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I would not count steam machines out just yet. I wouldn't be surprised if the number one complaint about Steam Machines/OS was the limited library of games. May

I would not count steam machines out just yet. I wouldn't be surprised if the number one complaint about Steam Machines/OS was the limited library of games. Maybe they decided to just take some time and focus on Proton and then consider reviving the Steam Machines.

kevincox 6y ago
Yup. Valve is putting serious effort into Proton and there are a number of reasons I can think of including Valve loves Linux, Valve thinks that the Linux market is/can be profitable, Valve wants to keep its non-Windows options available if only to threaten Microsoft. However a next generation of Steam machines definitely seems like it would be present on that list.
- CoolGuySteve 6y ago
  I think a streaming service with a Linux backend is more likely than another Steam machine push. One of the biggest problems with Stadia and the like is that you have to buy another copy of the game whereas Steam already knows what you own and will let you play it locally.
  - ascagnel_ 6y ago
    Strictly speaking, Stadia is "a streaming service with a Linux backend", but I think Steam could do it better than how Google's gone about it. The issue would be that Valve would need to renegotiate it's distribution deals to include streaming rights in addition to providing user downloads, and many publishers would drag their feet on allowing that, based on how publishers made noise and opted out of nVidia's Windows-based offering. But a service that offers my Steam library via cloud streaming would be a very tempting offering.
    - throwaway3699 6y ago
      FWIW: https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/cloudgaming https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/cloudgaming
      - ascagnel_ 6y ago
        Interesting. I wonder if Valve is building this so third parties can do the capital-intensive work of building up/out hardware (given that they're listing GeForce NOW as the only supported client), or if they're also intending to enter the market themselves.

kevincox 6y ago

Yup. Valve is putting serious effort into Proton and there are a number of reasons I can think of including Valve loves Linux, Valve thinks that the Linux market is/can be profitable, Valve wants to keep its non-Windows options available if only to threaten Microsoft. However a next generation of Steam machines definitely seems like it would be present on that list.

CoolGuySteve 6y ago
I think a streaming service with a Linux backend is more likely than another Steam machine push. One of the biggest problems with Stadia and the like is that you have to buy another copy of the game whereas Steam already knows what you own and will let you play it locally.
- ascagnel_ 6y ago
  Strictly speaking, Stadia is "a streaming service with a Linux backend", but I think Steam could do it better than how Google's gone about it. The issue would be that Valve would need to renegotiate it's distribution deals to include streaming rights in addition to providing user downloads, and many publishers would drag their feet on allowing that, based on how publishers made noise and opted out of nVidia's Windows-based offering. But a service that offers my Steam library via cloud streaming would be a very tempting offering.
  - throwaway3699 6y ago
    FWIW: https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/cloudgaming https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/cloudgaming
    - ascagnel_ 6y ago
      Interesting. I wonder if Valve is building this so third parties can do the capital-intensive work of building up/out hardware (given that they're listing GeForce NOW as the only supported client), or if they're also intending to enter the market themselves.