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[Three]

"Gaming enthusiasts who can't wait for next-gen"

Should have made the voting public because who the hell thinks 8GB VRAM and a laptop grade xx60 graphics card is for "gaming enthusiasts who can't wait for next gen" when the current gen already provides better than this thing?

This is designed to target the masses who want a cheap console to go against current consoles. The majority of steam users are already on the lower end too so it's just a TV device for those people.

 

[Zacfoldor]

Yep...its not really rocket science to build a pc....you slap together a few parts and thats it. Afterwards you put on whatever OS you desire....or all at once.

I have a gaming PC already. It is the beginning of the way but not the end.

It weight 100lbs and is in a case the size of a refridgerator.

Portability and stability will be very good on the Cube.

It's a side piece. Should we build 2 gaming PCs if we want a 2nd one? I have 2 PS5s. A pro and a normal model and 2 different TVs. Why can't I also have a laptop or a nuc or XSS or GabeCube in addition to my bespoke PC I built? My love for gaming cannot be contained in a single unmovable machine and I'm too old to be hauling around a giant gaming PC to play for one night in a hotel or have it with my on my flight.

Where's the option for PC gamers who want to exit Windows?

The GabeCube comes with Linux, so the GabeCube is that option?

 

[Pasta la Vista]

I keep saying this in threads. But why the fuck do people keep thinking Valves intention is make profit on the hardware? They literally PRINT profit through virtual gun skin sales and digital transactions. This is a play to start taking a larger footprint in the PC space with Steam OS. Pushing people to consider moving away from Windows. This is their play. Their play is NOT to make profit off some hardware sales. If their motive was purely short term profit, they wouldn't be bothered with this shit AT ALL.

Exactly. I also think people are failing to realize that Valve is in a unique position where they aren't at the mercy of their hardware to get people to buy games on Steam. They already have an established storefront where the vast majority of PC gamers purchase their games.

Sony and Nintendo are at the mercy of their hardware in order to get customers on their store, This is why Sony and Nintendo (and formerly Xbox) need to sell their hardware in mass. Steamdeck didn't really light the world on fire, but did it negatively effect Steam game sales? No it did not. The box will be similar.

 

[Felessan]

People who like to play video games?

There is already a lot of options, many of them better at some aspects
I have Pro, rig with 7900xtx and laptop - all for different scenarios. And I honestly don't see where Steam Machine fit there

 

[pudel]

My love for gaming cannot be contained in a single unmovable machine and I'm too old to be hauling around a giant gaming PC to play for one night in a hotel or have it with my on my flight.

I am not traveling that much....but if I would do...I would just get a steam deck (preferably Steam Deck2 ) or a nice gaming laptop.

 

[Thanati]

Pretty much anyone with a Steam library.

 

[crackajack]

time will tell, but I think APUs so far were very much mostly CPU and GPU only okayish. So MiniPCs were rather limited in their gaming capabilities. You had to go at least SFF to get a decent GPU and some SFF cases have terrible power supplies which again prevented actually decent GPUs...
This has a decent GPU and a good enough CPU. At least for its compactness. It's imho more a console than a PC, question is then of course if it is just another Series S only few want or an entry level PC that makes actual PCs with xx60 cards obsolete.

 

[belteshazzar]

Not sure to be honest, as others have noted it seems somewhat redundant in the lineup. I think introducing a new steam deck with eGPU capabilities (and offer a dock with an integrated GPU) would've made more sense and a natural progression to the ecosystem. I would've been interested in that, but I really don't care about a non portable non upgradeable already outdated device permanently affixed to the desktop or living room. It has too many drawbacks.

 

[Jakk]

I honestly like the idea of Steam Machine, but the specs just seem too weak for me. I would rather buy a more powerful version or just install SteamOS on a custom mini-ITX build.

 

[jm89]

I initially thought maybe it attracts some casuals, but there is alot of games that casuals play that won't work on this due to anti cheats not working with linux.

 

[Sgt.Asher]

Green rats fleeing the sinking ss xbox.

Honestly it seems more like a novelty item, and those that buy it will be extremely loud about it. Much like current steam deck owners.

 

[Mortisfacio]

I think it's for console players that want to get into the PC space, steam deck and overall ecosystem enjoyers and current PC players with low end hardware that want an upgrade in a neat package.

As of October, this is an upgrade for 1/3 of Steam players on VRAM per hardware survey. 33.46% of hardware survey is at the 8gb VRAM mark, so 2/3 are at or below that mark.

 

[Diseased Yak]

Apparently the target is 51 year old life-long gamers who already have mega beefy PCs and all consoles ever made... Because I'm buying one!

It'll sit nicely beside my downstairs TV, where I shall game on it occasionally. Fun times ahead!

 

[Rambone]

I'd buy a Steam Machine for the sheer convenience and quality‑of‑life features that consoles have perfected. What I value most about consoles is the simplicity: powering on directly from the controller, no need to build or tinker with hardware, and no hassle with operating systems or endless settings. I just want to sit back on the couch or in bed, pick up the controller, and dive straight into my Steam library. In short, I want the same seamless, console‑like experience I've enjoyed for years, but applied to my Steam games and PC hardware.

 

[jzbadblood]

Basement dwellers

 

[Seiryu21]

I think valve is setting up an off ramp from Windows and targeting lower spec PC users first. I wouldn't be surprised if stronger versions of this release later.

 

[PeteBull]

I wanna see how owners of high end pc gonna be ok downgrading to quarter of performance they getting from their expensive desktop pc when playing that weaksauce SM in 2026, hell it will run gta6 worse than base ps5 and by the time we get pc port of that 16gigs of vram will be standard already.

 

[XERXES_89]

Console players who want to enjoy the PC goodness but are too retard to build their own PC.

 

[Futaleufu]

3 and 4

 

[mayham2199]

I think its a foot in the door for console players. If its cheap enough, some who are interested in PC but want the ease of a console will pick it up.

Maybe they start building their steam library. Maybe, buy a headset and a steamdeck. then they are fully in on the steam eco system. Realise how much better than consoles it is. Excellent refund policies, free online, free cloud saves. Then if they want more power they can happily upgrade to a gaming PC or maybe steam bring out more powerful boxes. If this is successful.

This will not be the failure the original steam box was, imo. It is going to have an impact on the industry.

It can't play some of the most popular GAAS games in the world. There's no way console players pick this up. Sony makes 50%+ of their revenue from GAAS games a lot of which do not work on SteamOS.

 

[Doctor Hades]

I can easily see a future revision of the Steam Machine replacing the Xbox Series X entirely as Xbox hardware seems pretty redundant these days as I have a much more powerful gaming PC. What I do not have is a PC that sits alongside my 55" OLED TV so the Steam Machine could be a very nice thing to have, particularly as I have 1,600+ games on Steam. I would imagine that like the Steam Deck, the Steam Machine will also allow my Steam games to be streamed from my PC to the TV.

Not interested in the initial hardware though as I don't think the GPU and VRAM are good for a console released in 2026. Will wait for the inevitable better Steam Machine with a RDNA4 GPU and 16 GB of VRAM.

 

[mayham2199]

I initially thought maybe it attracts some casuals, but there is alot of games that casuals play that won't work on this due to anti cheats not working with linux.

It's the #1 problem that a lot of people are just hand waving away.

 

[reinking]

"We've been super happy with the success of Steam Deck, and PC gamers have continued asking for even more ways to play all the great titles in their Steam libraries. Our work over the years on other hardware and even more importantly on SteamOS has enabled Steam Controller, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame to do just that" - Gabe

 

[CrimsonTide]

Steam Deck owner and Gaben enthusiast here

This product is for me! I still say the price needs to be right. But I am all in if it's a fair price

 

[CrimsonTide]

It's the #1 problem that a lot of people are just hand waving away.

Yeah, not an online gamer, but one would think this would keep away roblox casuals.

For me, this is just another way to enjoy my Steam Library of single player goodness.

 

[Mobilemofo]

I don't know but when I get mine, I'm gonna 3D print a GameCube design and install it over the Steam box.

It's a cheapish (?) entry point into the steam market for console gamers. Mid specs. Not everyone wants 'Powwweeerrr' or their games to look like some sort of neon whore house.

 

[Mortisfacio]

It's the #1 problem that a lot of people are just hand waving away.

I think your general public will have this issue as games like PUBG, Fortnite, Apex, etc. are big to the masses, but I think for GAF that's less a priority and why at least on here it's a non-issue for most. I know it's largely a non-issue for myself as I don't play these games. Every online game I actively play works on SteamOS.

 

[AndrewRyan]

Mostly use my steamdeck docked with XR glasses. A Steam Box would give 6x the performance, effectively gaining access to all the latest most demanding games at 1080p.

 

[tr1p1ex]

Valvedictorians

 

[Fbh]

I wanna see how owners of high end pc gonna be ok downgrading to quarter of performance they getting from their expensive desktop pc when playing that weaksauce SM in 2026, hell it will run gta6 worse than base ps5 and by the time we get pc port of that 16gigs of vram will be standard already.

For someone that already has a high end PC I don't see this is as a device where they are going to play GTA6 on.
It's more of a secondary device they can put next to the TV in the living room, that will have access to all their steam library and where they can play less demanding games that work well with a controller, like Silksong, Hades 2 or split fiction

 

[adamsapple]

My man Kacho .

 

[CraZed]

I seriously don't know who this is for. I voted Steam Deck users, of which I'm one, and I have no desire for one. Ive been in the Steam ecosystem for over a decade but I'd rather buy/build a PC and I have a console.
Are there many gamers PC or console players looking for this?
I can't see it being console cheap and it certainly isn't 'next-gen.' The GPU is anemic and its about as upgradeable as a Steam Deck and is still going to have anticheat issues. Of all the hardware announced it's the least exciting to me. I liked the original Steam controller and look forward to the new one and the Frame sounds dope.

 

[The_hunter]

It's probably for people who want a docked version of the Steam Deck, or a gaming pc for their TV.

 

[deeptech]

pc centric manchildren...

srsly, idk as market is full of various gaming devices, handheld is also pushed, streaming, consoles as pcs, fridges as xboxes, etc... i wouldnt do this if i was valve, but rather like just do branded but quality pcs, like alienware, razer, etc...

 

[ShirAhava]

As far as I can tell its aimed at four markets

-People who haven't upgraded PC since Kaby Lake/GTX 1000 or before so this would actually be a step up
-Valve fanboys
-Rich people who just buy anything without thinking
-Dumb people/NPC's

 

[EverydayBeast]

Various audiences will like it, steam big picture mode kinda had this steam machine attitude, now you can buy an Alienware steam machine.

Dell Alienware Alpha Gaming Console (Steam Machine R1 i3 Edition) Brand New 884116162131| eBay

Even when I eventually got my own place, I never did hook it up and it has been left in a box in my closet ever since.

www.ebay.com

 

[cinnamonandgravy]

cube enthusiasts
dust catcher enthusiasts
people that're scared of pc specs

 

[Shifty1897]

If this had existed back in 2023 I would have gotten this instead of upgrading my PC. I really only play Civ and retro or Indie games on PC, I don't need anything more than what Valve is doing with the Steam machine.

 

[ReyBrujo]

PC enthusiasts probably already have something far superior to this cube. I chose console players wanting to test PC and Gaben enjoyers. This is an extremely niche product that will most likely do worse numbers than GameCube.

 

[Brakum]

You're underestimating so hard the impact of only 8GB has on the games performance:

You will get this thing, and in one week will be asking yourself why aren't you playing on the PC or steam deck instead.

Again, my interest in playing AAA games on a steam machine or my steam deck is a big fat zero. I wouldn't buy it for those games, and i already have a steam deck and i dont play those games on it, not interested, never was, never will be. I play indie games on it and some JRPG's, in fact, on the deck, i prefer to play 8bit style rpgs such as chained echoes, over bigger 3d games.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

PC gamers that can't fit in office chairs anymore.

I'm team SteamOS. Steam Deck user that wants a living room box

 

[danklord]

A whole bunch of people became PC gamers for the first time thanks to Steam Deck but they're still intimidated or turned off by buying a PC. The conversion here is going to be too easy, and at the right price, just about every steam owner in the world could justify it.

 

[dcx4610]

I'm super excited for it and I'm mostly a PC gamer. I have a nice TV and Atmos sound in the living room. So to have a "console" that runs Steam and I have access to all of my games, that's pretty cool. That means I can buy all of my games in a single place and choose where to play them. I know you can stream your games from your PC but I've never liked that. I want a dedicated machine.

So that said, I think it appeals to Valve fans, PC gamers that want a companion device and people that want to dip their toes into PC gaming. The price is going to be everything though.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Speaking of that, is it easy to build a gaming pc and put Steam OS directly on it?

Yes, very easy.

You should be asking what happens after that.

Half of your machines internal components will be paperweight because you can't find proper Linux drivers for them.

You can't turn the thing on with your controller.

It's always louder and hotter than any custom solution like the Steam machine. Also larger in size, adding insult to injury.

And so on.

 

[SScorpio]

Not sure to be honest, as others have noted it seems somewhat redundant in the lineup. I think introducing a new steam deck with eGPU capabilities (and offer a dock with an integrated GPU) would've made more sense and a natural progression to the ecosystem. I would've been interested in that, but I really don't care about a non portable non upgradeable already outdated device permanently affixed to the desktop or living room. It has too many drawbacks.

All external GPU solutions suck. OcuLink that everyone likes to parrot about is only PCIe 4x. It bottlenecks even entry level GPUs. I think it was Miniforums, but maybe GtekCom than had a mini PC with proprietary GPU dock that gave you a full 16x interface. But I failed to see the point versus a MiniITX build. A GPU and PSU to drive it already take up a bunch of space. It's barely more to get a protective case around it and you can then use normal desktop parts with it.

All of the options for a new portable greatly increase the price while having a less than 2x performance uplift from the Steam Deck when you factor in power usage to have equal runtimes. Do you really want a gaming handheld that can do 1080p 120Hz, but then has only 1.5 hours of battery runtime? For the higher price you could have a mid range gaming laptop that has a discrete GPU and would be even more powerful than the handheld.

Valve is taking the Nintendo approach. There's no reason to chase the top end, give a good experience at a great price. If someone feels they need more, they can buy one of the more powerful options from other vendors. You'll still end up giving Valve money as you buy games anyways.

 

[danklord]

Yes, very easy.

You should be asking what happens after that.

Half of your machines internal components will be paperweight because you can't find proper Linux drivers for them.

You can't turn the thing on with your controller.

It's always louder and hotter than any custom solution like the Steam machine. Also larger in size, adding insult to injury.

And so on.

People will most likely start doing diy steamOS builds once everything is released and that's where things get interesting. It'll be cool to see it scale when you match it part for part with decent ram and a higher end GPU.

 

[OverHeat]

My wife. Casual gamer who share my game library.

 

[BlackTron]

There is already a lot of options, many of them better at some aspects
I have Pro, rig with 7900xtx and laptop - all for different scenarios. And I honestly don't see where Steam Machine fit there

It just means that you can play a Steam game on TV with the same amount of preparation or maintenance as your PS5. If you have that PC plugged into your TV already it's not going to help very much.

I use my best PC at a desk because I like high framerate FPS games. If I want to use it on TV, I have to change the display settings and switch the inputs around. It's not worth it to me to buy an entire extra powerful PC to save the extra step, but a mid dedicated box would save me a lot of friction because I actually switch it all the time to play controller couch games that require low specs like Megabonk...only to switch right back as soon as I want my desk back. I use this game as an example because it just sold 1m copies and there is no console version.

 

[Miyazaki’s Slave]

People that have a steam library and travel for extended time but don't want to mix a gaming pc with their work pc and also do not want to be restricted to playing on a steam deck.

I don't know who its for but as a mark ass mark I will buy one.

 

[Crayon]

It seems to be made with last night's leftovers. Switch 2 is $450 and many consider it a companion console to their PS5. So maybe this can sneak in like that? Steam deck manages to do a bit of that.