this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2025

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[Debunked] Valve Is Building a 'Steam Console' To Rival PS5 and Xbox, Rumour Claims (insider-gaming.com)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

129 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Debunk from dev Pierre-Loup Griffais ‪@plagman.bsky.social‬

"we've done pre-release Mesa Vulkan work on every AMD architecture since Vega thanks to them kindly providing hardware, so there's nothing meaningful to read into there."

source

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[–] [email protected] 64 points 1 month ago (7 children)

This rumor has been going around for a few months now, mostly because of some commits targeting new unknown hardware to SteamOS afaik.

I hope the rumor is true, I love my steamdeck but something a bit more powerful that allows me to play Steam games in 4k on my TV would be awesome. If they run the same exact OS as on the steamdeck you could even do stuff like ad-free youtube using Firefox.

[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 month ago (2 children)

but something a bit more powerful that allows me to play Steam games in 4k on my TV would be awesome.

I got news for you! You can literally build a computer to do this right now, no need to wait for steam.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I know that. I want something ready to go with a dedicated controller and not fiddle around with components myself that may run too hot or are too noisy etc.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Good news: pre-built PCs are also a thing.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Pre-built PCs come with Windows and are not suited for a console-like experience out of the box like a machine with a preinstalled OS for gaming (whether that be SteamOS, Orbis (PS4/5), Horizon (Nintendo Switch), or Xbox's OS).

Not everyone is comfortable with installing their own OS/deleting Windows either, regardless of how easy it is.

Something like a Steam Machine 2 can really appeal to console gamers who want to dip their toe into PC gaming while still maintaining a console-like experience.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yeah I get all of that. I'm just saying if you want to do it, you can, today. And it's not even terribly complicated.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

technically? yes

but don’t act like it’d be the same

aesthetics, build quality, assurance that it’d all work smoothly, the whole experience just wouldn’t be the same

which is to say nothing about the fact that SteamOS doesn’t really work on hardware that’s dissimilar to the steamdeck… if they released a console, one would assume it would have higher specs

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Steam has big picture mode, and gives the console experience. It's not really that difficult to install steam on a PC.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Do you want some eggs? I got news for you! You can literally build a chicken shed right now, no need to wait for farmers.

Seriously, the same captain obvious answer all the time when a Steam console is mentioned. It’s infuriating. Consoles exist for a reason, to provide a ready and verified environment for playing games without any fiddling.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Can I build a chicken? That's the real question..

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Please don't fuck a chicken

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

I would argue that's no longer the case.

I was a long time console gamer, for exactly the reasons you mentioned- no fiddling. I was time-poor, so I wanted to be able to slip the cartridge/disc in, and just play.

Those days are gone, my friend. I turn my console on less and less. Every time I do, I need to download game updates. But I can't do that unless I download the system update. I need to sign in to various networks just to be able to do this. Usually with a paid subscription.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There's also been some arm SoC work by valve, could be they're gearing up for a new SteamStation, could be that they're opening up SteamOS for 3rd party manufacturers like Lenovo. Only time will tell.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

The ARM SoC work is likely for a VR headset to rival the Meta Quest line. Valve isn't going to build a console-like PC without an x86 processor in it any time soon until x86 emulators like FEX and Box86 become more advanced and faster.

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[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Steam Machine 3: This time it's personal.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago

Instead of the Electric Boogalo, it's the Steam Dreamaroo.

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[–] UncharismaticSatyr 24 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

I think I'm part of steam machine's target market. Games are leisure time. I don't want to be worrying about processor-graphics cards combos. I don't want to worry about which game runs, or optimising settings. I want to turn it on and have fun.

Sadly, I've been in emulating recently just to get away from micro transactions so I have to spend a lot of time tinkering. First mini pc that flawlessly runs 360/PS3 and is less than £500 I'm getting it.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago (6 children)

You’ll have a long way to go on the software side before worrying about hardware

Like you said though, just buy a prebuilt and you’re already there

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 month ago (10 children)

This could be nice for folks that want a console-like living room experience that "just works".

Me? I built a Linux HTPC a dozen years ago and have periodically updated the graphics card (it gets the hand-me-downs from my main gaming PC) so I don't need this. I'm far more interested in a Steam Controller 2 😄

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

I'm not the target for such device, I play on my PC and on the Deck when on the couch. But I wish the rumor is true, it will boost PC gaming as a whole

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago

Something something steam link…

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Again?

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Third time's the charm. Well, in their case second time was the charm, the steamdeck was such a success that I understand the decision to try out the steam machines idea once again.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

If they build it as an actual console rather than the previous thing where anyone could put out a PC, install SteamOS on it, and call it a Steam Machine, then it will probably be genuinely competitive with Xbox. Sure, it'll still be a standard X86-64 system running Linux, but they need brand control.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago

And why not? That's all consoles are, now. Do you want the blue AMD laptop, or the green AMD laptop?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (5 children)

I'm not sure what would be the point. Isn't it "just" a PC with Steam OS running on it? Would it be to help people just default to SteamOS?

Anti Commercial-AI license

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Having a popular, standardized pc with fixed hardware and OS would enable game developers to aim that as minimum(or recommended) requirement and to optimize their games for that. And since it will be running linux, this means that gaming in linux would become even more mainstream and better supported too.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Also being theoretically not portable, it could be more powerful than the Steam Deck making emulation even easier.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago (3 children)

aren't the other consoles just pcs with custom os?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

Kinda, but not quite. The main difference, imo, is that consoles have several anti-tampering measures in place, often as exclusive hardware, to ensure owners don't jailbreak. The PC is, by design, open and "unsafe", without measures to stop owners from doing whatever.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

When the first Steam Machines were announced years ago, I assumed they'd all be running the same hardware like consoles do, and I thought that was actually quite a good idea because it could give game devs a sort of "baseline" set of hardware to aim for, as opposed to the sort of "vaguely make it run on Windows" system we seem to have currently. So if the new ones are all more-or-less the same kit like the Steam Decks are, and they take off well enough, it could be handy in that way I guess.

Plus it'll presumably run SteamOS so more Linux exposure which I always appreciate.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Optimization profiles for games to target the specific hardware. It would be for people that want a steam deck like device that isn’t portable. Which would probably sell more units than a steam deck now. If priced right I would put it in my living room. It just needs to have the QOL that comes with console for couch gaming.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

From reddit:

is this trust worthy?

Extasis mentions this guy handledeck as the source

https://xcancel.com/HandleDeck/status/1886501899832021224#m

which links to this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgKzbHIWDK4

which just mentions this article https://www.phoronix.com/news/Mesa-25.0-RADV-RDNA4-State

saying: "by reading this article carefully we can come up to the conclusion that..."

Seems all bullshit.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

Instant pre-order for me. Steamdeck has been by far my favorite gaming console but TV performance is only good for low requirement games and I'd love the same experience for proper 4k gaming even if it's medium fidelity.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

The article has been updated, this isn't true unfortunately.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Press X to doubt.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I run Bazzite HTPC Version on my gaming rig, i would consider this the best console experience nowadays. A huge amount of games, no need to rebuy games i allready owned on a previous PC and most games run out of the box just fine.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

The Steam Box is back!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Ok. And how much will it cost?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Likely more than consoles which are usually sold at a loss.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

Do want.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

A new steam link would have been nice

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Overall, this makes sense. We've kind of acted like console gaming is somehow separate from computer gaming because of consoles exclusive monopolies on various titles, but it's become much clearer over time that it's actually PC which has been gather exclusive titles by... just... Being easy to develop for with no requirement to port? It looks more and more like we're seeing PC taking over the gaming space more and more. Hopefully valve can pull this off right.

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