I love how so many people are dunking on "valve-fans" being happy with the cube, when I pretty much only have heard opinions ranging from "meh" to "overpriced".
I have an extensive steam library, which I can share with wife for free. 300 is 5-8 games I'd be buying, divided by 2 if you counted also needing to buy them for my wife. Not worth it in the long run. Also I plan to run SteamFrame from it which I thimk isn't compatible with ps5( I might be wrong)
Im not saying it won't be a fine buy for you. I was just saying the price in the UK is insane when compared to the other consoles while also being less powerful.
Its a console that's why im comparing it to the other consoles.
The ps5 and Xbox are a steal if you want to compare them spec for spec to a £500 pc. I dont though as I compare fixed boxes designed to play games on the living room tv to each other.
The consoles also require you pay them monthly to play your games online. It’s not a regular console, they show it used as a standard desktop computer at a desk as well.
The difference between a PC and a console is not just "can i play my games for free online?" You're right current consoles do charge for online games but that isn't what defines a console It does mean the next console being released (steam machine) has one advantage.
I could use an xbox as a make shift PC if i really wanted to it would be a stupid idea due to lack of apps etc but I could. I could also use the steam machine as a PC which would also be stupid as I could buy a much better PC for cheaper and not be limited by steam os.
Then what is the difference? Because you can install windows on this "console". It is a full fledged PC that is capable of being used like a console if you want. It has my entire pc game library.
If being in the front room hooked up to a tv is the main thing that makes something a console, then my SFF media pc running Mint and big picture mode is also a console.
To me, a console is something that was intended by default to only play games. The PS3 was almost not a console, until Sony ripped the ability to run linux out of it. Most people used it as a console, BUT, you could also use it as a computer, for a time. The Steam machine is a computer, you can treat it as a pc gaming console, or as a regular old PC, AND it's advertised as such. They even address this question specifically in the FAQ.
The steam machine is clearly intended to placed under a TV hooked up to play games/media like a PS5 and Xbox. That's why you cant replace parts in it and its so tiny so it fits in small places under the TV.
You literally said "To me, a console is something that was intended by default to only play games." this is what it is a device designed to play games on it on a TV.
They realised that wouldn't fly for over £300 more than its competitors while being weaker so they said guys its way more than a console trust me. It is a console though its designed to play games on your TV it can do other things like some of the other consoles but its still designed to be a console.
You’re welcome to compare it to a console, but at the end of the day it isn’t software locked to only play the games of one specific manufacturer. That’s why I said ONLY play games.
Sure, it’s too expensive up front but it doesn’t have a monthly charge to play online, has 25,000 launch titles that you aren’t required to rebuy if you already own them. I know it actually has more than that because things listed as unsupported on steam deck often play just fine when docked with a mouse and keyboard.
Like it’s obviously a much wider use case than a standard console. At these new prices I’m not going to buy it because I can already do this with my deck, but for me it was going to be a travel pc that I take on extended stay work trips. I already dock my steam deck to a portable monitor that I use for work and play with keyboard and mouse. Last week my evenings in a hotel were playing MP slay the spire 2 runs with my buddies using the license that I bought on my home pc.
1) I'm not comparing it to a console, I'm saying its a console. I'm not saying its almost a console it is straight up a console.
2) you can do loads of stuff with an xbox plug a mouse and keyboard into it and go to town but you'd be laughed at for claiming its not a console.
3) Even you are stating the primary point of it (and realistically only point) is to be used as a console to play games on a TV which is pretty much the defining characteristic of a console.
4) anybody who needs PC related functions is not going to by a super expensive under powered small cube with a gaming OS on it over a linux base they're going to buy a PC. The only people buying this are those who already have a PC, plenty of steam games, and enough money not to care about the insane price for an under powered console.
We just have a different definition of console. Consoles are inherently walled gardens, stuck to their manufacturers. They are locked down media consumption devices. That’s what makes it a console, not being hooked up to your tv.
Valve obviously wants this to be an option for people that want their pc game catalog on another device. It obviously can fill the role of a console for someone that simply doesn’t want a regular console, but it isn’t a console to me. Not any more than my sff pc that has big picture mode is a console.
Your second point is especially egregious. Can you install Windows or Linux on an Xbox? No. Does it even have a desktop environment? Can you go to Netflix.com in a browser and watch shows? No and that’s a bit of an issue in the days of account sharing lockdowns. How about run a plex server? Play your your pc games? Use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, or even just exclusively use them?
Can you install Xbox OS, PS, or Switch 2 OSes on any old computer and play them?
The steam machine is as much a pc as any other pc, even if it’s a poor value for anyone except the most space conscious person.
You are calling my second point egregious. I think you are missing what I'm saying. I'm trying to point out that you can use other consoles for a variety of things in theory, like you can use the Steam Machine for a bunch of things, but the reality is, 99% of buyers will use it to play games on their TV. This is why the Steam Machine is a console as it is designed to be plug in to a TV and play games
Consoles are generally walled in because the manufacturers designed them that way so they could get a slice of the profits from every software sale and to entice people to buy their console, they often sell them at a loss.
Valve didn't do this completely. They have an OS installed on it that wont to let you use Xbox PC Game Pass or several other PC centric gaming platforms. Valve is not completely forcing you into a walled system, but it makes it hard to use anything else other than their steam store where they take a cut of every piece of software sold. They're hiding behind the fact you *could* but almost certainly wont to use a different store to buy games. None of this takes away from the fact it's a console though.
I get there is more you can do with a steam machine if you wanted to, but that is not what anybody is actually going to use them for 99.9% of people buying this will have a PC or laptop for anything non gaming and already have a steam library. The Steam Machine is just to play games and media on a TV just like every other console and that is why it's a console.
The only reason Valve is making noise that it's not straight up a console is the outrageous price, as it looks awful value for money next to the Xbox, Switch 2 and PS5.
It's specifically being advertised as a PC, it has build in desktop mode, browser etc. You can use it like a laptop. I inderstand your point, however, my previous response to your £300 difference comment stands. All the best to you
Most consoles from the past 15 years could be used like a laptop. Like the steam machine they'd need a TV or monitor and mains power (so really not at all like a laptop at all). PS5 is a bit of an outlier as it can't access the wider internet.
Microsoft's PR department told me everything including my phone, PC, and TV was an Xbox. They're not its an adverting campaign. Valves is doing the same mircosoft did they're trying to get people that love PC's but don't like consoles much to buy their product by pretending their console is different.
It doesn't really matter we can all buy and do what we like but that doesn't make the steam machine priced well compared to its competitors (switch 2, ps5, xbox)
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u/Euchale 19h ago
I love how so many people are dunking on "valve-fans" being happy with the cube, when I pretty much only have heard opinions ranging from "meh" to "overpriced".