acquire Valve, or at least partner with them.
This is tantamount to saying you think they should offer dual booting to Mac OS to be able to play Apple Arcade games. They wouldn't make any money doing that either.
They would if apple paid them a cut.
This is just a ridiculously incorrect and out of touch thing to say.
WTF is a "tv buyer" in this context, lmfao
TV friendly? What year are you living in? Been pc gaming from the couch for the better part of 10 years.
None of your arguments make sense.
I don't think you understand the casual gamer. They don't want a PC. They want a console that hooks up to a TV. They barely know how to hook up an HDMI cable.
This is the audience they are after, not the guys like us who build thier own PC or want to screw around with a PC in the living room. (which still even has it's challenges, it still crashes, it still sometimes doesn't boot into full screen, or anti cheat won't load, etc, etc, etc.)
Heck you can't even turn it on with the controller easily. All of this makes sense, you have to look at it from outside our bubble.