The Potential of a Steam Console?

Are you in favor of a Steam Console?

  • Yes.

    Votes: 81 49.7%

  • No.

    Votes: 52 31.9%

  • Maybe.

    Votes: 30 18.4%
  • Total voters
    163
Pasta la Vista

Pasta la Vista

Member
I think this is an interesting topic. The time now is ripe for something like this given the work done with Steam Deck and Steam OS, Xbox's apparent flat lining in the console space, plus the looming future of Windows 12 on PC.

Linux is just too much of a learning curve for the vast majority of people, it takes a lot of time and effort. Steam OS is the ticket for gamers that have already invested so much into the platform to be able to finally abandon Windows. And now that we are basically living in the digital future, there is much less incentive to go physical. Having a full game on physical media is becoming more and more rare with each passing day. Many games today also just don't get physical releases at all now.

Well we do remember the failure of Steam machines, right? So why did those fail?

In my opinion, it was too early, the market was already too crowded. Steam OS wasn't mature enough and there was no one standardized piece of hardware. They amounted to just pre-built PCs with a variety of configurations.

Of course having the flexibility of a PC means that it will never go out of style and there will always be a market for it. But I think the work done with Steam Deck and Steam OS shows us that another option and an exit path from the ever growing restrictions of consoles with subscription based online play, controllers and accessories locked to specific hardware, etc.

So what should a Steam console be? I think it should be a hybrid of console and PC. Use whatever controllers you want, of course keyboard and mouse as well. The options with changing your resolution and capping your frame rate, changing post processing effects etc. are all still there and behave the way they do now on PC. Nothing changes on that front. There should be the ability to upgrade your storage (obviously) and maybe also ram. Allow for some other flexibility, maybe you actually want Windows on it? That could be an option.

We are reaching the point now where it takes about a decade for any significant progress to be made with games "pushing" hardware. Diminishing returns and all that.

For the price? Well, it should not sell at a loss. Which means the price may be higher up front than traditional consoles, but the trade off is that you never have to pay to play games online, sales are frequent and still decent on Steam and you never lose your library should you switch hardware.

Steam's user base is massive and growing (if you get my reference :messenger_smirking:). I think the market is here for it now more than ever.

So what do you think? What are your hopes and dreams? Would this work? Would you switch from PC or your traditional console to a Steam console? Or would you get it on top of whatever you already have?
 
I wouldn't buy one, but yes, I'm in favour of any competition to the big three. The day when nothing new comes to the market, we as consumers lose. I really hope that if Microsoft leaves the console scene that someone else steps in. It would be cool to see Sega do something again. Maybe a standard console, but with a crazy amount of peripherals like fishing rods etc. Bring back the happy arcadey days of yonder!
 
Why would they do that instead of just keep making the Steam Deck more powerful?

Like you said diminishing returns are hitting hard and it'll only get worse.
 
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MarV0 said:
Why would they do that instead of just keep making the Steam Deck more powerful?

Like you said diminishing returns are hitting hard and it'll only get worse.
Click to expand...
I don't own a Steam Deck personally. And I dislike handheld game systems. My eyes aren't as good as they once were and I don't want to have to where glasses or sit in an awkward position to get an optimal viewing angle of a small screen. Especially with my hands/fingers in motion that would lead me to being less precise than I would like. I am interested in a successor and I would require a dock to connect it to my display. The current one is a bit too under powered for my taste.

I think the benefit of having a console form factor as opposed to a handheld is that it would allow for better hardware and not requiring its own display or controls.
 
Not paying for online
Steam library fully supported
Steam games/keys are so much cheaper than the other consoles

Why not?
 
I'm starting to have my doubts there will be a Steam Deck 2 or a Valve console. I think Valve might be content to have other vendors use Steam OS for the handhelds. Why not, they make money from the store, no need to have their own hardware. Also, with the rumors of Microsoft having Steam on the console, that might be good enough for Valve. I think VR is the only hardware they are interested in. I think the rumors of Fremont are just simply Valve testing out Steam OS on various hardware configurations, which of course costs Valve practically nothing.
 
Miles708 said:
If physical is going the way of the dodo i know i'm not gonna give money to either Microsoft or Sony anymore.
So yeah i think it'd be interesting
Click to expand...

I will add that Microsoft and Sony gave Steam just the right amount of ammo to make a Steam console finally viable, since they started porting all their first party on PC for whatever reason.
So physical dying + Sony and MS consoles with no exclusives + prices rising + less choice over marketplaces and piracy (yes i said that) = why shouldn't I want a steam console.

And i love consoles and hate Steam mind you. But goddamnit consoles are straight up SHIT this generation.
 
Pasta la Vista said:
I addressed that in the OP.
Click to expand...
Steamdeck had competition from outdated af first switch yet still barely sold few milion copies, man, steam mashine has competition from stationary consoles whole desptop and laptop market, it stands no chance.

en.wikipedia.org

Steam Deck - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Market research firm International Data Corporation estimated that between 3.7 and 4 million Steam Decks had been sold by the third anniversary of the device in February 2025.
Click to expand...
 
Sorcerer said:
I'm starting to have my doubts there will be a Steam Deck 2 or a Valve console. I think Valve might be content to have other vendors use Steam OS for the handhelds. Why not, they make money from the store, no need to have their own hardware. Also, with the rumors of Microsoft having Steam on the console, that might be good enough for Valve. I think VR is the only hardware they are interested in. I think the rumors of Fremont are just simply Valve testing out Steam OS on various hardware configurations, which of course costs Valve practically nothing.
Click to expand...
This is true, there isn't much of an incentive for Valve to go this route unless they are profiting off the hardware. I think it would grow their userbase even further but that might be negligible considering the options already in place. It would be really interesting if MS does go that route with the next xbox though.
 
PeteBull said:
Steamdeck had competition from outdated af first switch yet still barely sold few milion copies, man, steam mashine has competition from stationary consoles whole desptop and laptop market, it stands no chance.

en.wikipedia.org

Steam Deck - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Click to expand...
Steam userbase today dwarfs that of 10 years ago. I dont think the handheld is the optimal way to get whats needed out of the platform.
 
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I'm kind of past the point of investing in a big gaming rig, but I would buy a Valve produced Steam Box before either a PS6 or whatever MS produces next. Most of my gaming nowadays is done on a Legion Go( and I have a PS5).
 
I'd like it. I'd be interested. However, didn't we get a confirmation not long ago that Valve was not working on another Steam console?
 
We are way overdue for a proper Steam Console. Local pre-built PCs that can match console performance is at about a +50% price premium in comparison so there's no doubt that those can be built cheaper at scale and a smaller profit. And giving devs a spec they can target and give optimized settings for would be great.
 
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Pasta la Vista said:
This is true, there isn't much of an incentive for Valve to go this route unless they are profiting off the hardware. I think it would grow their userbase even further but that might be negligible considering the options already in place. It would be really interesting if MS does go that route with the next xbox though.
Click to expand...
I am hoping even if Valve does not make a console, they will at least make the Steam Controller 2 that will be compatible with Xbox and PC (if the Microsoft Rumors are true). I think Microsoft needs to address the controller issue if they let Steam on the console and certain players to not want to use mouse and keyboard.

Other than that I am thinking how crazy the release schedule will be if Valve is making all this hardware. First up the rumors indicate a new headset this year. Probably means the Steam Deck 2 is at least two years out. I doubt they would release the Steam Deck 2 and a console in the same time frame, which means we probably would have a 3 or 4 year wait for the console.
I'm not sure Valve has the capacity to bring all this hardware to market all at once.
 
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Just let Xbox do it. The next one is rumoured to have Steam integration. Let Microsoft waste their capital trying to make it happen.
 
A big selling point for me personally would to be able to have access to my steam library without having to worry about PC components and being free from Windows.
 
Well they should because steam machine was such a success. All of the valve's hardware ventures are failure, so just one more on the list
 
Pasta la Vista said:
A big selling point for me personally would to be able to have access to my steam library without having to worry about PC components and being free from Windows.
Click to expand...
Ditto for me on this. Problem is I think Microsoft can't really promote this. I think it more likely a situation where you can install Steam but Microsoft can't guarantee 100 percent compatibility with all games on whatever fixed hardware they have at the time. More like you are certainly free to try it but results will vary as with any pc and various limits with power configurations. I could be wrong on this. Maybe Valve will jump in and lend a hand.
 
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MarV0 said:
Why would they do that instead of just keep making the Steam Deck more powerful?

Like you said diminishing returns are hitting hard and it'll only get worse.
Click to expand...


I don't see a downside to launching a Steam Deck 2 and a Steam "console" at the same time.

The worst case is the most likely case...they sell way more Decks than consoles. They can just make as many as they need, they are not trying to build an install base where it fails if people don't buy enough like a Switch 2. Diminishing returns is actually exactly why they might be able to get away with a higher cost hardware without so much fear of not being able to swap out a component next week.
 
Steam deck and PC gaming OSes still require too much tinkering and a level of tolerance for bullshit to enjoy. I doubt a console that requires that would be successful.
 
Pasta la Vista said:
Steam userbase today dwarfs that of 10 years ago. I dont think the handheld is the optimal way to get whats needed out of the platform.
Click to expand...
Compare failed handheld like psvita with its super expensive games and memory cards to steamdeck, ps vita sold 14m units last official data, 16m estimated total but unofficial.
en.wikipedia.org

PlayStation Vita - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Its still roughly 3,5-4x more units sold, again, we dont have to guess, we got hard data that tells us all we need to know already.
 
Horseganador said:
It didn't work before and it wasn't going to work now either. Putting a console on store shelves for a mass audience to buy isn't easy.
Click to expand...
It would probably never get to store shelves. Proton is great but it can't play everything and likely never will. I think the casual consumer who expects things to work 100 percent of the time like a normal console would not be pleased. I doubt retail wants this headache. Steam Deck is not on store shelves outside of Japan I believe.
 
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It didn't work years ago with the Steam Machine, it would need to be upgradable for future changes in hardware and software evolution that on PC always happens, and it will be a fixed closed system, so it would be only for a limited amount of games at the time and wouldn't shift many from game pass and then factor in the price of the games they would charge, i don't think it would work or make enough money, and i don't see Valve going the subscription route either.
 
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PeteBull said:
Steamdeck had competition from outdated af first switch yet still barely sold few milion copies, man, steam mashine has competition from stationary consoles whole desptop and laptop market, it stands no chance.

en.wikipedia.org

Steam Deck - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Click to expand...
Valve isn't at the mercy of their hardware to get people on their platform, so they could just make whatever they need to meet demand. Steam Deck is an option, its sales don't reflect the success of Steam as a platform. Sony and Nintendo on the other hand, need to sell hardware successfully because that is the portal to their stores.
 
BlackTron said:
I don't see a downside to launching a Steam Deck 2 and a Steam "console" at the same time.

The worst case is the most likely case...they sell way more Decks than consoles. They can just make as many as they need, they are not trying to build an install base where it fails if people don't buy enough like a Switch 2. Diminishing returns is actually exactly why they might be able to get away with a higher cost hardware without so much fear of not being able to swap out a component next week.
Click to expand...
R&D, storage and distribution are not free. Even if they sell it for profit they would still need to sell a certain amount in order to not lose money.
 
Pasta la Vista said:
Valve isn't at the mercy of their hardware to get people on their platform, so they could just make whatever they need to meet demand. Steam Deck is an option, its sales don't reflect the success of Steam as a platform. Sony and Nintendo on the other hand, need to sell hardware successfully because that is the portal to their stores.
Click to expand...
Exactly, so no reason for valve to go all in, if steam mashine 2 happened they would halfass it just like with first iteration from 2015, but thats beside the point.
My point is- there is not enough of customers willing to fork up likely around 1k usd for steam mashine when its not competetive enough vs desktops/laptops and stationary consoles.
Ppl who prefer consoles will go next gen with a console, ppl who prefer desktop or laptops instead will go with those, and there is basically no1 left.

Edit: Did we all forget Stadia and Lumia?
For new platform to be succesfull u would need to go in guns blazing like sony back in 94/95 or at the very least like microsoft with its first xbox in 2001/2002, and even then first og xbox is considered a flop at 24m units sold, thats how competetive was market back then, and og xbox brought hdd as first console, huge jump in power vs ps2 and on top many actual exclusives, both true exclusives and console only exclusives.
What does steam mashine have to offer vs next gen xbox/ps6? Definitely wont be price or performance, nor exclusive games library so what could it be? And again lets not forget ppl who arent console centric will just go with standard desktop/laptop to get even more of everything.
 
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Laptop1991 said:
It didn't work years ago with the Steam Machine, it would need to be upgradable for future changes in hardware and software evolution that on PC always happens, and it will be a fixed closed system, so it would be only for a limited amount of games at the time and wouldn't shift many from game pass and then factor in the price of the games they would charge, i don't think it would work or make enough money, and i don't see Valve going the subscription route either.
Click to expand...
Valve took an enormous leap of faith with the Steam Machines, assuming developers were suddenly going to make games for Linux. All the risk was on the hardware vendor. Also, Valve undercut their vendors with the Steam Link. Don't want to by a 500-800 console? Here is a $50 dollar device that will transmit Steam from your PC to any TV in your house.
Steam Deck has a built-in forgiveness because it's a handheld and one doesn't expect the world from a handheld. But I don't think people are going to be so forgiving for a console built to play PC games which is a no man's land as far as standardization goes.

There were 15 Steam Machines announced. Only Dell (Alienware) and Zotac ever produced machines. 13 Vendors got cold feet and backed out.

I had both, the Alienware was terrible. The Zotac was a beautiful machine that ran beautifully. I got pissed when Valve distributed Proton to every Linux distro under the sun but did not bring it to Steam OS (their own operating system at the time) and I installed Windows on the Zotac. That Zotac from 2015 can run Cyberpunk at medium settings. Awesome machine.
 
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MarV0 said:
R&D, storage and distribution are not free. Even if they sell it for profit they would still need to sell a certain amount in order to not lose money.
Click to expand...

I agree with all that, but the R&D on this thing must be cheaper than Steam Deck; much of the work has already been done or overlaps with Deck, and the hardware would be easier to design by a long shot than squeezing together a handheld.
 
I think it could work but I don't think Valve is interested. A Steam Machine would basically be a Steam Deck without the screen. It wouldn't be a hardcore console like device.

BTW, I'm convinced a large portion of the Steam Deck sales are being used as basically Pirate Switches.
 
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Topher said:
If gaming mini PCs will start having SteamOS preinstalled then that is essentially the same thing
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Those only hit the performance levels of the PC handhelds though. They need to at least match the performance of the base consoles (PS5/XSX).

Strix Halo can do that, but you're looking at starting price of $1,000+.

Here's one for $1,500 after coupon with 64GB of RAM (sadly the RAM has to be soldered). https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-EVO-X2-Computers-LPDDR5X-8000MHz/dp/B0F53QXNGH Heck, the SOC lets you put 75% of the RAM towards the GPU so this is a 48GB AI monster.

I just don't see Valve doing it, I could see them partnering with companies who make the sell the PCs and install Steam OS on them. Just like the Steam Box, except now the OS is ready.
 
Yeah I'm interested. Proton seems far enough along now (assuming that's what's behind Steam Deck). I think a dedicated SteamOS box in small form factor could finally sufficiently replicate the console experience.

Saying this as a die-hard console guy. It's always been about OS and form factor. Steam Machines can address both.
 
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SScorpio said:
Those only hit the performance levels of the PC handhelds though. They need to at least match the performance of the base consoles (PS5/XSX).

Strix Halo can do that, but you're looking at starting price of $1,000+.

Here's one for $1,500 after coupon with 64GB of RAM (sadly the RAM has to be soldered). https://www.amazon.com/GMKtec-EVO-X2-Computers-LPDDR5X-8000MHz/dp/B0F53QXNGH Heck, the SOC lets you put 75% of the RAM towards the GPU so this is a 48GB AI monster.

I just don't see Valve doing it, I could see them partnering with companies who make the sell the PCs and install Steam OS on them. Just like the Steam Box, except now the OS is ready.
Click to expand...

Yep. It is expensive. This is what it costs for unsubsidized hardware. I don't see Valve doing anything but providing SteamOS to vendors for this very reason. This and the fact that the vast majority of people will simply opt for a PlayStation, Xbox or Switch. Easy and cheap.
 
Well, I would personally be very interested in one. Between SIE's PC strategy this gen (and no clear communication if that is changing), their multiplat strategy in general, all Xbox games being on Steam Day 1, and my general lack of FOMO, plus my desire to move away from Windows for general productivity & work tasks...a new Steam Machine that actually got the concept right would be right up my alley in terms of a purchase.

But that's the thing: they'd have to get the concept right. And like everyone knows, it was a disaster of sorts the last time, although at that point TBH Valve's take was the best attempt. If you look into it, PC OEMs have been trying to do the "consolized PC" thing since at least the 2000s, and the reason you don't even know of most of them is because they were abject failures through and through, one way or another. So at least Steam Machines were noteworthy enough to be remembered even if they too failed.

How do I think Valve could get the concept right this time around? Well, take everything they've been learning with the Steam Deck, and apply it to new Steam Machines. They made a standardized, purpose-built APU for the Steam Deck; do the same with Steam Machines while adding flexibility (to some degree) with upgrading performance if the user wants to. They don't have to make just one APU/specs package either; they could make one targeting low-end, one for mid-end, and one for high-end; as long as they're all running Steam OS and have tightly coupled utilities & features, it should go over smoothly. It'd also allow for more flexibility on pricing.

The way they're now working with OEMs to make Steam Deck variants? Do the same with Steam Machines; if there are additional features OEMs want to add, so long as they don't cause a conflict with the defaults, they should be allowed to add them. Working with OEMs also helps with device visibility in both marketing and brick-and-mortar retail stocking, and justifies larger production volumes. To me, those are the real reasons Steam Deck sales are "only" 3-4 million or such after the past 2-3 years, not because of lacking demand. And online sales even for mainstream systems like PS5 & Switch pale in comparison to the volumes they move in actual physical retail spaces.

A lot of these things, I've already mentioned as stuff Microsoft should probably do for their next Xbox devices. But the thing is, Valve have the actual experience and a much bigger platform to leverage in Steam. They're also a smaller company, which makes them more flexible and agile in creative & business decisions for this type of market. Microsoft certainly have the resource advantage, in theory, but they've yet to show they can execute on the concept and that upcoming ASUS "Xbox" handheld looks like a very poor cash-in attempt. Some of the rumors around the next Xbox also don't inspire a ton of confidence they will put in the R&D, and TLC needed to make a truly viable consolized PC gaming platform. After all, why should I put that level of faith in them when they weren't able to make Xbox consoles a viable market option against PlayStation for the past 10 years?

So yeah man, a lot of potential for a Steam "console", as it were. I just don't think we'll see anything of that until another 3 or so years; they're fairly focused on Steam Deck for now and further refinement of Steam OS, which I think are smart decisions for the time being.
 
I am OK with them taking the steamdeck approach to a standalone 'console'.
Release their own preferred spec but also release the OS for everyone to use.
What they need at this point is a dual boot type mode - one encrypted and locked down for ranked multiplayer, and one the regular free for all.
 
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