Valve is about to win the console generation • Hacker News Board

Re: Valve is about to win the console generation

#391

Post by tianreyma » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 4:00 PM UTC

acdbddh wrote: post #322

squigz wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't want to be forced to serve as a free IT support guy anytime someone presses a wrong button. In my experience this doesn't really end whether it's a closed product or not. If you're wiling to give free IT support, people will take it, as it's likely way faster/better than calling whatever support may or may not be offered by the company. > Will that be possible with an open platform where anyone can install…

I want a console that is brother-proof. He should not be able to break it by just pressing buttons

My nephew changed the DNS settings on his PS5, some things stopped working, and took me quite a while to figure out what he had done.

Re: Valve is about to win the console generation

#392

Post by hiccuphippo » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 4:00 PM UTC

phplovesong wrote: post #390

SteamOS is handheld only right? What they need is a Xbox/PS alternative, you can plug in to a screen (tv/monitor) and optionally use a mouse/keyboard (valve has some huge FPS titles, like counter strike) for games that you cant play with a controller (usually competitive fps titles).

They just announced exactly what you are asking for https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45903404

Re: Valve is about to win the console generation

#393

Post by Jnr » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 4:01 PM UTC

phplovesong wrote: post #390

SteamOS is handheld only right? What they need is a Xbox/PS alternative, you can plug in to a screen (tv/monitor) and optionally use a mouse/keyboard (valve has some huge FPS titles, like counter strike) for games that you cant play with a controller (usually competitive fps titles).

SteamOS is not a handheld. It is an OS. And did you even open the link?

Re: Valve is about to win the console generation

#394

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 4:02 PM UTC

phplovesong wrote: post #390

SteamOS is handheld only right? What they need is a Xbox/PS alternative, you can plug in to a screen (tv/monitor) and optionally use a mouse/keyboard (valve has some huge FPS titles, like counter strike) for games that you cant play with a controller (usually competitive fps titles).

[deleted]

Re: Valve is about to win the console generation

#395

Post by xattt » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 4:02 PM UTC

phplovesong wrote: post #390

SteamOS is handheld only right? What they need is a Xbox/PS alternative, you can plug in to a screen (tv/monitor) and optionally use a mouse/keyboard (valve has some huge FPS titles, like counter strike) for games that you cant play with a controller (usually competitive fps titles).

One thing that came out of the HTPC “wars” of the 2000s and 2010s was that mobile/handheld UI were more suited for the 10-foot interface, versus full-blown computers like Windows MCE.

Re: Valve is about to win the console generation

#396

Post by ethmarks » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 4:05 PM UTC

swiftcoder wrote: post #262

walletdrainer wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not necessarily, the anticheat will end up much easier to defeat on Linux.

This depends heavily on how customised the linux is. Back in the day Amazon had to fork Android to add kernel-level support for DRM, otherwise the studios weren't going to permit streaming video on Fire tablets. One could imagine Valve adding an optional kernel DRM module to solve the same problem.

But you can still stream video on normal Android devices, no? My Motorola phone supports Disney+. Why did studios object to streaming on Fire tablets unless it had kernel DRM but they're fine with streaming on easily-rootable phones?

Re: Valve is about to win the console generation

#397

Post by tombert » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 4:06 PM UTC

stavros wrote: post #375

pizlonator wrote: post #371

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have one of the higher-end beelinks. Super small, quiet, doesn't get hot and I can play modern AAA titles on it, driving my huge screen TV in my living room.

Sorry, I more meant "does Jovian work well?". I have a Beelink ME and love it, but I want a gaming "appliance" OS.

Jovian works pretty great actually. Once I got it set up it pretty much worked exactly as I expected.

Re: Valve is about to win the console generation

#398

Post by hamdingers » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 4:10 PM UTC

exitb wrote: post #170

feffe wrote: post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Steam on Linux works really well now. I sort of built my own steam machine a few months back with a framework desktop that now sits in my TV rack. Gaming on it is a really good experience. Had to buy a PS5 controller though because I could not get the XBOX controller to work over bluetooth which was a bit of a bummer. For me the new controller is most interesting as most games have XBOX controller support (with xbox…

If you still have the xbox controller, I'd recommend the dedicated USB wireless adapter. It's reasonably priced and very solid.

Especially if you ever use more than one controller at a time, a dedicated dongle is essential.

Re: Valve is about to win the console generation

#399

Post by hamdingers » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 4:17 PM UTC

TheRoque wrote: post #51

I hardly understand the headline. Steam machine is just a computer, and since it can be used for other stuff than playing games, then it can't have the cheap pricing of a console. Most consoles are sold at a loss, and the benefits are made when selling console-exclusive games. If you sell something at a loss, but users aren't forced to buy your games, then you're not gonna make any money. Hence, the Steam Machine (AK…

It's strange how neither you nor seemingly any of your replies have heard of the Steam Deck.

Valve sold the Deck at a loss that GabeN himself described as "aggressive and painful," 3rd party estimates put it at $150/unit for the base model.

I see no reason to believe they won't employ the same strategy for the Machine. If I can lodge my own bet, I think they'll price it somewhere between a PS5 digital and pro.

Re: Valve is about to win the console generation

#400

Post by radlad » Thu, Nov 13, 2025, 4:19 PM UTC

pizlonator wrote: post #371

stavros wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hm, does it work well for games? I have a NUC I could use...

I have one of the higher-end beelinks. Super small, quiet, doesn't get hot and I can play modern AAA titles on it, driving my huge screen TV in my living room.

Can you quantify this? Which Beelink? Are you powering a 4K TV? When you talk about playing modern AAA games, which ones, and what settings do you run at?