NEWS
NEWS
NEWS
Valve reveals Steam Machines release dates, opens pre-orders
The road to Valve Corp’s console/PC hybrid Steam Machines has been a long one, full of rumors and speculation, but now the systems will finally be hitting store shelves later this year.
Some customers who pre-order the consoles will receive them as early as October 16 this year, and they will be available in stores on November 10. Valve’s unique haptic feedback-based Steam Controller will also be available for purchase on November 10, as will its Steam Link streaming device, which allows users with powerful systems to stream games from their PC or Steam Machine.
Rather than releasing one definitive system, Steam Machines will be manufactured in several formats by multiple different companies, starting first with Alienware and CyberPower.
“We have collaborated for years with Valve and GameStop to develop a platform with the best content, the best performance, and the best value compared to anything else on the market,” Frank Azor, general manager of Alienware, told Polygon. “Finally, with this preorder, we have a chance to address the building anticipation for the latest and greatest gaming system.”
The systems will be available at multiple different price points with varying specifications, ranging from lower-end $449 consoles to high-end $749 consoles.
Will SteamOS have enough games?
With prices exceeding those of modern consoles, it is a little difficult to tell who exactly the target audience is for Steam Machines, especially with the systems’ somewhat limited game library. The primary feature shared by all Steam Machines is their operating system, SteamOS, a Linux-based system designed to take full advantage of the Steam Client’s features while also being easy to navigate using a game controller.
Unfortunately, because SteamOS is a Linux operating system, it is not compatible with all PC games. Some studios, especially indie developers, do release Linux versions of their games, but many titles are still available for Windows only.
Then again, if Steam Machines somehow take off, they could provide a better incentive for studios to release their games for Linux.
You can pre-order a Steam Machine, Steam Controller, or Steam Link at store.steampowered.com/hardware.
Image credit: Valve Corp
A message from John Furrier, co-founder of SiliconANGLE:
Support our mission to keep content open and free by engaging with theCUBE community. Join theCUBE’s Alumni Trust Network, where technology leaders connect, share intelligence and create opportunities.
- 15M+ viewers of theCUBE videos, powering conversations across AI, cloud, cybersecurity and more
- 11.4k+ theCUBE alumni — Connect with more than 11,400 tech and business leaders shaping the future through a unique trusted-based network.
About SiliconANGLE Media
SiliconANGLE Media is a recognized leader in digital media innovation, uniting breakthrough technology, strategic insights and real-time audience engagement. As the parent company of SiliconANGLE, theCUBE Network, theCUBE Research, CUBE365, theCUBE AI and theCUBE SuperStudios — with flagship locations in Silicon Valley and the New York Stock Exchange — SiliconANGLE Media operates at the intersection of media, technology and AI.
Founded by tech visionaries John Furrier and Dave Vellante, SiliconANGLE Media has built a dynamic ecosystem of industry-leading digital media brands that reach 15+ million elite tech professionals. Our new proprietary theCUBE AI Video Cloud is breaking ground in audience interaction, leveraging theCUBEai.com neural network to help technology companies make data-driven decisions and stay at the forefront of industry conversations.
