Valve Announces Steam Machine and Controller, a New Era for PC Gaming on the Living Room TV.
In an effort to bring PC gaming into the living room, Valve has announced its latest hardware, known as the Steam Machine. This compact cube is powered by SteamOS, a custom Linux-based operating system that offers fast suspend/resume features, easy access to cloud saves, and compatibility with Proton, a key feature for running Windows games on Linux.
The Steam Machine boasts powerful specs, including a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU and an AMD RDNA3 GPU with 28 compute units. The device comes in two configurations with 512GB or 2TB of unspecified SSD storage. While Valve hasn't released pricing details yet, the company is confident that its hardware will meet the demands of gamers.
In addition to the Steam Machine, Valve has also introduced a new controller designed specifically for PC gaming on the living room TV. Dubbed the "Steam Controller," this device features dual touchpads underneath the thumbsticks, providing users with improved control options. The controller also includes haptic motors and programmable grip buttons for enhanced feedback.
The Steam Controller will utilize a proprietary 2.4 GHz wireless connection, allowing for low latency and end-to-end performance. This connection will be built into the Steam Machine but can also be used via an included "plug and play" Steam Controller Puck that supports up to four wireless controller connections.
Software-wise, the Steam Machine will run on SteamOS, offering compatibility with Proton and a range of features for PC gamers. The new operating system has been optimized for performance and provides a seamless experience for users.
While the Steam Machine is designed to be an alternative to traditional desktop gaming, it's unclear how Valve intends to position its hardware in the already crowded living room gaming market. With pricing details still unknown, the success of this project will depend on how simple and convenient it makes PC gaming accessible to a wider audience.
As more information becomes available and hands-on tests are conducted with the Steam Machine and controller, we'll provide updates on this exciting new chapter for Valve's gaming endeavors.
In an effort to bring PC gaming into the living room, Valve has announced its latest hardware, known as the Steam Machine. This compact cube is powered by SteamOS, a custom Linux-based operating system that offers fast suspend/resume features, easy access to cloud saves, and compatibility with Proton, a key feature for running Windows games on Linux.
The Steam Machine boasts powerful specs, including a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU and an AMD RDNA3 GPU with 28 compute units. The device comes in two configurations with 512GB or 2TB of unspecified SSD storage. While Valve hasn't released pricing details yet, the company is confident that its hardware will meet the demands of gamers.
In addition to the Steam Machine, Valve has also introduced a new controller designed specifically for PC gaming on the living room TV. Dubbed the "Steam Controller," this device features dual touchpads underneath the thumbsticks, providing users with improved control options. The controller also includes haptic motors and programmable grip buttons for enhanced feedback.
The Steam Controller will utilize a proprietary 2.4 GHz wireless connection, allowing for low latency and end-to-end performance. This connection will be built into the Steam Machine but can also be used via an included "plug and play" Steam Controller Puck that supports up to four wireless controller connections.
Software-wise, the Steam Machine will run on SteamOS, offering compatibility with Proton and a range of features for PC gamers. The new operating system has been optimized for performance and provides a seamless experience for users.
While the Steam Machine is designed to be an alternative to traditional desktop gaming, it's unclear how Valve intends to position its hardware in the already crowded living room gaming market. With pricing details still unknown, the success of this project will depend on how simple and convenient it makes PC gaming accessible to a wider audience.
As more information becomes available and hands-on tests are conducted with the Steam Machine and controller, we'll provide updates on this exciting new chapter for Valve's gaming endeavors.