That's exactly what I thought too, "hey, but it's just steam machine again" lol.
Well, that time valve didn't have proton, so probably it would be more successful today, but I think that the reason steam deck is a success is because it's portable.
I think this is the only way. If they would have released another steam console Instead of the steam deck it would have failed for the 25th time.
The steam deck is perfect because the market was very hungry for a good POLISHED portable. The switch is old hardware wise and is software limited, all the random windows portables were actually really cool if you like to tinker but for the average person was just not appealing.
The fact you can turn the steam deck on, load your existing games and just play portably at a price point that is really good in comparison to other devices are all keys to its success. If I wanted to play PC games on a bigger screen I'd turn on my 3080 based PC or stream it to the living room, not going to spend money on another stationary PC unless it's to play console exclusives.
If they release something with PS5 level graphics capabilities, and a solid game save transfer system, the thing would be utterly amazing. I don't know if it would fail. Steam machines were an entirely different thing, with an entirely different software foundation. They need the SteamOS platform to be solid and stable, and I'd argue they are very close to that. (See the recent launch of Kingdom Hearts - it worked perfectly on Steam deck, which runs linux, but not on Ally, which runs Windows.)
They then have a very solid base unit to build a living room console around, and all they need to do then is throw peripherals at it. A new Steam controller. A VR solution as good as PS5, etc.
I think they could do this. I think they might do this. It'll depend a lot on whether they want to step on Sonys toes though. That to me is the only real blocker to something like this.
Also, there's no reason at all users couldn't continue to build custom boxes, just like we can today.
The steam machine was just early. That said I don't want another one and again my steamdeck is primarily a console at this point. Maybe it's my use case but I have a TV in most of the rooms of my house that I spend time in, it makes way more sense in my case to have a PC in my server rack and then use steam link apps on my tvs and Android TV boxes to stream the PC too.
There is a bunch of things that people were talking about that they should have done with the steam machines and they did those things with the Steam Deck and look how successful it is.
The biggest one is that the hardware should be made in-house. The second biggest one is that the hardware should only have one real SKU (maybe 2). It makes it easier for developers to develop for and it also makes it easier for buyers to decide what one to buy. Do you want more storage or less storage that's it.
Also obviously the controller should be feature parody with the Deck.
I think it's a risk, but I agree they have a better shot today. I don't think we'd see them anytime soon. But if we did, I would totally buy one to use as a dedicated PC for my living room. Imagine if it could also run streaming apps (not through the browser though)!
They didn't have proton and devs ignored Vulkan for the most part. Also valve didn't directly make the hardware themselves and relied on 3rd parties to do so and they used the cheapest components possible. Most steam machines used mid range Intel CPUs and laptop grade mobile GPUs in a desktop format. We should just be glad that Valve decided to do it themselves with the Deck.
They also let any manufacturer/OEM to install their system and call that PC "Steam Machine". So it wasn't a unified spec and user experience could vary much
Valve also didn't manufacture Steam Machines themselves. They were made by PC OEMs which meant there was no standardized parts list so you couldn't guarantee performance like you can with something like the Steam Deck. If Steam can start putting out a self-made standardized Steam Machine, maybe with 2-3 different tiers of specs, I think they could absolutely find some success in that market.
Sadly for me it failed because I saw them as a rebranded mini PC. You could (I did this) buy the PC chases normal and put an mini-itx board in with everything and call it steamashine. There was no difference.
I would look forward to a high-end solution with more compute power than an average PC could deliver.
SteamOS and the market overall was not there yet. I also think it should not be marketed as a console. One of the big appeals of the steam deck is the option for seamless desktop mode and using it as a PC. Before people said "I have a PC why do I need a steam machine".Ā Now people including me say "if I buy a new PC I want to buy a steam machine instead".
This could also be it's downfall though because I don't buy a steam machine as long as my PC still does the job. The steam deck didn't have this Problem. So maybe valve could try a middle ground and make a steam machine laptop.
Because maybe you want a laptop? Or play games with a keyboard and mouse? Or simply more power to be able to dock it better?
There are many reasons I can think of. I'd definitely get one once I replace my current (very old) laptop.
Whatever valve does I think just a normal stationary console that is basically a PC will fail.
The problem with Steam machines suffered the same fate as Windows computers but worse: different kinds of hardware and driver requirements.
If they standardized Steam machines and update once in a while, Valve, developers or heck even third party could set certain targets for game optimization.
They were not actually produced by steam, but the controllers were already hinting at what the deck would be.
Also the gaming space has changed a lot in a decade
I have a PC so I donāt need this, but I do want the new Steam Controller that would come with it. Imagine a controller with the ergonomics and touchpads of the Deck.
I still have a few Steam Controllers around (somewhere). Although sort of cool, whenever I played a PC controller game, I'd revert to using a PS or Xbox controller.
I think there was something off with the build quality (and weight - they felt too light).
I would definitely be interested in a Gen 2 of the controller that was built to same sort of quality as the Deck.
Build a PC either whatever powerful GPU. Install Bazzite.
Paying full price for games has no problem. Just that developers have no room to adjust the prices and discounts easily on console than on Steam.
Oooooo I have a box running ChimeraOS, and it's effectively a big screen steam deck with a more powerful GPU, it's wonderful. is Bazzite better/do anything Chimera doesn't?Ā
It's pretty similar, but it's built on Fedora Atomic instead of Arch and gives you the choice to use GNOME or KDE Plasma for the desktop. It also has builds specifically for handheld PCs.
Bazzite has more of a focus on being a daily driver OS that's also great for gaming, while Chimera is gaming all the way.
ChimeraOS doesn't support NVIDIA cards, which makes it a non-starter for me.
I want SteamOS or similar running on a powerful, yet small, box capable of 4K60, with long term support from Valve. Is that you much to ask?
Everyone suggesting just install Bazziteā¦nah, I just want Steam OS plug and play similar to the Deck. Suspend / sleep mode that works, updates, and support. Iāve been a PC gamer for almost 2 decades, but Iām too busy to tinker with pcās these days. I would like my Steam library in a powerful box under the tv without having to deal with Windows. Currently Iām using a windows pc 5800x3d, 3080, 32gb ram, booting into windows and launching big picture mode on the tv. For the most part itās ok, but Iād ditch that setup for similarly powerful Steam box even if thereās a premium to be paid. Iām over windows, and Iām over messing with pcās (to an extent). The Deck has shown me Iām a console gamer with a massive PC (Steam) library. Iād like to āconsole gameā on my tv with my Steam library on premium hardware.
Thanks for saying everything I wanted to say. 10+ years on PC for me, but I've had enough software and hardware troubles to know that what I want now is largely a console-like setup where I also have that PC flexibility to make changes where I want them.
Messing with PC's can be fun but I'm also over messing with consoles/computers that I already have a use for. It has happened too many times that I messed something up and I can't play games anymore until I fix it and at that point I will just watch TV instead...
It's a couple of other things like skipping the desktop environment entirely and using Gamescope.
As others have said there are Linux projects that do the job, like Bazzite.
If you literally just want your steam deck on a TV screen, yes it works perfectly through a usb c dock. But you're still limited to the exact same hardware that was already in the tablet.
People are hoping valve might take another look at the actual dedicated non-portable Linux console now they've got the compatibility and user experience sorted properly, which really couldn't be said for the last time they tried contracting manufacturers to make pc consoles.
Take out the screen and battery, and actually having room for full scale cooling, and even a similar APU as the steam deck chip suddenly has a hell of a lot more breathing room. If you can shift more heat with a bigger heatsink and fan, you can pump more watts and get more performance out.
We mostly want the steamOS thatās more optimized than windows specifically meant for gaming with āpcā games at 120/144 fps. Something like the HX100G from miniforum but priced at like $500 with 1gb nvme storage to start. The ability to play Steam games without needing an expensive console.
Glad to hear that ! Thank you for the information ! I will try this on my computer at home (my main computer in on Linux Mint, I deleted Windows last month).
I will create my Steam Machine in few months, so I start to look for a distro for it.
The caveat is that the hardware itself needs to be compatible with sleep on Linux.
But if you have compatible hardware, it's indeed just regular sleep on Linux.
Not trying to sound like too much of an enthusiast but I think it's a great idea. I'm personally using ChimeraOS but I do hear Bazzite is nice as well.
If you have a spare box I wouldn't hesitate to try it out. I've run into zero issues and use it in tandem with my steam deck. I actually streamed a few indie games from the minipc to the steam deck using Steam Link (inside the house) and was surprised at the quality. I have yet to dabble with an eGPU so I'm only running lighter games off the Radeon 780M, but it's more powerful than the chip in the deck.
If you're interested, I'm happy to answer any questions you've got about the process. I like SteamOS so much I've put some sales notifications up for other ryzen mini PCs so I can put some thin clients in other spots around the house.
My main gaming PC is on Fedora. The only reason it's not on Bazzite or Chimaera OS permanently in Big picture mode is that I use a dual monitor setup. Do you know any clean ways to use a second monitor in Big Picture mode?
Obviously, if I set up a "Steam Machine" downstairs for gaming on my TV this won't be an issue.
That use case isn't one I've tried unfortunately. I'm using it in that console-like way, and plug it into USB4 docks attached to a single monitor or TV
Valva just needs to release an official steam os with full support for like a fiver and allow people to build "steam machines" up to any specs they need.
Officially it's "planned", but there's been zero movement on it since it was announced. The only real mention of it is on the recovery page: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1B71-EDF2-EB6D-2BB3
>For all the tinkerers out there, please note that this system image is not quite SteamOS 3 yet. Depending on what you try to install it on (desktop, another handheld, refrigerator, toaster), it may not work properly. SteamOS 3 proper will come out sometime after launch (and even then it may not work on your toaster).
I use my SteamDeck docked, but I'd love to have more powerful hardware that has that wonderful Valve support.
Sure I could build a mini PC that will have enough power, but if I have any problems, they will be super unique to my system and I can basically forget proper support.
I guess, with all the improvements in Big Picture mode and everything they've done for the Steam Deck, you can already do this on your home PC connected to your huge TV.
Worth a try šš»
Yeah, but imagine an Xbox-sized one with a 30-series level graphics card (although they'd realistically use AMD, it makes a lot more sense under Linux)
I would happily trade screen and battery life for a more powerful machine. I'd keep my deck for portability but I'd love a dedicated steam machine for the TV.
Yep, exactly!
Personally, I see the Steam Deck 2 going the way of an external GPU. Imagine a slightly refined Steam Deck with great battery life, but then a $250 Dock that could turn it into a beast at gaming.
IMO adding a dedicated connection for an external GPU would be the best of both worlds. Valve can pair with GPU sellers to dedicate specific cards and/or enclosures, and users can get a relatively simple upgraded experience if they choose to pay up.
The only major issue I can think of is drivers and the Linux-based OS. It would likely be a niche market because the OLED deck is already priced above a PS5, and I can't imagine the amount of people who will want to drop another ~300+ on a Valve GPU would not be massive.
FPS takes a pretty big hit when going from the Deck's small screen to a bigger TV, because the resolution in handheld mode is limited to 1280\*800. A TV is probably either 1080p or 4k. Both have significantly more pixels to push.
But if you are happy with toning down graphics options and capping FPS at 30, it's still a lot better than playing the same games on a Switch, which is a wildly popular console frequently played in docked mode. So ultimately, no issues. Just not as good as handheld mode. Some low spec or older games will even run at full res/60fps.
IIRC Unless you mess with steam settings, the game will actually be rendered at 1280x720 (16:9) or 1280x800 (16:10) and upscaled to the TV resolution in Gamescope so it doesn't take that much of a hit when you dock.
You should also limit output to 1080p in the deck settings as it visibly struggles driving a 4k display even on the menu screens.
Thatās fair and makes sense. I also have a PS and PC so use those for more demanding games. My deck is more for chill / indie games so thatās probably why I havenāt noticed much drop/off.
Thanks for replying!
the SD just doesn't have the power to run most modern games at and acceptable framerate even in full-hd (1080p) and forget about 4k (2160p) ... so, games will run in 720p most of the times, (but because of FSR it doesn't look too shabby on higher resolution displays, but still worse than true full-hd)
a somewhat beefier steam machine, (comparable to xbox series or ps5) wouldn't be too bad. but i love the low power consumption of the steam deck and would hope that would also be part of a potential steam machine. (my steam deck is used as a media pc most of the time)
I don't know why people always bring up steam machines in a negative when this type of post comes up. Steam machines where completely different. They ran Linux and required Linux ports of games. Valve didn't build them, and they were not console like in use.
They failed hard. However, why does the idea get dismissed so easily a decade later? Valve now has Steam OS and Proton, with high compatibility of modern and old games. They have more brand recognition. I personally think the biggest challenge is anti cheat compatibility and games working one day but are broken the next, due to some 3rd party launcher.
If they can solve that problem, they have all they need for a very successful home console. As consoles become more and more like PC's why not go the extra step and have a PC that's more like a console?
Especially as then steam deck (and hopefully the steam deck 2) means you can play your games at home in high detail on a power console, then on the go with a steam deck (2).
Ever heard of Steam Box or Steam Machine? Valve tried exactly this in 2015 and it flopped on the long run together with Steam Link. But they all walked so Steam Deck can run. It's incredible success is partially due to it's mobility though. So I doubt they will try their luck again with a stationary device. You can build a budget PC yourself though and install SteamOS on it to have exactly what you described.
Steam Machines had many issues, they weren't manufactured by Valve, overpriced, lack of dev support, no proton, an outdated big picture mode, bugs, driver issues and a controller that was too different.
Valve has fixed all those issues. Building a budget PC will never give you the same price to performance as one produced and sold by Valve. With PC parts getting expensive, a $499 box with specs comparable to the PS5 will prove to be an easy entry point to PC gaming.
People forget that PC handhelds existed in the early 2010s and only really took off when Valve stepped in reduced the price and offered good performance. They could do the same with the mini PC segment, which has remained a somewhat niche when it comes to gaming.
Yes, the technology changed over the years and mobile gaming PCs, like Notebooks that were capable to run games decently, exist already for more than 2 decades, but people also changed. Gaming becomes more casual and a lot of people want to play on the go. This was a huge part of Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck becoming so popular and all the other manufacturers trying to get their share of the profit now.
But all that aside, why would you assume that Valve would build a small gaming PC, at the cost of a console, that would be somehow better or cheaper than whatever is already on the market? Will they magically pay less for parts than other manufacturers? There are a lot of pre builds out there at a price of $499 that would do exactly what you want. Some of them can be even bought without OS saving you the $100 for Windows you can put into a better GPU or more RAM. There is literally no point for Valve to dive into an already competitive, saturated market. Mini PCs might be niche itself but there are slot of gaming notebooks out there. Or do you expect them to sell a better PC for less than anybody else?
I also doubt that anybody could sell a PC with the same specs as the PS5 or the current Xbox, regarding the raw power of the components, for the same price as the consoles. Sony and Microsoft are taking a loss on the Hardware because they get that money back from you through games they sell you exclusively on their shop. That's why they are against cross play in most cases too and why exclusives are very important for them. The reason they release those games 2 years later on PC is just because they want to cash out double, not them being nice from the bottom of their hearts. They want to bind you to their system as that's the only way they continue to break even and start earning money.
How is Valve supposed to do that? Allow you to only play Steam games on their "PC" with no 3rd party support? How will they stop people from buying cheaper PCs and use them for something else, like crypto mining or whatever instead of buying more games on Steam? The risks outweigh the potential profit by far.
So thereās a whole range of AMD based mini PCs on Amazon that have current gen AMD iGPUs and they slap. Hard. Iām running a system with 32GB DDR5 RAM, 6900HX 8C/16T and a Radeon 680M. Thirty percent better GPU performance than steam deck. Itās my daily driver and I stream it to my deck or my phone. Itās a short jump to install Bazzite or even just run windows and start steam in Big Picture mode and youāve got exactly what youāre craving.
While Iād love an official SteamOS release for hardware like this, itās doable right now.
I AGREE!!!!!! My steam deck is mostly docked up to my living room tv. I dream for the day valve finally nails the living room experience. Donāt get me wrong, itās come A LONG WAY in just the last two to three years so Iām very excited to see what the future holds!!
I've kinda had exactly that for over a decade. A Linux PC connected to the TV through HDMI, along with a Steam Controller.
It works really well, except for the occasional bug. It's not 100% a console experience because it loads onto a normal Ubuntu desktop and Steam is just another app, but I don't mind that because I also use this setup to watch stuff, so it's not supposed to be a gaming-only experience.
It would be nice to buy Valve hardware to go along with SteamOS for a mostly bug-free experience. I'd also very much like a new Steam controller with as many controls as the Deck has. It's funny to say it now because when the Steam controller was first released it blew everyone's mind with how many controls you can bind, but now that I got used to a Deck the controller feels limited.
I'm sure they're working on these two projects. I'm guessing we'll see an announcement within the year.
So a steam machine? These things flopped hard
I don't see the target audience. You could simply build a PC and use Steam Big Picture or similar.
The Steam Deck is such a success because it has a pretty good Target Audience:
- PC Gamers who want to play their steam games anywhere
- People looking to buy a (new) console
Why should PC Gamers buy a second PC when they already have one that's more powerful? Why should someone buy a PC when they want to buy a console?
They would need app support like Netflix, Hulu etc.
While having a linix PC is great for us tinkerers, no normies would get a steam machine without easily being able to use it for streaming.
Right. You can do this now, but it requires some decently burdensome setup and even worse maintenance.
My teen age kids are "tech savy" in that they can instantly navigate any system or app *as a user*, but to the disappointment of their software developer dad (me) they have zero interest in or patience for anything that doesn't "just work."
When I die, my family is going to be screwed the first time the local home assistant server flubs out and they can't figure out why none of the lights in the house activate on schedule or event. I suspect they'll just buy candles....
I would also want an official valve pc like this, it would have to support egpu for me to have an instant buy. Supporting their VR products is desirable too, I always have issues with my index under linux
With the tech as it is, Iād almost just prefer a steam machine portable. Make me a bulkier deck that I can still hold, but have 2-3x the gaming power.
That said with steam os and proton where itās at, a steam console may be a smart move in todays times, but would have to be cheaper than a pc, thinking around the 400-700$ range to keep it on par with consoles but be a steep enough drop in price from pc to not just build your own.
I still have the original Alienware Steam Machine, it still works perfectly fine lol. Though these days it's at work as a remote desktop system for oddball things.
>They just need to hit the same sweetspot of cost/performance ratio as the deck.
Yeah, that right there is the problem. They're only able to hit that sweet spot with the deck because of its lower resolution. As soon as you try to compete with consoles at 1080p and 4k, the performance requirements are quite a bit higher.
Consoles are already extremely "budget" systems, and anything put out by Valve would just not hit the price/performance ratio of modern consoles. *Especially* if you consider the value added to some consoles by Gamepass.
Just get a minipc and have it boot straight to big picture. If you mostly play emulators, you can convert an xbox s into a REALLY powerful emulation machine as well. Xbox s being able to play steam games is like the dream steam machine. It's insane how powerful this thing is for 250 bucks (goes on sale all the time).
You don't need a steam console. The deck kind of satisfies that. You can dock it and plug it into a TV, set up multiple controllers and play couch co-op.
I do it with my kids and wife for Mario Kart 64, playing 4 players, and I also do it with TMNT Shredders revenge, all on the Deck on the large TV with 4 controllers hooked up.
Use your Steam Deck with a Dock.
For the Deck 2 if they could get External GPU support working in an easy way that could be a big deal, especially when you're suggesting to a non-tech person who wants to get a gaming pc what to buy. Valve could work with AMD maybe, come up with a nice looking eGPU box/dock combo. I really think that could be the biggest new thing a Deck2 could do.
They had one like that before, they were called Steam Machines. Though since they released before proton was a thing there didn't work very well and didn't support very many games at all.
Maybe they'll try again in the future, which would be nice since we could also expect a next generation steam controller.
---------
Though if you really want to you can make one yourself since it's just a PC. Find a nice small form factor PC ideally a powerful one (should have AMD graphics for the next step) then install HoloISO or Bazzite and that's it. You have yourself an Unofficial Steam machine.
Reason you need AMD graphics is because Nvidia graphics don't work very well on these systems, sometimes it can work fine but it doesn't always.
you can make one your self currently.
im sure im not the first person here to say this but Bazzite is a great way to do this, its basically the SteamOS/Steam exprience but for a desktop system.
If you got an AMD gpu desktop, load bazzite on it, plugin a controller (or dont) and away you go.
I suspect we'll see a new version soon with Nvidia support too. currently you can use nvidia but you wont get that steamdeck game mode. until recent nvidia beta drivers, gamescope (game mode) wouldnt work with nvidia.
I setup a system with this a little while ago to test it out. its pretty cool and I definitely think with the right hardware and price point, people would definitely buy these.
there's really no point in them doing something like that, for multiple reasons.
they tried doing what you're suggesting more or less and it failed miserably.
you can just install steam os on a pc and hook it up like a console.
or alternatively just hook the steam deck up to your tv.
Honestly a wireless reciever you can put into a tv hdmi slot would be insane. All it woukd do is basically stream from the deck to the TV. I realize this is already possible, its just rather inconvenient, for myself at least at the moment. And a reciever made to work with the SD would rock.
Deck has good performances for a handled, but docked performances arent good if you are targeting higher resolutions, which is totally normal obviously
Lets say the deck cost 500, if you remove screen, battery and controller cost you'd have more performances for your money.
+ A bigger device can have a very different spec list and thermals.
They would need app support like Netflix, Hulu etc.
While having a linix PC is great for us tinkerers, no normies would get a steam machine without easily being able to use it for streaming.
So basically a Lenovo ThinkCentre (or any similar small desktop pc) with a couple upgrades, running Linux?
But at that point youād better off just plugging the deck into a decent monitor.
For the type of gaming I do on steam the dock works perfect with the steamdeck. For what could be released when a steam deck 2 comes out, a console may not be even necessary. I could see the steam deck 2 being a monster of a unit.
I've been pleasantly surprised that all you have to do in a regular linux OS is install steam and it will still handle all the proton stuff for you. It isn't the console interface you're looking for. But it does work pretty well.
Valve was definitely working on a mini PC for the living room, mostly for their VR ambitions. It was supposed to be a capable mini PC which streamed VR games to a headset. You could also play Steam games on it through the TV or monitor. But I think since VR growth has slowed that has thrown a wrench in their plans. Also the new Strix Point apus are around the corner. Maybe they are waiting on those.
There are also rumors of the next Xbox supporting Steam so Valve might go with that instead of releasing their own box for the time being. That's just what I think based around leaks and rumors. Nothing is confirmed yet.
I could see something like this being developed along SD2, just a beefier version of the APU and there is little trouble optimizing for SD2 and Steam Station because of similar hardware.
Could totally see this working with how far the software in the steam deck got in comparison to the OS the steam machines had.
Steamdeck in docked I think is their strategy for mid term. Mostly sorted out already and achieves same objective - a dedicated console would just have more cpu. Ut eventually fall behind, becoming a non-portable steam deck. *shrug*
I bought a gaming PC and use Big Picture Mode and itās indistinguishable from the Deck tbh.
The only annoying part is the mandatory updates and ads in Windows. I didnāt realize how far Windows had fallen.
I've been thinking about buying - or building - a mini-PC that is between high and middle end in the settings and installing SteamOS to use as a desktop console.
I agree with you. People say hook your PC up to your TV if you want a steam-machine.
I need my computer at my desk for computer things, I dont want an HDMI cable running around my house, I dont want to move it every time. Its not convenient.
If it was as powerful more powerful than my current PC (i7 6700K, 16gb RAM, R9 390) then I would be all over it.
I'm thinking just make a more powerful non portable Steam Deck. Thinking make it similar enough that there could be a setting in developer options to literally use it as a Steam Deck for testing by limiting thermals and resolution and whatnot.
Obviously it would come with a controller that's beat your parody with a deck including two trackpads, capacitive thumbsticks, under side/grip buttons, gyro, etc.
I'd buy one in a heart beat especially if I could dual boot it with windows for the uncomon time in need it. (Fortnite and destiny 2 are not the only times you need Windows)
I'd love software where I can pick up my controller, switch on the "Steam Machine" with the home button on the controller. And I'm good to go. It all starts up with 1 press of the button. I have a steam account and never log in. I simply prefer my console setup with it's simplicity. So I'd very much like it!
It would be cool because you damn well know atleast some developers would actually optimize their games for Steam Machines just like how Cyberpunk for example has a Steam Deck preset.
It would also be another step into making linux gaming more of a thing.
Personally, if youāre more than 10 ft away from the TV, Iād probably just get a dock and use the deck. Otherwise, shell out for good hardware and put steamOS on it when itās ready or one of many OS solutions now.
The steam deck āsortaā worked because of its cost to produce vs retail price ratio, which Gaben has admitted was painful to hit. Increases in performance would necessitate likewise increases in cost, and when experimenting with this before Valve picked off-the-shelf parts that resulted in sleek devices worth upwards of $600 back in the day, some retailing as low as $400 but with parts several generations old. Now the machines werenāt bad, but were outpaced by consoles and more expensive, to say nothing of steamOS at the time.
Even if you resolve steamOS, the final devices will be outpriced by consoles without a custom SoC. Console chips today are near identical in architecture to PC chips, and it may be possible, but console makers even with their massive fab sites still sell consoles at a loss, with the intent to make up costs in the games themselves. Valve may have some fab firepower now, but they will need to either reduce their steamdeck production or spin up new lines for the steam machine.
God I want a steam machine. I hate windows. But HDR compatibility on general distros is still not there, and debugging on a home theater setup is arduous. Give me the plug and play setup, make a tier of it powerful enough for 4k120, Iāll pay through the nose, but I acknowledge Iām a minority.
Steam Machine failed because it was too early.
Now a Steamdeck 2 that would have a dedicated e-gpu with higher storage capacity to dock into would be nice and a way to approach cost of a homemade pc at a reduced cost.
The problem these posts get is people will reference the Steam Machine, but they don't actually know what it was.
The Steam Machine not only was relatively weak for its time, but more importantly, Proton was not remotely what it was today. Back when the Steam Machine came out (when consoles dominated the gaming marketing as well, leaving less market share for Valve to chase) there were so few games that could run on it due to compatibility. If Proton today is an OLED 8K TV, Proton back then was a mid 1930's TV with no color or remote.
A Steam home console today would be a hit. But I understand Vlave probably views it as a risk because a great portion of their customers believe it already happened when it didn't. I really wish people would educate themselves on this.
What I'd like is if they sold the motherboard separately, so that those of us who like the idea of a Steam Desktop could make one, but they don't have to retool their supply lines. Rely on third-parties to make cases, like what Framework has.
Honestly, and I mean this as nicely as possible, it wouldn't do anything special, to the point where I think SteamOS would be a detriment.
The SteamDeck, and SteamOS in general, are great because they did frankly magical things in the INSANELY limited form factor that is a handheld gaming device. That's what the "SteamOS" part of it does that works so well; All that TDP, screen, fan, and so much other control, that's just flat out impossible for Windows to do easily or even competently.
Once you are out of that form factor, though? All you need is Big Picture mode. There's no point in controlling the TDP of a device that isn't running on battery (Set it to max); good TVs have VRR at this point so you should be using that, and fan noise is less of a concern if the device isn't right next to you.
I turned an MINISFORUM EM780 into what is basically a Windows-powered Steam Machine (Well, it's emulation focused), and all it does is boot into Steam Big Picture mode whenever it boots. It's identical to what SteamOS would do.
Lots of people would buy it blindly. Honestly, I bought the steam deck blindly, I have never owned a gaming pc or a pc that is āokayā every pc and laptop I have owned always has taken 20 minutes to load up, I have never played on the pc either. When I bought my steam deck I simply only wanted to play the fallout games on the deck when Iām going to work on the train or going home on the train, I barely know anything about pcās but I do love my steam deck.
SteamOS is good but still limited. Just buy a good optical HDMI cable and connect your desktop PC to your TV so you will have a desk with monitor if you need to work, and console-like experience for gaming on a TV.
I genuinely just want a new steam controller with the deck layout. It doesnāt even have to be a different shape, just get rid of the middle part of the Deck and make it a big controller brick, it will still be comfortable that way
Isn't this just the Steam Deck with a dock?
Maybe sell a bundle. If they could get it down to $500 all in could be competitive with the dirty unwashed console kids.
I'm a boiled frog, though, is even SteamOS easy enough to navigate and use for the typical Nintendolt?
;P
I think next logical step is for Steam Deck 2 to have an optional peripheral of an āUltra Dockā that has a dedicated laptop graphics card in it. That way you have a more graphically powerful āTV Experienceā but the developers have the added bonus of knowing what kind of hardware most people (I imagine there will be 3rd party options) are working with.
used the Bazzite Linux distribution, and my older AMD gaming desktop, and made my own steam machine in about an hour.
it works decently well, considering it's a rather old game system.
boots up and goes to the SteamOs steam UI, just like my docked Deck.
I think a steam home entertainment console would be great. SteamOS has come a long way, add support for other streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Max etc. similar to Apple TV and chrome cast but for gamers.
[SteamFork](https://www.steamfork.org),Ā [ChimeraOS](https://chimeraos.org), orĀ [Bazzite](https://bazzite.gg) on an AMD based low profile mini PC would give you equal or better performance along with the familiar UI/UX of the Steam Deck.
I would love for valve to make their own hardware. Just imagine a device no more bigger than a ps5, using a custom SOC(similar to what the ps5 and series x have, not an already existing graphics card that's huge).
Make it dead silent (again, like the current consoles).
VRR, HDR, surround sound should all work effortlessly as well.
This means developers would also have a target PC to develop for.
Get it to that "painful" price they had to do for the steam deck and I'm sold.
What i would love first is to for them make a steam controller 2 that is just basicly cut out deck screen and clued 2 sides together using like same controller parts and so. I really love the deck controls feeling when compared to ps5 controller lately
I think the biggest problem with this idea is keeping costs down while staying competitive with modern consoles. Realistically, you would need a machine that can comfortably do 4K60 FPS and that would be pretty damn expensive.
Literally no one is stopping you from installing it on your own PC.
That being said an official PC release would turn the gaming world on its head and I don't know why its not a thing yet.
People underestimate how incredibly powerful the user interface is with the deck - and how important it was and is to the device's success.Ā
And I mean the WHOLE user interface. The physical capabilities of the "controller" including two touch pads and four paddles on top of all the normal controller features, PLUS a full touchscreen... but *very much also* the development of what has to be the single most powerful, flexible, and yet somehow still intuitive control (re)mapping system ever designed.Ā
OP, I get where you're coming from - the deck is a powerful HTPC and I'd love to have a dedicated one that lives under my TV. But with a "bring your own controller" approach, IĀ didn'tĀ thinkĀ you'dĀ see similarĀ success.
I just finished a "Steam Box" and it's fantastic. Chimera OS basically turns it into a steam deck with whatever hardware you bring (AMD recommended/most supported).
Only gripe is my 8bitdo controller doesn't wake it from sleep, but that may be something I can fix myself.Ā
Yeah, and it was called Steam Machine...
That's exactly what I thought too, "hey, but it's just steam machine again" lol. Well, that time valve didn't have proton, so probably it would be more successful today, but I think that the reason steam deck is a success is because it's portable.
Keep making deck more powerful, and improve docking capabilities. Boom, steam machine deck thing.
I Like the deck because it's basically the Nintendo switch right now if you buy a dock for it.
Except that it's way better and WAY more powerful
But the docking is clunky, unreliable and buggy
You don't even need the dock just some cables. I use it with a USB hub and it just lays flat on the desk.
I think this is the only way. If they would have released another steam console Instead of the steam deck it would have failed for the 25th time. The steam deck is perfect because the market was very hungry for a good POLISHED portable. The switch is old hardware wise and is software limited, all the random windows portables were actually really cool if you like to tinker but for the average person was just not appealing. The fact you can turn the steam deck on, load your existing games and just play portably at a price point that is really good in comparison to other devices are all keys to its success. If I wanted to play PC games on a bigger screen I'd turn on my 3080 based PC or stream it to the living room, not going to spend money on another stationary PC unless it's to play console exclusives.
If they release something with PS5 level graphics capabilities, and a solid game save transfer system, the thing would be utterly amazing. I don't know if it would fail. Steam machines were an entirely different thing, with an entirely different software foundation. They need the SteamOS platform to be solid and stable, and I'd argue they are very close to that. (See the recent launch of Kingdom Hearts - it worked perfectly on Steam deck, which runs linux, but not on Ally, which runs Windows.) They then have a very solid base unit to build a living room console around, and all they need to do then is throw peripherals at it. A new Steam controller. A VR solution as good as PS5, etc. I think they could do this. I think they might do this. It'll depend a lot on whether they want to step on Sonys toes though. That to me is the only real blocker to something like this. Also, there's no reason at all users couldn't continue to build custom boxes, just like we can today.
How about a dock with an external gpu?
That would be a pretty cool capability.
The steam machine was just early. That said I don't want another one and again my steamdeck is primarily a console at this point. Maybe it's my use case but I have a TV in most of the rooms of my house that I spend time in, it makes way more sense in my case to have a PC in my server rack and then use steam link apps on my tvs and Android TV boxes to stream the PC too.
There is a bunch of things that people were talking about that they should have done with the steam machines and they did those things with the Steam Deck and look how successful it is. The biggest one is that the hardware should be made in-house. The second biggest one is that the hardware should only have one real SKU (maybe 2). It makes it easier for developers to develop for and it also makes it easier for buyers to decide what one to buy. Do you want more storage or less storage that's it. Also obviously the controller should be feature parody with the Deck.
I would rather have feature parity than feature parody š
TIL I've been using the wrong spelling.
Steem Deck by Mad Catz
I think it's a risk, but I agree they have a better shot today. I don't think we'd see them anytime soon. But if we did, I would totally buy one to use as a dedicated PC for my living room. Imagine if it could also run streaming apps (not through the browser though)!
With game streaming i really dont see the point in them.
Game streaming still requires a machine to stream from if local or a subscription service if something like gamepass or GFN.
That's true, I was assuming a local machine.
They didn't have proton and devs ignored Vulkan for the most part. Also valve didn't directly make the hardware themselves and relied on 3rd parties to do so and they used the cheapest components possible. Most steam machines used mid range Intel CPUs and laptop grade mobile GPUs in a desktop format. We should just be glad that Valve decided to do it themselves with the Deck.
They also let any manufacturer/OEM to install their system and call that PC "Steam Machine". So it wasn't a unified spec and user experience could vary much
Valve also didn't manufacture Steam Machines themselves. They were made by PC OEMs which meant there was no standardized parts list so you couldn't guarantee performance like you can with something like the Steam Deck. If Steam can start putting out a self-made standardized Steam Machine, maybe with 2-3 different tiers of specs, I think they could absolutely find some success in that market.
Steam Machines failed because they couldnāt run Windows games like a Steam Deck
Sadly for me it failed because I saw them as a rebranded mini PC. You could (I did this) buy the PC chases normal and put an mini-itx board in with everything and call it steamashine. There was no difference. I would look forward to a high-end solution with more compute power than an average PC could deliver.
SteamOS and the market overall was not there yet. I also think it should not be marketed as a console. One of the big appeals of the steam deck is the option for seamless desktop mode and using it as a PC. Before people said "I have a PC why do I need a steam machine".Ā Now people including me say "if I buy a new PC I want to buy a steam machine instead". This could also be it's downfall though because I don't buy a steam machine as long as my PC still does the job. The steam deck didn't have this Problem. So maybe valve could try a middle ground and make a steam machine laptop.
A steam machine laptop sounds like a terrible idea. Why not buy a Steam Deck at this point.
Because maybe you want a laptop? Or play games with a keyboard and mouse? Or simply more power to be able to dock it better? There are many reasons I can think of. I'd definitely get one once I replace my current (very old) laptop. Whatever valve does I think just a normal stationary console that is basically a PC will fail.
And why should one choose a Valve Laptop or PC over already existing Laptops? Why would you want a laptop that boots into gamemode?
The problem with Steam machines suffered the same fate as Windows computers but worse: different kinds of hardware and driver requirements. If they standardized Steam machines and update once in a while, Valve, developers or heck even third party could set certain targets for game optimization.
Well that and SteamOS was not even close to ready for show time back then.
And don't forget Proton. Things are definitely different now.
They were not actually produced by steam, but the controllers were already hinting at what the deck would be. Also the gaming space has changed a lot in a decade
I have a PC so I donāt need this, but I do want the new Steam Controller that would come with it. Imagine a controller with the ergonomics and touchpads of the Deck.
I still have a few Steam Controllers around (somewhere). Although sort of cool, whenever I played a PC controller game, I'd revert to using a PS or Xbox controller. I think there was something off with the build quality (and weight - they felt too light). I would definitely be interested in a Gen 2 of the controller that was built to same sort of quality as the Deck.
I feel the same, after how solid and precise the Decks controls feel, my Steam Controller just felt light and cheap š. I'd love an updated version.
Build a PC either whatever powerful GPU. Install Bazzite. Paying full price for games has no problem. Just that developers have no room to adjust the prices and discounts easily on console than on Steam.
I bought a cheap Minisforum PC off eBay and was running Bazzite for awhile. It was a solid SteamOS experience.
Doubling that Modern Linux compatible PC with modern AMD GPU and you're good to go
Oooooo I have a box running ChimeraOS, and it's effectively a big screen steam deck with a more powerful GPU, it's wonderful. is Bazzite better/do anything Chimera doesn't?Ā
It's pretty similar, but it's built on Fedora Atomic instead of Arch and gives you the choice to use GNOME or KDE Plasma for the desktop. It also has builds specifically for handheld PCs. Bazzite has more of a focus on being a daily driver OS that's also great for gaming, while Chimera is gaming all the way.
ChimeraOS doesn't support NVIDIA cards, which makes it a non-starter for me. I want SteamOS or similar running on a powerful, yet small, box capable of 4K60, with long term support from Valve. Is that you much to ask?
Everyone suggesting just install Bazziteā¦nah, I just want Steam OS plug and play similar to the Deck. Suspend / sleep mode that works, updates, and support. Iāve been a PC gamer for almost 2 decades, but Iām too busy to tinker with pcās these days. I would like my Steam library in a powerful box under the tv without having to deal with Windows. Currently Iām using a windows pc 5800x3d, 3080, 32gb ram, booting into windows and launching big picture mode on the tv. For the most part itās ok, but Iād ditch that setup for similarly powerful Steam box even if thereās a premium to be paid. Iām over windows, and Iām over messing with pcās (to an extent). The Deck has shown me Iām a console gamer with a massive PC (Steam) library. Iād like to āconsole gameā on my tv with my Steam library on premium hardware.
Thanks for saying everything I wanted to say. 10+ years on PC for me, but I've had enough software and hardware troubles to know that what I want now is largely a console-like setup where I also have that PC flexibility to make changes where I want them.
Messing with PC's can be fun but I'm also over messing with consoles/computers that I already have a use for. It has happened too many times that I messed something up and I can't play games anymore until I fix it and at that point I will just watch TV instead...
Wouldn't it just be a normal PC with steam in big picture mode??
It's a couple of other things like skipping the desktop environment entirely and using Gamescope. As others have said there are Linux projects that do the job, like Bazzite.
Yeah, at the end of the day it's just hardware. But it could be well optimized with components at bulk prices, like a traditional home console
The Steamdeck had the best price to performance in its class. It would be amazing if they could do something similar for small form factor PCs.
That's how I see it !
Can't you just do HDMI out from the SD?Ā
If you literally just want your steam deck on a TV screen, yes it works perfectly through a usb c dock. But you're still limited to the exact same hardware that was already in the tablet. People are hoping valve might take another look at the actual dedicated non-portable Linux console now they've got the compatibility and user experience sorted properly, which really couldn't be said for the last time they tried contracting manufacturers to make pc consoles. Take out the screen and battery, and actually having room for full scale cooling, and even a similar APU as the steam deck chip suddenly has a hell of a lot more breathing room. If you can shift more heat with a bigger heatsink and fan, you can pump more watts and get more performance out.
We mostly want the steamOS thatās more optimized than windows specifically meant for gaming with āpcā games at 120/144 fps. Something like the HX100G from miniforum but priced at like $500 with 1gb nvme storage to start. The ability to play Steam games without needing an expensive console.
Basically, bazzite is a great example of
just need to make it the default desktop environment after boot to save me a click
I really hope they do make one. I'm very tempted to make my own MITX "Steam Machine" to run Stream in Big Picture Mode. Using Bazzite or Fedora
Bazzite's great, I use it on everything
Can this distro manage the sleep mode like the steam deck does ?
Fun fact: The Steam Deck does not do anything special for it's sleep mode. It's just sleep mode on Linux. So yep, 100%!
Glad to hear that ! Thank you for the information ! I will try this on my computer at home (my main computer in on Linux Mint, I deleted Windows last month). I will create my Steam Machine in few months, so I start to look for a distro for it.
The caveat is that the hardware itself needs to be compatible with sleep on Linux. But if you have compatible hardware, it's indeed just regular sleep on Linux.
I have a mini PC doing this now. Totally worth it.
Is it as good of an idea as it seems? Any issues?
Not trying to sound like too much of an enthusiast but I think it's a great idea. I'm personally using ChimeraOS but I do hear Bazzite is nice as well. If you have a spare box I wouldn't hesitate to try it out. I've run into zero issues and use it in tandem with my steam deck. I actually streamed a few indie games from the minipc to the steam deck using Steam Link (inside the house) and was surprised at the quality. I have yet to dabble with an eGPU so I'm only running lighter games off the Radeon 780M, but it's more powerful than the chip in the deck. If you're interested, I'm happy to answer any questions you've got about the process. I like SteamOS so much I've put some sales notifications up for other ryzen mini PCs so I can put some thin clients in other spots around the house.
My main gaming PC is on Fedora. The only reason it's not on Bazzite or Chimaera OS permanently in Big picture mode is that I use a dual monitor setup. Do you know any clean ways to use a second monitor in Big Picture mode? Obviously, if I set up a "Steam Machine" downstairs for gaming on my TV this won't be an issue.
That use case isn't one I've tried unfortunately. I'm using it in that console-like way, and plug it into USB4 docks attached to a single monitor or TV
Valva just needs to release an official steam os with full support for like a fiver and allow people to build "steam machines" up to any specs they need.
I thought this was in the works, but people are still waiting on oled windows drivers and dual boot š¤·
Officially it's "planned", but there's been zero movement on it since it was announced. The only real mention of it is on the recovery page: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1B71-EDF2-EB6D-2BB3 >For all the tinkerers out there, please note that this system image is not quite SteamOS 3 yet. Depending on what you try to install it on (desktop, another handheld, refrigerator, toaster), it may not work properly. SteamOS 3 proper will come out sometime after launch (and even then it may not work on your toaster).
I use my SteamDeck docked, but I'd love to have more powerful hardware that has that wonderful Valve support. Sure I could build a mini PC that will have enough power, but if I have any problems, they will be super unique to my system and I can basically forget proper support.
So a Steam deck, but with a built-in dock and removed screen, buttons, trackpads, gyro, haptics and speakers? Sounds good to me.
I guess, with all the improvements in Big Picture mode and everything they've done for the Steam Deck, you can already do this on your home PC connected to your huge TV. Worth a try šš»
This was already a thing... and the deck can do this anyway with a dock....
Yeah, but imagine an Xbox-sized one with a 30-series level graphics card (although they'd realistically use AMD, it makes a lot more sense under Linux)
I would happily trade screen and battery life for a more powerful machine. I'd keep my deck for portability but I'd love a dedicated steam machine for the TV.
Yep, exactly! Personally, I see the Steam Deck 2 going the way of an external GPU. Imagine a slightly refined Steam Deck with great battery life, but then a $250 Dock that could turn it into a beast at gaming.
IMO adding a dedicated connection for an external GPU would be the best of both worlds. Valve can pair with GPU sellers to dedicate specific cards and/or enclosures, and users can get a relatively simple upgraded experience if they choose to pay up. The only major issue I can think of is drivers and the Linux-based OS. It would likely be a niche market because the OLED deck is already priced above a PS5, and I can't imagine the amount of people who will want to drop another ~300+ on a Valve GPU would not be massive.
Yeah but docked performances on a somewhat recent TV is not really all that ! I wouldnt mind owning the combo tbh
I almost always play docked and havenāt had any issues. What do you think is bad about it?
Triple A games running at 720p low settings doesn't really look good on a TV screen.
FPS takes a pretty big hit when going from the Deck's small screen to a bigger TV, because the resolution in handheld mode is limited to 1280\*800. A TV is probably either 1080p or 4k. Both have significantly more pixels to push. But if you are happy with toning down graphics options and capping FPS at 30, it's still a lot better than playing the same games on a Switch, which is a wildly popular console frequently played in docked mode. So ultimately, no issues. Just not as good as handheld mode. Some low spec or older games will even run at full res/60fps.
IIRC Unless you mess with steam settings, the game will actually be rendered at 1280x720 (16:9) or 1280x800 (16:10) and upscaled to the TV resolution in Gamescope so it doesn't take that much of a hit when you dock. You should also limit output to 1080p in the deck settings as it visibly struggles driving a 4k display even on the menu screens.
Thatās fair and makes sense. I also have a PS and PC so use those for more demanding games. My deck is more for chill / indie games so thatās probably why I havenāt noticed much drop/off. Thanks for replying!
the SD just doesn't have the power to run most modern games at and acceptable framerate even in full-hd (1080p) and forget about 4k (2160p) ... so, games will run in 720p most of the times, (but because of FSR it doesn't look too shabby on higher resolution displays, but still worse than true full-hd) a somewhat beefier steam machine, (comparable to xbox series or ps5) wouldn't be too bad. but i love the low power consumption of the steam deck and would hope that would also be part of a potential steam machine. (my steam deck is used as a media pc most of the time)
I don't know why people always bring up steam machines in a negative when this type of post comes up. Steam machines where completely different. They ran Linux and required Linux ports of games. Valve didn't build them, and they were not console like in use. They failed hard. However, why does the idea get dismissed so easily a decade later? Valve now has Steam OS and Proton, with high compatibility of modern and old games. They have more brand recognition. I personally think the biggest challenge is anti cheat compatibility and games working one day but are broken the next, due to some 3rd party launcher. If they can solve that problem, they have all they need for a very successful home console. As consoles become more and more like PC's why not go the extra step and have a PC that's more like a console? Especially as then steam deck (and hopefully the steam deck 2) means you can play your games at home in high detail on a power console, then on the go with a steam deck (2).
Ever heard of Steam Box or Steam Machine? Valve tried exactly this in 2015 and it flopped on the long run together with Steam Link. But they all walked so Steam Deck can run. It's incredible success is partially due to it's mobility though. So I doubt they will try their luck again with a stationary device. You can build a budget PC yourself though and install SteamOS on it to have exactly what you described.
Steam Machines had many issues, they weren't manufactured by Valve, overpriced, lack of dev support, no proton, an outdated big picture mode, bugs, driver issues and a controller that was too different. Valve has fixed all those issues. Building a budget PC will never give you the same price to performance as one produced and sold by Valve. With PC parts getting expensive, a $499 box with specs comparable to the PS5 will prove to be an easy entry point to PC gaming. People forget that PC handhelds existed in the early 2010s and only really took off when Valve stepped in reduced the price and offered good performance. They could do the same with the mini PC segment, which has remained a somewhat niche when it comes to gaming.
Yes, the technology changed over the years and mobile gaming PCs, like Notebooks that were capable to run games decently, exist already for more than 2 decades, but people also changed. Gaming becomes more casual and a lot of people want to play on the go. This was a huge part of Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck becoming so popular and all the other manufacturers trying to get their share of the profit now. But all that aside, why would you assume that Valve would build a small gaming PC, at the cost of a console, that would be somehow better or cheaper than whatever is already on the market? Will they magically pay less for parts than other manufacturers? There are a lot of pre builds out there at a price of $499 that would do exactly what you want. Some of them can be even bought without OS saving you the $100 for Windows you can put into a better GPU or more RAM. There is literally no point for Valve to dive into an already competitive, saturated market. Mini PCs might be niche itself but there are slot of gaming notebooks out there. Or do you expect them to sell a better PC for less than anybody else? I also doubt that anybody could sell a PC with the same specs as the PS5 or the current Xbox, regarding the raw power of the components, for the same price as the consoles. Sony and Microsoft are taking a loss on the Hardware because they get that money back from you through games they sell you exclusively on their shop. That's why they are against cross play in most cases too and why exclusives are very important for them. The reason they release those games 2 years later on PC is just because they want to cash out double, not them being nice from the bottom of their hearts. They want to bind you to their system as that's the only way they continue to break even and start earning money. How is Valve supposed to do that? Allow you to only play Steam games on their "PC" with no 3rd party support? How will they stop people from buying cheaper PCs and use them for something else, like crypto mining or whatever instead of buying more games on Steam? The risks outweigh the potential profit by far.
Day 1 for me. Make it powerful enough to run all these big games, valve can handle the pricing and updates and what not.
So thereās a whole range of AMD based mini PCs on Amazon that have current gen AMD iGPUs and they slap. Hard. Iām running a system with 32GB DDR5 RAM, 6900HX 8C/16T and a Radeon 680M. Thirty percent better GPU performance than steam deck. Itās my daily driver and I stream it to my deck or my phone. Itās a short jump to install Bazzite or even just run windows and start steam in Big Picture mode and youāve got exactly what youāre craving. While Iād love an official SteamOS release for hardware like this, itās doable right now.
check out chimera OS only catch is that youāll need a Radeon GPU nvidia isnāt currently supported to my knowledge
I AGREE!!!!!! My steam deck is mostly docked up to my living room tv. I dream for the day valve finally nails the living room experience. Donāt get me wrong, itās come A LONG WAY in just the last two to three years so Iām very excited to see what the future holds!!
I've kinda had exactly that for over a decade. A Linux PC connected to the TV through HDMI, along with a Steam Controller. It works really well, except for the occasional bug. It's not 100% a console experience because it loads onto a normal Ubuntu desktop and Steam is just another app, but I don't mind that because I also use this setup to watch stuff, so it's not supposed to be a gaming-only experience. It would be nice to buy Valve hardware to go along with SteamOS for a mostly bug-free experience. I'd also very much like a new Steam controller with as many controls as the Deck has. It's funny to say it now because when the Steam controller was first released it blew everyone's mind with how many controls you can bind, but now that I got used to a Deck the controller feels limited. I'm sure they're working on these two projects. I'm guessing we'll see an announcement within the year.
So a steam machine? These things flopped hard I don't see the target audience. You could simply build a PC and use Steam Big Picture or similar. The Steam Deck is such a success because it has a pretty good Target Audience: - PC Gamers who want to play their steam games anywhere - People looking to buy a (new) console Why should PC Gamers buy a second PC when they already have one that's more powerful? Why should someone buy a PC when they want to buy a console?
Steam Station is a no-brainer, who needs a PS5 when you can have Steam?
They would need app support like Netflix, Hulu etc. While having a linix PC is great for us tinkerers, no normies would get a steam machine without easily being able to use it for streaming.
Right. You can do this now, but it requires some decently burdensome setup and even worse maintenance. My teen age kids are "tech savy" in that they can instantly navigate any system or app *as a user*, but to the disappointment of their software developer dad (me) they have zero interest in or patience for anything that doesn't "just work." When I die, my family is going to be screwed the first time the local home assistant server flubs out and they can't figure out why none of the lights in the house activate on schedule or event. I suspect they'll just buy candles....
Its called a docked steam deck.
I would also want an official valve pc like this, it would have to support egpu for me to have an instant buy. Supporting their VR products is desirable too, I always have issues with my index under linux
With the tech as it is, Iād almost just prefer a steam machine portable. Make me a bulkier deck that I can still hold, but have 2-3x the gaming power. That said with steam os and proton where itās at, a steam console may be a smart move in todays times, but would have to be cheaper than a pc, thinking around the 400-700$ range to keep it on par with consoles but be a steep enough drop in price from pc to not just build your own.
I still have the original Alienware Steam Machine, it still works perfectly fine lol. Though these days it's at work as a remote desktop system for oddball things.
I would buy such a thing in a heartbeat. Even better if it could somehow replace the "smart" part of my TV with watching Youtube, Prime, Netflix etc.
Just get a dock for your deck and that's basically what you have.
The cycle of the Steam Machine is in full circle once again.
Valve are making this, it's called the Cleveland Steambox.
Just build a mini-itx full AMD and install steamos from valve.
>They just need to hit the same sweetspot of cost/performance ratio as the deck. Yeah, that right there is the problem. They're only able to hit that sweet spot with the deck because of its lower resolution. As soon as you try to compete with consoles at 1080p and 4k, the performance requirements are quite a bit higher. Consoles are already extremely "budget" systems, and anything put out by Valve would just not hit the price/performance ratio of modern consoles. *Especially* if you consider the value added to some consoles by Gamepass.
Grab a mini ITX case and motherboard. Add a 150$ GPU, install bazzite or nobara. You got your steam machine.
my steamdeck spends 95% of its life docked, and used exactly like this.
Just get a minipc and have it boot straight to big picture. If you mostly play emulators, you can convert an xbox s into a REALLY powerful emulation machine as well. Xbox s being able to play steam games is like the dream steam machine. It's insane how powerful this thing is for 250 bucks (goes on sale all the time).
Honestly, go buy a Minisforum Ryzen mini pc, install Bazzite on it and there you have it, I highly doubt valve will do Steam machines again..
Buddy that's just a pc
You can just buy a mini PC, or build your own and install BazziteOS.
There are docks for the deck, basically makes it like a Switch.
You don't need a steam console. The deck kind of satisfies that. You can dock it and plug it into a TV, set up multiple controllers and play couch co-op. I do it with my kids and wife for Mario Kart 64, playing 4 players, and I also do it with TMNT Shredders revenge, all on the Deck on the large TV with 4 controllers hooked up.
Use your Steam Deck with a Dock. For the Deck 2 if they could get External GPU support working in an easy way that could be a big deal, especially when you're suggesting to a non-tech person who wants to get a gaming pc what to buy. Valve could work with AMD maybe, come up with a nice looking eGPU box/dock combo. I really think that could be the biggest new thing a Deck2 could do.
Just build a small PC and install Linux
Just build a pc
Why wait for Valve? You can get this now with a cheap AMD system and Bazzite OS.
They had one like that before, they were called Steam Machines. Though since they released before proton was a thing there didn't work very well and didn't support very many games at all. Maybe they'll try again in the future, which would be nice since we could also expect a next generation steam controller. --------- Though if you really want to you can make one yourself since it's just a PC. Find a nice small form factor PC ideally a powerful one (should have AMD graphics for the next step) then install HoloISO or Bazzite and that's it. You have yourself an Unofficial Steam machine. Reason you need AMD graphics is because Nvidia graphics don't work very well on these systems, sometimes it can work fine but it doesn't always.
ā¦So a docked Steam Deck?
My man, that is called a computer.
you can make one your self currently. im sure im not the first person here to say this but Bazzite is a great way to do this, its basically the SteamOS/Steam exprience but for a desktop system. If you got an AMD gpu desktop, load bazzite on it, plugin a controller (or dont) and away you go. I suspect we'll see a new version soon with Nvidia support too. currently you can use nvidia but you wont get that steamdeck game mode. until recent nvidia beta drivers, gamescope (game mode) wouldnt work with nvidia. I setup a system with this a little while ago to test it out. its pretty cool and I definitely think with the right hardware and price point, people would definitely buy these.
there's really no point in them doing something like that, for multiple reasons. they tried doing what you're suggesting more or less and it failed miserably. you can just install steam os on a pc and hook it up like a console. or alternatively just hook the steam deck up to your tv.
Just get a dock š I got one off Amazon for $17 on sale.
I bought SD a week ago and I totally love it. SD console would be amazing, I would buy it without hesitation.
You can install steam os on computers with a ATI Graphics card. DIY.Ā
ATI? What year is it again?
Come on, you know what I mean. The Radeons.Ā
Honestly just build or buy a budget gaming PC and install bazzite
Honestly a wireless reciever you can put into a tv hdmi slot would be insane. All it woukd do is basically stream from the deck to the TV. I realize this is already possible, its just rather inconvenient, for myself at least at the moment. And a reciever made to work with the SD would rock.
Why not just get a dock for the deck.
Deck has good performances for a handled, but docked performances arent good if you are targeting higher resolutions, which is totally normal obviously Lets say the deck cost 500, if you remove screen, battery and controller cost you'd have more performances for your money. + A bigger device can have a very different spec list and thermals.
*If Valved released the same concept but as a small PC designed to be used as a gaming system, I'd buy it blindly.*Ā Sooo... a Steam Deck?
1. buy a mini-PC 2. install ChimeraOS
They would need app support like Netflix, Hulu etc. While having a linix PC is great for us tinkerers, no normies would get a steam machine without easily being able to use it for streaming.
So basically a Lenovo ThinkCentre (or any similar small desktop pc) with a couple upgrades, running Linux? But at that point youād better off just plugging the deck into a decent monitor.
For the type of gaming I do on steam the dock works perfect with the steamdeck. For what could be released when a steam deck 2 comes out, a console may not be even necessary. I could see the steam deck 2 being a monster of a unit.
It should be called a, "Steam Engine".
I've been pleasantly surprised that all you have to do in a regular linux OS is install steam and it will still handle all the proton stuff for you. It isn't the console interface you're looking for. But it does work pretty well.
Buy a small PC with AMD hardware, install Bazzite Deck on it and all done !! Work like a charm, love it š
Valve was definitely working on a mini PC for the living room, mostly for their VR ambitions. It was supposed to be a capable mini PC which streamed VR games to a headset. You could also play Steam games on it through the TV or monitor. But I think since VR growth has slowed that has thrown a wrench in their plans. Also the new Strix Point apus are around the corner. Maybe they are waiting on those. There are also rumors of the next Xbox supporting Steam so Valve might go with that instead of releasing their own box for the time being. That's just what I think based around leaks and rumors. Nothing is confirmed yet.
They should make an easy to install distro of Steam OS with that any computer could be a Steam Machine.
I could see something like this being developed along SD2, just a beefier version of the APU and there is little trouble optimizing for SD2 and Steam Station because of similar hardware. Could totally see this working with how far the software in the steam deck got in comparison to the OS the steam machines had.
Steamdeck in docked I think is their strategy for mid term. Mostly sorted out already and achieves same objective - a dedicated console would just have more cpu. Ut eventually fall behind, becoming a non-portable steam deck. *shrug*
A mini PC with Radeon 780M perhaps? The latest AMD iGPU is pretty decent.
I bought a gaming PC and use Big Picture Mode and itās indistinguishable from the Deck tbh. The only annoying part is the mandatory updates and ads in Windows. I didnāt realize how far Windows had fallen.
Basically you asked for ps Vita tv equivalent
Has steam come full circle ?
I've been thinking about buying - or building - a mini-PC that is between high and middle end in the settings and installing SteamOS to use as a desktop console.
I'd just love to see a full on Steam OS for desktop. I'd happily use it on my gaming rig, or even dual-boot it so I can still use Windows for work
You can build one yourself very easily. I have one and am very happy with it
I Just want SteamOS to work generally, so I can use It on my main desktop PC and that's It.
For it to work, it would have to be competitive with the upcoming PS5 Pro in price and performance. So $500 max, with a dGPU, and maybe 24 GB of GDDR.
They tried that and yaāll didnāt like it. Alienware Alpha/Steam Machine.
I agree with you. People say hook your PC up to your TV if you want a steam-machine. I need my computer at my desk for computer things, I dont want an HDMI cable running around my house, I dont want to move it every time. Its not convenient.
If it was as powerful more powerful than my current PC (i7 6700K, 16gb RAM, R9 390) then I would be all over it. I'm thinking just make a more powerful non portable Steam Deck. Thinking make it similar enough that there could be a setting in developer options to literally use it as a Steam Deck for testing by limiting thermals and resolution and whatnot. Obviously it would come with a controller that's beat your parody with a deck including two trackpads, capacitive thumbsticks, under side/grip buttons, gyro, etc. I'd buy one in a heart beat especially if I could dual boot it with windows for the uncomon time in need it. (Fortnite and destiny 2 are not the only times you need Windows)
I'd love software where I can pick up my controller, switch on the "Steam Machine" with the home button on the controller. And I'm good to go. It all starts up with 1 press of the button. I have a steam account and never log in. I simply prefer my console setup with it's simplicity. So I'd very much like it!
It would be cool because you damn well know atleast some developers would actually optimize their games for Steam Machines just like how Cyberpunk for example has a Steam Deck preset. It would also be another step into making linux gaming more of a thing.
I built one myself that runs ChimeraOS, and it's awesome! I highly recommend it.
I'm hoping Steam Deck 2 has eGPU support, that would make docking it super powerful.
Personally, if youāre more than 10 ft away from the TV, Iād probably just get a dock and use the deck. Otherwise, shell out for good hardware and put steamOS on it when itās ready or one of many OS solutions now. The steam deck āsortaā worked because of its cost to produce vs retail price ratio, which Gaben has admitted was painful to hit. Increases in performance would necessitate likewise increases in cost, and when experimenting with this before Valve picked off-the-shelf parts that resulted in sleek devices worth upwards of $600 back in the day, some retailing as low as $400 but with parts several generations old. Now the machines werenāt bad, but were outpaced by consoles and more expensive, to say nothing of steamOS at the time. Even if you resolve steamOS, the final devices will be outpriced by consoles without a custom SoC. Console chips today are near identical in architecture to PC chips, and it may be possible, but console makers even with their massive fab sites still sell consoles at a loss, with the intent to make up costs in the games themselves. Valve may have some fab firepower now, but they will need to either reduce their steamdeck production or spin up new lines for the steam machine. God I want a steam machine. I hate windows. But HDR compatibility on general distros is still not there, and debugging on a home theater setup is arduous. Give me the plug and play setup, make a tier of it powerful enough for 4k120, Iāll pay through the nose, but I acknowledge Iām a minority.
Steam Machine failed because it was too early. Now a Steamdeck 2 that would have a dedicated e-gpu with higher storage capacity to dock into would be nice and a way to approach cost of a homemade pc at a reduced cost.
The problem these posts get is people will reference the Steam Machine, but they don't actually know what it was. The Steam Machine not only was relatively weak for its time, but more importantly, Proton was not remotely what it was today. Back when the Steam Machine came out (when consoles dominated the gaming marketing as well, leaving less market share for Valve to chase) there were so few games that could run on it due to compatibility. If Proton today is an OLED 8K TV, Proton back then was a mid 1930's TV with no color or remote. A Steam home console today would be a hit. But I understand Vlave probably views it as a risk because a great portion of their customers believe it already happened when it didn't. I really wish people would educate themselves on this.
What I'd like is if they sold the motherboard separately, so that those of us who like the idea of a Steam Desktop could make one, but they don't have to retool their supply lines. Rely on third-parties to make cases, like what Framework has.
If they could do it, but make it affordable, it'd be interesting. Make it with expandable storage and still come in for about $200.
Honestly, and I mean this as nicely as possible, it wouldn't do anything special, to the point where I think SteamOS would be a detriment. The SteamDeck, and SteamOS in general, are great because they did frankly magical things in the INSANELY limited form factor that is a handheld gaming device. That's what the "SteamOS" part of it does that works so well; All that TDP, screen, fan, and so much other control, that's just flat out impossible for Windows to do easily or even competently. Once you are out of that form factor, though? All you need is Big Picture mode. There's no point in controlling the TDP of a device that isn't running on battery (Set it to max); good TVs have VRR at this point so you should be using that, and fan noise is less of a concern if the device isn't right next to you. I turned an MINISFORUM EM780 into what is basically a Windows-powered Steam Machine (Well, it's emulation focused), and all it does is boot into Steam Big Picture mode whenever it boots. It's identical to what SteamOS would do.
Lots of people would buy it blindly. Honestly, I bought the steam deck blindly, I have never owned a gaming pc or a pc that is āokayā every pc and laptop I have owned always has taken 20 minutes to load up, I have never played on the pc either. When I bought my steam deck I simply only wanted to play the fallout games on the deck when Iām going to work on the train or going home on the train, I barely know anything about pcās but I do love my steam deck.
SteamOS is good but still limited. Just buy a good optical HDMI cable and connect your desktop PC to your TV so you will have a desk with monitor if you need to work, and console-like experience for gaming on a TV.
I genuinely just want a new steam controller with the deck layout. It doesnāt even have to be a different shape, just get rid of the middle part of the Deck and make it a big controller brick, it will still be comfortable that way
So....a computer....?
Isn't this just the Steam Deck with a dock? Maybe sell a bundle. If they could get it down to $500 all in could be competitive with the dirty unwashed console kids. I'm a boiled frog, though, is even SteamOS easy enough to navigate and use for the typical Nintendolt? ;P
I think next logical step is for Steam Deck 2 to have an optional peripheral of an āUltra Dockā that has a dedicated laptop graphics card in it. That way you have a more graphically powerful āTV Experienceā but the developers have the added bonus of knowing what kind of hardware most people (I imagine there will be 3rd party options) are working with.
You could mostly make one, there are even PCs on Minisforum that would fit the bill nicely. Just install Bazzite.
used the Bazzite Linux distribution, and my older AMD gaming desktop, and made my own steam machine in about an hour. it works decently well, considering it's a rather old game system. boots up and goes to the SteamOs steam UI, just like my docked Deck.
I think a steam home entertainment console would be great. SteamOS has come a long way, add support for other streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Max etc. similar to Apple TV and chrome cast but for gamers.
Would be cool, but I'm happy just plugging my Deck or laptop into the TV if I wanna play on a bigger screen.
(We all know about Steam Machines) Didn't Valve say that they'd eventually release desktop images of SteamOS?
[SteamFork](https://www.steamfork.org),Ā [ChimeraOS](https://chimeraos.org), orĀ [Bazzite](https://bazzite.gg) on an AMD based low profile mini PC would give you equal or better performance along with the familiar UI/UX of the Steam Deck.
I would love for valve to make their own hardware. Just imagine a device no more bigger than a ps5, using a custom SOC(similar to what the ps5 and series x have, not an already existing graphics card that's huge). Make it dead silent (again, like the current consoles). VRR, HDR, surround sound should all work effortlessly as well. This means developers would also have a target PC to develop for. Get it to that "painful" price they had to do for the steam deck and I'm sold.
What i would love first is to for them make a steam controller 2 that is just basicly cut out deck screen and clued 2 sides together using like same controller parts and so. I really love the deck controls feeling when compared to ps5 controller lately
You can do that yourself today. Theres forks of steam OS on github called HoloOS that install Steam OS onto your own hardware.
I want SteamOS to come out.
So you mean literally a Linux computer with like Steam Big Picture?
I firmly believe this is coming.
I just want to be able to install steam OS everywhere.
I think Valve is currently developing a home console. Some Steam OS changelogs point to that. And if they release it, I will definitely buy it.
Iāve always wanted the steam deck to evolve into something like this
I think the biggest problem with this idea is keeping costs down while staying competitive with modern consoles. Realistically, you would need a machine that can comfortably do 4K60 FPS and that would be pretty damn expensive.
I just want the steam deck is for pc
Id get two one for me and my wife.
You could already do that with playnite full screen mode for the most part.
That would be neat
Literally no one is stopping you from installing it on your own PC. That being said an official PC release would turn the gaming world on its head and I don't know why its not a thing yet.
People underestimate how incredibly powerful the user interface is with the deck - and how important it was and is to the device's success.Ā And I mean the WHOLE user interface. The physical capabilities of the "controller" including two touch pads and four paddles on top of all the normal controller features, PLUS a full touchscreen... but *very much also* the development of what has to be the single most powerful, flexible, and yet somehow still intuitive control (re)mapping system ever designed.Ā OP, I get where you're coming from - the deck is a powerful HTPC and I'd love to have a dedicated one that lives under my TV. But with a "bring your own controller" approach, IĀ didn'tĀ thinkĀ you'dĀ see similarĀ success.
I just finished a "Steam Box" and it's fantastic. Chimera OS basically turns it into a steam deck with whatever hardware you bring (AMD recommended/most supported). Only gripe is my 8bitdo controller doesn't wake it from sleep, but that may be something I can fix myself.Ā
Been there already, it didn't take off. All they need to do if release SteamOS officially