Such a high profile new entry into the living room entertainment space could have serious consequences for the forthcoming PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles. Its Steam digital distribution platform features almost 3000 downloadable PC games and boasts around 50 million users. That machine was doomed to failure, blown out of the market by the original Sony Playstation. Veteran gamers may also recall the 3DO console, released in 1993, which provided the hardware architecture blueprints to third-party manufacturers who then produced their own versions. It is closer in philosophy to the burgeoning range of cheap, modifiable game boxes based on the Android operating system – the likes of the Ouya and GameStick.

This adaptable model contrasts highly with traditional games consoles which have closed, highly controlled systems.

Manufacturers will be able to add their own features and users will be free to hack the box, changing the OS, adapting the hardware and using it for their own projects. The company explains who is eligible on its official site.Īlthough Valve no doubt has the base specifications of the Steam Machines in mind, the company is emphasizing the open nature of the platform. All the machines will run the SteamOS, a streamlined operating system announced by Valve on Monday.Īlthough the finished products will not be released until 2014, Valve has revealed that it is building 300 prototypes this year, and will distribute these free of charge to lucky members of its Steam Universe community group. Valve will not build the consoles itself, instead it is working with 'multiple partners', and there will be various models to choose from, all with different tech specs and price points (which are set to be revealed in more depth later). Computer game giant Valve has announced that a range of consoles, based around its Steam digital gaming platform, will be launched in 2014.ĭescribed by the company as 'a powerful new category of living-room hardware', the Steam Machines will essentially be high-performance PCs with capabilities designed around gaming and other entertainment applications. It's the news gamers have been waiting for, and few will be surprised that their suspicions have been confirmed.

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