this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2025
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I guess, but anyone buying a steam machine is gonna have to research the specs anyways, and more exhaustively, check to see if every game they like is supported. I get why open-source enthusiasts are excited about this project and I am to, but in my opinion the cross-section of people who a) aren't willing to build their own PC or even research different options and b) are willing to daily drive Linux are pretty slim. Especially when they find out they can't play BF6.
It's more likely that Steam leans into the "Steam[Device] Verified ✅/❌" labeling. If anything, that makes navigating the marketplace much easier for a mid-performance buyer. They've already done it with steam deck, it's a good angle to pressure both devs and consumers into their device.
People buying this won't be "daily driving" their pc in any sense. I think the idea is unlock steam's library (and marketplace) the massive casual phone/tablet crowd. If I didn't already have a dedicated gaming PC I would definitely be interested.
Nah I still don't get it. Windows PC gamers don't have to think about compatibility at all right now - every major game release is compatible with windows, apart from some Nintendo exclusives. You dont even have to think about it - when a new game is announced I know I will be able to play it on Windows without jumping through any hoops. Even if it's a simple check mark for every game it's still more work, and many games are gonna be blocked because of anti-cheat.
I also think that very few casual phone/tablet gamers are going to be purchasing a dedicated Linux gaming machine that isn't a daily driver computer. Heck, most Americans don't even have a desktop nowadays. I don't think there's a price out for the steam machine yet but we're talking over $1000 right? Probably more like $1500 once you factor in peripherals? That's a TON of money for a casual tablet/phone gamer to drop on something that they won't also be using as a regular computer.
I think windows pc gamers are irrelevant. To me, this is more about getting console players. Particularly where this pc is being advertised for living room tvs. To me this is for getting console gamers into pc gaming, not about getting pc gamers into a different kind of pc gaming. Console players are use to game exclusivity, and where steam hosts a far wider variety of games than any console, the fact you cant play BF6 I think is somewhat irrelevant. Could never play Halo on Playstation, but that never stopped people from buying Playstation. But this strategy hinges on Valve's ability to put the Steam Machine at a price that console players are comfortable paying.
Edit: when it comes to phone an tablet, yeah I agree. But I also don't think the Steam Machine is gonna be more than $1000.
We'll see I suppose. I will add, though, that exclusive games absolutely do drive people to Xbox or Playstation (or Nintendo). Not a deal-breaker for most people, but a factor for some people.
I suspect most people aren't buying it as a daily driver, but as a gaming device. I don't use my steamdeck for computing (although toyed with the idea) for example.