Steam's Machines

Video Game Tango Recaps Life, Rocks Out, and Breaks Down Valve's Major Hardware Announcements

In this lively return episode of the Video Game Tango podcast, hosts Josh and Andy catch up after a several-week hiatus, sharing personal updates before diving deep into Valve's exciting new hardware announcements.

Personal Life Updates:

Andy's Health Scare: Andy details a grueling few weeks dealing with a kidney infection, bladder infection, and kidney stones. He shares a graphic but humorous story about his urgent care visit, complete with a horrifying urine sample that shocked the nursing staff.

Josh's Job Hunt: Josh is currently seeking new employment after being let go from his previous job due to a natural disaster impacting the business.

Positive Highlights: Josh is happily dating someone new, and both hosts had a fantastic time at a concert featuring Dead Poet Society, Asking Alexandria, and their favorite band, Chevelle. Andy's dedication to Chevelle is confirmed by his YouTube Music stats, showing he's in the top 0.01% of listeners. The concert was a transcendent experience, inspiring Andy to finally start learning guitar.

Valve's Hardware Deep Dive:

The main event of the podcast is a comprehensive discussion of Valve's three major hardware announcements.

1. The New Steam Controller:

• Design: Praised as ergonomic, comfortable, and well-thought-out, taking cues from the Steam Deck and Xbox controller.
• Features: Includes two trackpads, magnetic Hall effect joysticks (to minimize drift), back buttons with pressure sensitivity, and a 30+ hour battery.
• Innovation: A magnetic charging puck allows for easy, seamless charging. It's designed to work with the entire Steam library, including games not originally intended for controllers.

2. The Steam Machine (a.k.a. "The Gabe Cube"):

• Form Factor: A small-form-factor PC, roughly the size of a GameCube, designed to fit neatly in a living room entertainment center.
• Specs: Powered by a custom SoC with performance comparable to a Ryzen 5 7600 CPU and an RX 7600 GPU. It includes 16GB DDR5 RAM and options for 512GB or 2TB of upgradable NVMe storage, plus a microSD slot for expansion.
• Performance: Targets 1440p at 60fps for a console-like experience on a TV or monitor.
• OS & Compatibility: Runs SteamOS, allowing for a full PC experience. A key feature is the ability to seamlessly swap microSD cards between the Steam Machine and Steam Deck, with your games and library automatically recognized.
• Pricing Speculation: The hosts debate the potential price, hoping for a competitive $799-$999 but fearing the current DRAM and component shortages due to AI industry demand could push the price to $1,000-$1,300.

3. The Steam Frame (VR Headset):

• Design & Modularity: A sleek, modular VR headset where the lens unit snaps into the frame, hinting at potential future upgrades.
• Display & Features: High-resolution displays (2140x2140 per eye) with a wide field of view, eye-tracking, and a built-in battery in the rear headstrap for balance.
• Connectivity: Can be used as a standalone device running a Linux-on-ARM OS (with potential for Android APK support) or wirelessly connected to a gaming PC via a dedicated 6GHz dongle for low-latency PC VR streaming.
• Technology: Utilizes foveated rendering, which uses eye-tracking to maximize visual quality where the user is looking, optimizing the wireless bandwidth.
• Impressions: Early previews (like from Linus Tech Tips) report impressive tracking and wireless performance, even in crowded environments. It also functions well as a virtual monitor for non-VR content.
• Pricing Speculation: Expected to be in the $1,000-$1,200 range, similar to high-end VR hardware.

Conclusion:

The hosts are overwhelmingly positive about Valve's new ecosystem. The seamless integration between the Steam Controller, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame offers unparalleled flexibility for PC gamers. Despite concerns about pricing in a tough economic climate, they believe Valve has delivered a well-thought-out and compelling vision for the future of gaming.

#Valve #SteamMachine #SteamController #SteamFrame #PCGaming