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Official Hardware Announcement from Valve

[Steam Controller]

Link: Valve announces three new products: the Steam Frame, Steam Machine and Steam Controller


Honestly surprised no topic was made yet. Valve announced this weak 3 new pieces of hardware - The new Steam Controller, Steam Machine and Steam Frame. To get it out of the way, no pricing has been revealed and they are currently set to release in early 2026.

The Steam Controller is the second iteration from Valve. My favorite part is the TMR sticks. So tired of stick drift. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo need to stop nickel and diming their customers by selling controllers when their sticks start to drift. My Xbox Series controller is drifting after only a couple of years of use.

Key specs

•     Thumbsticks: 2x TMR sticks
•     Connectivity: 2.4 GHz (puck included), Bluetooth, wired
•     Battery: 35+ hours
•     Extra features: 2x trackpads, gyro controls
•     Release window: 2026
•     Price: TBC

The Steam Machine is the one that I'm most interested in. A tiny PC cube that runs SteamOS and is meant to be played on a television. Valve claims it's 6x the power of the Steam Deck. If you look at the specs though, it's not a powerful PC. It's more of an entry/mid-range PC. Even though I technically have a more powerful computer in my office, I would love to hook this up to my TV and emulate some of my favorite consoles.

Key specs

•     CPU: AMD Zen 4 (6-core)
•     RAM: 16 GB
•     GPU: Semi-custom AMD RDNA 3 (28 CU)
•     VRAM: 8 GB
•     Storage: 512 GB, 2 TB
•     OS: SteamOS
•     Release window: 2026
•     Price: TBC

And finally the Steam Frame. A VR device that is not just about VR. You can play non-VR games on it if you like and you don't have to hook up a computer to it. It's completely untethered. You can run games locally on the Steam Frame or stream them from another Computer over the wireless dongle.

The thing that intrigues me the most is that it's running on an ARM SOC. I believe you can even run Android games on it since it's ARM. The other intriguing part is that SteamOS is running on ARM on this device. This might be the future of the new Steam Deck. ARM is so much better with battery life and can provide some good performance with it as well.

Key specs

•     Optics: Pancake
•     Resolution: 2160 x 2160
•     Tracking: Inside-out
•     FOV: Up to 110 degrees
•     SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650)
•     RAM: 16 GB
•     Storage: 256 GB / 1 TB
•     Controllers: 2x Steam Frame Controller
•     OS: SteamOS
•     Weight: 435 grams
•     Release window: 2026
•     Price: TBC

Xbox Gamepass allowing most games to be played on PC. Newer smart TVs are somewhat game compatible. Will we hit a point where Microsoft stops making consoles?

They'll stop making traditional consoles. The Xbox ROG Ally handheld is the first step into what their future "consoles" will look like, which is just basically PCs with a game specific front-end menu. They've already confirmed this. Time will tell if this will be a winning strategy for them.

For me it's online multiplayer. I started out playing some NBA 2K1 on Dreamcast over a 56K modem. Then Halo 3 and Left 4 Dead came about. COD4: Modern Warfare is where I truly got hooked. Put in tons of hours on Xbox 360. I then moved on to Street Fighter 4 and Battlefield 2: Bad Company.

I just couldn't take the toxic online communities any more. Granted, there are some good people online and it's not everyone, but it just got so exhausting having to hear these people. Now there's at least more online controls to keep games fun but it just doesn't interest me much these days. I'll jump on something here and there on occasion, but it's not my main form of gaming anymore.

I'd rather just play a game on my own time with just myself and at my own pace. Feels good.

Firefox has always worked for me on Linux. The only time it hasn't worked was when a site was clearly only optimized for Chrome, like my electrical companies website.

@BLUEVOODU It's a straight login. No integrations from other apps. I'll keep testing to see what it could be. Maybe it's an extension I have installed or pre-installed from Mozilla. It's only something that's been happening recently.

It seems that recently (I think this month mostly) every time I log in a blank page loads. Firefox is my main web browser. I tried on Chrome and I didn't encounter the issue there.

I have to reload the page to bring the forum back. Despite this issue, I still get logged in. So that's good.

I do get the email notifications if I'm tagged. Those seem to work for me.

Been playing through Tomb Raider II from the Tomb Raider Remastered collection.

I'm working on my goal of finishing at least 5 games this year. I've already hit it but seeing how many more I can beat.

What part of Windows Gaming do you not like?  Actually... as I was thinking about this, I made a post lol:
https://www.chickendinnergaming.com/forum/pc-rigs-builds-and-peripheral-devices/windows-versus-linux-gaming/

Well, there's quite a few things, it's not all about gaming but Windows in general.

DirectX12 is just not a great API. On paper, it sounds good to give the developers more control in order to squeeze out more performance from a game, but the reality is that when developers are forced to make compromises due to budget and/or timing, performance and optimzation are the first to go. It's caused PC games to regress a bit in that area. It's to the point where some games even gain performance on Linux because Vulkan handles things better.

On top of that, Windows is just bloated with unnecessary pre-installed apps that don't need to be there. Why do I want a LinkedIn app already installed? Also, AMD CPUs are being short-changed in performance. These are the best gaming CPUs and Windows does not schedule them well (I'm not sure if this has been fixed though. Don't think I've heard that it has.) Linux however gives you the full performance out of the box.

Then there's Copilot. I DO NOT WANT COPILOT on my machine. I understand why it's pre-installed but I don't need it at all and I hate that's it's being forced down our throats for every little Microsoft app.

Microsoft is also forcing people to have a Microsoft account just to use the OS. The only reason I have one is because my Xbox account automatically became one. So I use that, but they're starting to close down all methods and loopholes that allow you to just have a local account.

There's also their recall software that's supposed to take a snapshot of everything you do on your computer. No thank you. I know that right now it's only certain PCs that have it and it's opt-in but I fully expect MS to go back on this and force it on people. It's just asking to be hacked and it will be.

Microsoft also just announced that the Teams software will become monitoring software. Yeah, that's another hard no from me.

And there's still more but it's not for this forum.

'Sup?

I do get these alerts at the top, but only if I manually opt-in for alerts for the boards I'm interested in or if I get pinged in a thread.

Which is okay, but if there's a new topic in a board I'm not subscribed to then I don't get alerted. That's the only difference between the last upgrade and now. I used to not have to subscribe to boards to get alerts. But it's fine enough. I've made it work.

Rick Henderson is the name of the game?  That's actually kind of interesting. I've never heard of it, and if I have, wouldn't have thought it was a game.

I'm not really a big fan of how Nintendo ports stuff though, they just slap it on a cart and throw it out there for full price.

To be a little fair to Nintendo this time, they did actually make improvements for the current 4K era.

Sorry, got caught up with some late meetings at work so wouldn't have been able to make it.

Wait nobody was looking where?  I have no idea I was supposed to be looking somewhere.

Actually, this is a good question. Was it supposed to be Discord? @BLUEVOODU

Sure thing... and great points.  It will block out the light, be of the same ergonomic form... etc.  However, looking at the images, unless there's something going on with their marketing, the lenses seem to be different.  If not, then... I might disappointed.  BV's hopes crushed lol 

Taking a look again, they do have different lenses in those pictures. Doesn't make any sense to me though. The games have to be displayed a certain way so having both behave slightly different just seems wrong.

Honestly, they should just get rid of the cardboard model and lower the price of the full visor. Seems like the cardboard model is just there to entice people to spend more money. Fake sense of choice.

Happy Birthday!!

@CreepinDeth --> I think that's a big leap.  Massive leap.  My guess is that the cardboard replicates an effect.  It's going to be highly simulated and workable... whereas the full accessory is going to work and view like the original Virtual Boy.  I think the experience is going to be way better with the full unit... and it better be for $100

As far as I'm aware, they both do the same thing. Neither product contains any electronics and both depend on the lenses that are attached to simulate the 3D effect. Both require the Switch screen to produce the image. It would be weird to manufacture two different types of lenses. Although I will agree that the full plastic kit will be a better experience because of the visor to block out light.

Hello, welcome!

$100 and you don't even get the controller? How can Nintendo make bluetooth replicas of previous gen consoles but not for the Virtual Boy?

It's super neat, and I do agree it's cool, but I'm going to have to pass unless I can get one for a cheaper price. I'm also not paying $20 for cardboard.

Come on @CreepinDeth, you need to buy the $20 cardboard LOL.    For me in my current household state, I'm 100% ok not having another controller.  Just adapt the Wii controller or pro controller to this process and done.  I'd be happy with that.

Sure, that's fine and reasonable. However, my main point is that for $100, I'm expecting the controller as well. Otherwise, I think it's too expensive for what it is. Especially if a piece of cardboard can create the same effect.

The good news for you all, I'm one less person you don't have to fight for online. 

I'm passing. Seems like people were correct in predicting that Galaxy 2 would be sold later when Nintendo didn't include it in the 3D All-Stars package.

And I believe that 3D All-Stars will have the inferior version of Galaxy 1. Nintendo won't upgrade it to the new version.

If I do change my mind to get it, I'll probably get a used copy for cheaper.

$100 and you don't even get the controller? How can Nintendo make bluetooth replicas of previous gen consoles but not for the Virtual Boy?

It's super neat, and I do agree it's cool, but I'm going to have to pass unless I can get one for a cheaper price. I'm also not paying $20 for cardboard.

Personally, if I were to get an alternative, I would still want it to run SteamOS and not Windows. I'm glad there are more of them coming to market and Valve working to make it compatible with other handhelds.

It's all a compromise though. Those alternatives might have better specs, but battery might be worse, or they run Windows, or they're so big they probably shouldn't be described as a handheld. It's nice that there's more choice though.

I'm going to wait. Thought about it a bit but at this point the Steam Deck is starting to struggle a little bit with newer titles (especially Unreal Engine 5 games.) I'll wait for Steam Deck 2.

However, if you don't own one, I would recommend it if you don't play the latest and greatest titles.

If we're going to have individual console forums, like in the Nintendo example, then we probably don't need a "Retro" forum. Having a Retro forum seems like it would also add work because if a console becomes retro then the site has to be adjusted to reflect that. Seems a little unnecessary.

Any one-off consoles can go in a miscellaneous section.

I also feel that Nintendo has lost their way, not the same company that they used to be.

Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I feel they've always been this way. The reason it's finally being shown who they are is because they have huge success with Switch and now Switch 2.

Over the decades Nintendo has been humbled just as often as they have been successful.

• The Virtual Boy
• the PlayStation debuting and outselling them after they decided to go with Philips for a CD attachment (Nintendo thought Sony was getting too much money from each CD sold)
• the GameCube sales (even though it's a great system)
• the Wii U

These are many different times where Nintendo had to take a step back and rethink their strategy (there are also more controversies that I can't remember.) Now that the Switch and Switch 2 are back-to-back successes, they are showing their over-protectiveness that they've always had. They just couldn't enforce it like they wanted to because a flop would disrupt them and take up their attention. When Nintendo is at the top, this is who I believe they are.

I watched this a couple of weeks ago. I give it a 7/10.

Overall it was a decent Superman movie. I do like David Corenswet as Superman and I think he fits the role better than Henry Canvill. I also liked Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane. I thought the chemistry was believable. I also liked the fact that other characters were already known in this universe. Lex Luthor was fine. I think Michael Rosenbaum from Smallville still has the best take of Lex this century.


However, there were definitely things I didn't like. Not a big fan of a lot of the dialogue. It felt like a Marvel movie in terms of the jokes. It was just too much sometimes. I'm starting to wonder if Gunn is the main reason for how Marvel films are written. The more I think about it, the more I realize there is definitely a tone shift from movies before Guardians of the Galaxy to everything else after. Even though Joss Whedon had a similar writing style in the first Avengers, Gunn might've established it more with his films. Some of it was even predictable, like when

Spoiler: ShowHide

Lois and Mr. Terrific stood in front of the garage door. Immediately knew that it was going to open slow. It was so obvious.

Krypto was cool but I do think they inserted him into too many scenes. Some worked and some definitely didn't. For example,

Spoiler: ShowHide

was not a fan of how he got involved in the final scene with Lex Luthor. Felt way too campy.

There's probably other stuff I can nitpick but I think I'll leave it there for now.

I've only done GamePass and that's only because I haven't had to pay for it for the last 4 years. I've been doing the Microsoft Rewards thing where I can redeem the points for monthly subscriptions. However, I think I'm done with it. My GamePass is through the end of January and I think that's enough for me. Don't feel like going through their Rewards system anymore.

In general though, game subscriptions are only as good as the price and for me they're all too expensive.

I forgot that Rocky Linux is enterprise level. For some reason I thought it was like Fedora. I'll look into it. I'm really used to debian/ubuntu distros, so my familiarity might make me lean towards ubuntu server, but I'll check out Rocky Linux. It's not happening anytime soon so I have time to research and install it on a spare PC to check it out.

Installing stuff... especially Mac and Linux, I'm using the command line and other utilities a lot.  I'm just used to it from an enterprise perspective.  I got away from that a bit with the MacBook Pro... but with Linux, it's just too easy and convenient.  The same goes for Windows... once you powershell and cli... you continue to do a lot that way (not necessarily install software though).

I think once I get my own personal Home Lab/Home Server going, I'll be using the CLI mostly. I think I'm going to use Ubuntu Server for it. Going to have to read up on it and get some practice in.

I don't really use the CLI unless I absolutely have to. I have no qualms with CLI. I just prefer installing stuff from the app store (preferably FlatPacks.) I think if Linux is going to be a true alternative to Windows, then it needs to be able to handle apps and general functionality with the desktop environment. That's just my personal opinion.

As for GNOME, I don't like that the app launcher has this icon on the top left of the screen to bring up the apps. It's clear that they want you to use the Super Key on your keyboard. I also don't like that it's not a traditional desktop. Feels more like a plain Window Manager instead. It's too simple of a desktop for me I guess. It also seems like they're trying to have a MacOS aesthetic. Which is cool I guess but since the functionality differs quite a bit, feels off.

I also already like KDE. It's the default DE for Steam Deck and I liked it out of the box. KDE seems to be making their own distro which I'm kind of interested in. I'll give Fedora with KDE a proper try and I'll let you know what I think.