Valve is running Apple's playbook in reverse

Post by PeterHolzwarth » Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 4:34 AM UTC

pelotron wrote: post #25

PeterHolzwarth wrote: post #9

It will be interesting to see if they can answer a question better now than with the original Steam Machines ten years ago: what problem do consumers have that Steam Machines solve? Their original answer was a resounding "nothing" - Steam Machines solved a problem for Valve (fear of an impending "Windows Store" being added by Microsoft that would steal the battlefield from Valve), but very little for the customer. I…

A system that plays the vast majority of the Steam library with an operating system that isn't full of ad/spy/bloatware out of the box would be a good one. I think mass awareness of Win11 shittiness does exist.

I understand what you mean, but that is more of a "Hacker News user" problem than a "young guy who does drywall for a living in Lawrence, Kansas" problem.

Post by glenstein » Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 3:52 PM UTC

ee64a4a wrote: post #126

glenstein wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fair point on the vendors - surely they hoped to make $$ from it. But I think you're underestimating the significance of standing up Proton and the critical experience working through bugs and getting experience with hardware, and gradually growing the inventory of compatible games. Simply put, there's no Steam Deck without the Steam Machine, which says everything about the value of the Steam Machine.

> But I think your underestimating the significance of standing up Proton I don't think I'm underestimating it at all. Proton and SteamOS were huge, they were extremely well-timed, and they've been a boon for everyone involved (except M$ shareholders, I guess). However, none of that necessitated whatever the Steam Box release was. It's not like it moved a significant number of units and that's why Valve invested in P…

On the one hand you're saying:

>It's hard to call a machine that basically didn't play any of the at-the-time hits well "a thoughtful, intelligent" move.

And on the other hand you're saying:

>I don't think I'm underestimating it at all. Proton and SteamOS were huge, they were extremely well-timed, and they've been a boon for everyone involved

If you were actually acknowledging that it would have showed up in your definition of success, but it doesn't, despite it being the most important thing.

Re: Valve is running Apple's playbook in reverse

Re: Valve is running Apple's playbook in reverse