And the cool thing is, Proton (Windows to Linux compatibility layer) and FEX (x86 to ARM emulator) can be used without Steam. Even SteamOS can be used without Steam (although it is preinstalled, but you can boot into Desktop mode and use other stores instead). It’s not just optional, its free of charge and Open Source and not locked to a specific eco system.
Just fangirling here. Sorry. :D
Yeah! I’m even dabbling with using mine as a home desktop pc, hdmi out to a full size monitor. Perfectly good linux desktop when not using it for games
I worked remote with a SteamMachine for 3 months this year.
I did that the majority of the time, only playing games really infrequently during the week.
The only thing that can get tricky with SteamOS is security if you were to lose physical control of it. For example, you can’t really use built in KDE vault yet.
They are working on that though. It is linux so you have some options if you want to manually work with it. Also, it is immutable, but if you need applications not in Flatpak, that too is easy enough. Just add Kontainer and then put a disto in it. You can then launch applications from the container directly from your desktop. No extra steps. The container remains during SteamOS updates.
I used to do the same thing with my Steamdeck, but the Steam Machine travels in a carry on and is a completely silent desktop computer. Perfect for a work machine.
The compatibility layer is wine actually, Proton is just an extension of it and is probably open source because wine itself is LGPL.
Valve has been good to us in recent years, by it’s a corpo and one day it’ll be taken public when GabeN is gone. Let’s not fan them too much, eh?
Yes, it is WINE in its core, but its more than just that. Valve is actively working on it and does not try to make it work with Steam only. Valve could have made Proton only work with a proprietary component that only Steam has. So that the WINE component stays Open Source, but uses some API to connect to proprietary services in example. I mean Steam itself is proprietary and its using Proton and is included in SteamOS in example. FEX is developed by Valve developers and it didn’t have to be Open Source.
So I think it is actually commendable to mention that. It’s the only (relevant and large) gaming company that is operating like this.
one day it’ll be taken public when GabeN is gone
Well, I’m not talking about the future, but about the recent years and about now. We don’t know what the future holds for us, I mean would have anyone seen the Ai hype coming? If Steam sucks in the future, then I will tell it so. But for now, I can fangirl because Steam and Valve is awesome. And they earned it in my opinion. There is no other gaming company to fangirl to (okay with the exception of Projekt Red who owns GOG maybe).
Let’s not fan them too much, eh?
What is too much? Mentioning two projects and commend them for making and keeping it Open Source? That is too much?
An ARM steam deck could be killer if it expands battery life
Funny that one of the biggest problems of their only ARM device is battery life.
I think the cube is gonna be a huge win for the console crowd when it releases. With PS6 likely costing around $2000 and xbox committing suicide, the field is wide open for a new competitor.
when it releases
Brother it released four months ago
I interpreted that to mean when it releases to a sane market at a reasonable price. Right now it’s basically an early adopter device.
And it was a huge letdown.
Software and ecosystem wise, I don’t think so. Most of the issues stem from the hardware costs due to the AI bubble (Valve can’t source components to provide a subsidy similar to the Steam Deck at launch/before shortages).
One nice thing about the release is that the OS is starting to be released for use on general hardware (just need to finish working out the driver kinks)
The device is the hardware. The software and ecosystem is a different question.
I know the reasons why, but there’s no getting away from the fact that it is underpowered and overpriced. Valve admit this themselves!
I really like mine. Then only complaint is that the RAM should be more accessible. I dropped in the 2TB nvme I had lying around with no issue, but getting my pair of RAM sticks in requires a lot of disassembling.
In any case, I traveled with it and used it as work computer for about 3 months. I couldn’t find any other completely silent desktop computer that is able to play games, and fits into my carry on for my flights. It was well worth it.
No mention of DroidDeck or Apple? There are a lot of things converging to make Steam on ARM more feasible.
Isn’t Apple still peddling Metal that nobody wants to learn? I haven’t been following the happenings on that front, but also heard absolutely new from there.
