pudel
Member
Its not only that. He is also preserving everyones gaming library on steam. If you can make sure yr game(s) runs on linux...its literally saved for eternity.
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What is Valve's ultimate goal with Steam Machine?
- Thread starter Shogmaster
- Start date
Sept Terrion Of Nothing
Member
They just like experimentation. At least this is the feeling I got from them. Of course they wanna gain more money but I cannot see this from their hardware behaviours.
And this is totally fine.
And this is totally fine.
Mikado
Member
Indirectly, yes. And to be fair, they do that quite effectively already, and without having to deal with supply chain, manufacturing, warehousing and repairs for hardware that will be obsolete before it is even released.
I rather suspect they're doing the same thing they tried to do the last time they pushed the steam machine project ~ which was coincidentally the same era when MS was starting to act weird about what they would allow on their Windows platform.
Proving that there is a more-or-less portable means to continue Steam gaming with or without MS's approval is likely vital for their business.
In my mind, Proton is the actual product here; the newest GabeCube hardware is just another "Reference Device sold more-or-less at cost" effort to show that a functional, non-Windows Steam-capable device can be assembled "cheaply" (albeit for a definition of "cheap" that fits in the 2025 economy). For everyone saying they can do it better or cheaper or more performant - they're likely right! But that would align with Valve's play just as well.
...
Honestly the last piece of the puzzle Valve really needs to solve for widespread non-MS/Linux-based gaming is the Anticheat thing. Companies have no problem using Epic/Tencent's EAC as an off-the-shelf solution, so I'm sure if Valve made a good solution there, it would find adoption.
Knightime_X
Member
At least you have options.
Get a real pc that'll last several generations or a steambox that you'll need to upgrade every so often depending on the demands
TrebleShot
Member
Oh my sweet summer child.
Its to grow users on steam
To then earn more money.
Its not about winning or beating anyone you fool.
Its all
About more people in steam buying games in steam.
Every game microteamsaction and transaction on steam equals 30% to VALVE.
Basic economics my son.
Its to grow users on steam
To then earn more money.
Its not about winning or beating anyone you fool.
Its all
About more people in steam buying games in steam.
Every game microteamsaction and transaction on steam equals 30% to VALVE.
Basic economics my son.
Rentahamster
Rodent Whores
Pretty sure they do it directly too.
Sell Steam Machine, get money. Steam Machine user buys game on Steam, get money. Steam Machine user gambas CS skins on Steam, get money.
Durin
Member
Similar to the Steam Deck, they want to extend the utility of their storefront library to another form-factor experience.
They want to add value to their existing base to spend more on games, and over time also get more people that aren't on Steam yet.
Also, I genuinely think they just like making this stuff themselves, given the new Steam Controller's haptic grip feature exists largely because an engineer there was super into gyro controls.
They want to add value to their existing base to spend more on games, and over time also get more people that aren't on Steam yet.
Also, I genuinely think they just like making this stuff themselves, given the new Steam Controller's haptic grip feature exists largely because an engineer there was super into gyro controls.
Crayon
Member
There's got to be a way. Maybe if there was a special session you boot into with no root access and a signed kernel module? Even then, it's not like they could just sneak that past everyone like proton. They'd have to get the anticheat providers on board.
Wildebeest
Member
Good question. Its insurance. If something happens to their ability to keep their steam storefront on windows as it is then they don't have to start from zero with their own platform, or purely rely on courts, like Epic with Apple.
Sorcerer
Member
With the Deck and now the new Steam Console, I believe they want to introduce consolers or even new players into the pc world. I don't believe the plan is to dominate with hardware, I think they want people to realize the benefits of pc gaming vs. console. If they can move people over, they have won, regardless of whether they make any more new hardware or not. The hardware is not the most powerful but if you enjoy the experience, you can go nuts and get as much fidelity as you can afford (or not afford) LOL!! Valve doesn't care what machine you play on a $5000 rig or a Steam Deck, as long as you are on Steam.
I bet Valve is thrilled you can access Steam on the Magnus and the Ally. Microsoft is doing the work for them. LOL!!!
The no online fee for multiplayer is very compelling in and of itself. Once you are used to that it's pretty hard to shell out for that on consoles.
And if you are new to the sales, and not a vet, the pretty much round the clock sales of stuff can be very compelling at first.
I truly belive Valve's heart is in VR however and that's what they seem actually passionate about. So, I would except they will never stop iterating on that hardware.
I bet Valve is thrilled you can access Steam on the Magnus and the Ally. Microsoft is doing the work for them. LOL!!!
The no online fee for multiplayer is very compelling in and of itself. Once you are used to that it's pretty hard to shell out for that on consoles.
And if you are new to the sales, and not a vet, the pretty much round the clock sales of stuff can be very compelling at first.
I truly belive Valve's heart is in VR however and that's what they seem actually passionate about. So, I would except they will never stop iterating on that hardware.
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MiguelItUp
Member
Expand PC gaming to those that are curious but haven't jumped in, while hopefully providing a reasonable price. While also just providing the option of a living room experience for other/current PC fans.
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PeteBull
Gold Member
MacReady13
Member
Pretty simple and concise.
darrylgorn
Banned
Remember when people said that the valve news wouldn't distract from GTA6 hype?
400 valve threads later...
400 valve threads later...
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DeepEnigma
Gold Member
GTA6 is a year away. You will see a metric ton of threads once they drop trailer 3 as well.
JohnnyFootball
GerAlt-Right. Ciriously.
nvidia is actually in a useable state right now for something like bazzite. It's still got a bunch of bugs, but DX11 and Vulkan performance is now pretty good. Its just DX12....I am hopeful it will get there and there is reason to be optimistic.
LavitzSlambert
Member
To differentiate their platform so it's not "just PC", which is clearly under assault by the current gaming giants. If you can play Steam games on the next Playstation or Xbox console, people will gravitate there and publishers will be able to exert influence (read: exclusives) to that platform. SteamOS and Steam Deck/Machines are a point of differentiation that will retain their Steam userbase and tie it to hardware so their ecosystem is not cannibalized.
dcx4610
Member
The Steam Deck was a success so now they want to try to put a Steam device in you living room, an office or allow non-PC gamers an easy solution. Even as a PC gamer, I'm super excited and want one for my living room/home theater setup for certain games. Long term, I think they want Steam OS to challenge Windows. As Windows continues to get bloated, hating its consumers (forced online accounts) and now with the AI taking over your PC news, now is the time to strike.
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Geometric-Crusher
"Nintendo games are like indies, and worth at most $19" 🤡
this product will sell ridiculously few units. Who will buy a Steam Machine when you can compare it to a real PC you know Windows compatibility with all software on market, Fortnite, upgrade and Nvidia GPU . Someone might say the price will be low, but as you know , it's possible to build a PC with used components from eBay... If I'm not mistaken, Sony decided to reduce the price of the PS5 this Black Friday.
sm is dead imo.
sm is dead imo.
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existensmaximum
Member
Yes, you're right! Just wait a couple of years and we'll see that the new Steam Machine is more hyped and popular than GTA6. Surely.
Wait, what?
lachesis
Member
Valve, even though it dominates PC/Linux gaming market - but whatever they produce are essentially niche product.
I don't think they are looking into making the next "it" product with this Steam Machine from the get go - it most likely won't enjoy mega sales like PS5 or Switch2, or even Xbox - but it is certainly pushing them to position themselves further into mainstream where they want to be. Simpler, more straightfoward console like experience for PC games?
They tried to do that with Steam Deck, and with their products before - so I think it's just another step forward - in conjunction with the actual Steam software itself, with more concise control / hardware profile.
I don't think they are looking into making the next "it" product with this Steam Machine from the get go - it most likely won't enjoy mega sales like PS5 or Switch2, or even Xbox - but it is certainly pushing them to position themselves further into mainstream where they want to be. Simpler, more straightfoward console like experience for PC games?
They tried to do that with Steam Deck, and with their products before - so I think it's just another step forward - in conjunction with the actual Steam software itself, with more concise control / hardware profile.
Wolzard
Member
There are Valve developers working with Nvidia on NVK, which will be the future open-source driver, equivalent to AMD's RADV.
All of this takes time. RADV started around 2015-2016, but began to perform well around 2020.
NVK started around 2022-2023, so I think in another 2 years it should be good. The last time I checked, it achieved about 50% of the performance of the proprietary driver. It already supports things like DLSS and ray tracing. In fact, the development of NVK made the Vulkan team rework some things that will benefit the performance of both the open-source and proprietary drivers.
Nvidia is actively involved, both with documentation and dedicated developers.
CrustyBritches
Gold Member
Nah. The Steam Machine will be sold to existing Steam enthusiasts. I'd wager the crossover of Deck+Machine owners will be extremely high. There's approx. 4 million Decks sold, about half will probably buy the Machine. It's for Deck owners to play on TV.
The purpose is to lay the foundation for SteamOS along with Deck and Frame. SteamOS allows them to determine their own destiny, regardless of what Microsoft does with windows.
The purpose is to lay the foundation for SteamOS along with Deck and Frame. SteamOS allows them to determine their own destiny, regardless of what Microsoft does with windows.
JohnnyFootball
GerAlt-Right. Ciriously.
As I've said, it's getting better, but I'd rather the proprietary driver improve.There are Valve developers working with Nvidia on NVK, which will be the future open-source driver, equivalent to AMD's RADV.
All of this takes time. RADV started around 2015-2016, but began to perform well around 2020.
NVK started around 2022-2023, so I think in another 2 years it should be good. The last time I checked, it achieved about 50% of the performance of the proprietary driver. It already supports things like DLSS and ray tracing. In fact, the development of NVK made the Vulkan team rework some things that will benefit the performance of both the open-source and proprietary drivers.
Nvidia is actively involved, both with documentation and dedicated developers.
Wilhelm_85
Gold Member
It's right there in the name!
ReBurn
Gold Member
I don't think it moves that needle in a meaningful way. As long as Valve keeps improving Proton devs have no incentive to release native Linux code. I'd wager that most people who use Steam Deck and who will use Steam Machine don't care that SteamOS is Linux. They only care that their games work. They want an easy to use experience, which is really what SteamOS is about.
Freelance Yakuza
Member
I believe Steam's bigger goal is to completely free itself from its dependence on Windows. Microsoft tried to lock down the PC when it launched Windows 8 and UWP.
Fortunately for us, most of the time Microsoft tries to monopolize something, it ends up failing miserably.
In any case, ever since then, Steam has been moving toward escaping Windows' grip, and SteamOS is their answer.
The Steam Machine will be another step toward encouraging people to migrate. With more users, developers will have an incentive to create native Linux versions.
And of course, Valve's goal is to make money.
Fortunately for us, most of the time Microsoft tries to monopolize something, it ends up failing miserably.
In any case, ever since then, Steam has been moving toward escaping Windows' grip, and SteamOS is their answer.
The Steam Machine will be another step toward encouraging people to migrate. With more users, developers will have an incentive to create native Linux versions.
And of course, Valve's goal is to make money.
Freelance Yakuza
Member
And honestly, this is the best kind of competition for us consumers. None of that crap of buying studios just to "be competitive."
The only reason I haven't left Windows completely is because I depend on the convenience of a few programs, like Office and OneDrive. If one day Valve decides to offer alternatives to those, and they're as easy to use as they are today, I'll say goodbye to Windows and never look back.
The only reason I haven't left Windows completely is because I depend on the convenience of a few programs, like Office and OneDrive. If one day Valve decides to offer alternatives to those, and they're as easy to use as they are today, I'll say goodbye to Windows and never look back.
CentralScrutinizer
Member
Money
Sinozen
Member
Their goal is get people to buy games on Steam.
The hardware can just sit there unused, it's not what's important. They've probably figured out with the Steam Deck that the more hardware they sell the more games they sell. So hopefully they price their hardware competitively.
Once a user is invested into their eco-system they become a permanent user. I have like 400+ games on Steam, that shit is my gaming life. Now I'm personally invested into Steam and its future because all of my games are tied in with them. It's those damn sales, man and hardware like the Steam Deck alongside it make it a no brainer to buy my games there rather than anywhere else.
The hardware can just sit there unused, it's not what's important. They've probably figured out with the Steam Deck that the more hardware they sell the more games they sell. So hopefully they price their hardware competitively.
Once a user is invested into their eco-system they become a permanent user. I have like 400+ games on Steam, that shit is my gaming life. Now I'm personally invested into Steam and its future because all of my games are tied in with them. It's those damn sales, man and hardware like the Steam Deck alongside it make it a no brainer to buy my games there rather than anywhere else.
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NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt
Biggest Trails Stan
I know this is a pipe dream but I hope this sell 100 Million or over since I want competition in the console space that's not just Nintendo and Sony
Bry0
Member
It's this. 100%. They are expanding the store to support Android apk too. The Android version of walkabout manifold was just added presumably for steam frame. So not only do they have proton for windows to Linux support. They have fex for x86 to ARM translation, and waydroid for running android apps in Linux. Steam is expanding and unchaining itself from windows.
EverydayBeast
ChatShitGPT Alpha 0.001
Same perspective, here is the original steam machine in 2018, steam deck sales sent messages to steam executives desks about new hardware that result is steam vr goggles and they pretend people want this and I think it will work out poorly for them just like the steam "machine" above
GreatnessRD
Member
So close to making that happen. Now if Linux can get a peace order with some form of anti-cheat, its over!
Pimpbaa
Slop Inspector
Same perspective, here is the original steam machine in 2018, steam deck sales sent messages to steam executives desks about new hardware that result is steam vr goggles and they pretend people want this and I think it will work out poorly for them just like the steam "machine" above
That sold poorly because steamos was shit back then. Proton was released later in the year and had severe windows game compatibility problems. It's launch depended entirely on games for Linux.
thicc_girls_are_teh_best
Member
That's actually really good to hear.