Ars Technica has written up an article about Valve's Steam Machines and how they seem to have sold less than 500,000 units in around seven months.
Valve's recent announcement about how many Steam Controllers sold was stated at over 500,000 units, and Ars are claiming Valve has told them directly that includes units sold with a Steam Machine. I have no reason to question that Valve told Ars that, but the problem is the comparison used here. Ars are directly comparing a niche PC platform with behemoths like Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's Playstation 4. Both of which had multiple previous generations with people already hooked into the platforms and both have massive advertising budgets. If you are going to compare it with those platforms, then yes, it will look bad. Steam Machines were not supposed to be console killers anyway, so I feel like this is comparing apples to oranges. It's meant to be an extension of the PC platform.
I'm going to be blunt here, who honestly thought they would sell like hot cakes? I didn't. I've said it time and time again that both SteamOS and Steam Machines were never going to be an overnight success and it will take a long time for them to gain any real traction.
Another problem is that the mainstream gaming press has almost never been fond of the idea anyway, and the amount of articles out looking down it probably wouldn't have helped things. Ars hasn't exactly been kind about it at all in previous articles. Hell, even certain Linux websites like to use sensationalist article titles talking down Linux popularity on Steam. When actually, it's doing pretty well all things considered.
I do fully agree with other things Ars and others say though. We are facing real issues, like a lack of bigger platform-pushing titles and performance. Valve do need to up their own advertising a bit too, not just of Steam Machines, but of new Linux releases. They give big homepage banners to plenty of new Windows releases, but only a few SteamOS releases have been graced with such advertising. Valve haven't even managed to get their own VR device with HTC on Linux yet, they need to up their own game.
No matter what, SteamOS and Steam Machines have boosted Linux gaming immeasurably and will continue to do so for quite some time. Thanks to games we already have and games we expect to see in future.
SteamOS hasn't had time to truly mature, Vulkan has only recently been released (which should help with the performance issues) and hardly any developers are using it yet.
It's still too early to consider it a failure. Valve are one company who can afford to take their time, and it seems they are. It hasn't even been a year yet.
Windows is still a threat to Valve, especially with Windows 10, the Windows Store and Microsoft's plans for it with the Universal Windows Platform. I don't see them dropping SteamOS any time soon. They lose nothing by supporting Linux, but have the possibility in future to gain a lot from it. It's like a security blanket for them. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Valve's recent announcement about how many Steam Controllers sold was stated at over 500,000 units, and Ars are claiming Valve has told them directly that includes units sold with a Steam Machine. I have no reason to question that Valve told Ars that, but the problem is the comparison used here. Ars are directly comparing a niche PC platform with behemoths like Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's Playstation 4. Both of which had multiple previous generations with people already hooked into the platforms and both have massive advertising budgets. If you are going to compare it with those platforms, then yes, it will look bad. Steam Machines were not supposed to be console killers anyway, so I feel like this is comparing apples to oranges. It's meant to be an extension of the PC platform.
I'm going to be blunt here, who honestly thought they would sell like hot cakes? I didn't. I've said it time and time again that both SteamOS and Steam Machines were never going to be an overnight success and it will take a long time for them to gain any real traction.
Another problem is that the mainstream gaming press has almost never been fond of the idea anyway, and the amount of articles out looking down it probably wouldn't have helped things. Ars hasn't exactly been kind about it at all in previous articles. Hell, even certain Linux websites like to use sensationalist article titles talking down Linux popularity on Steam. When actually, it's doing pretty well all things considered.
I do fully agree with other things Ars and others say though. We are facing real issues, like a lack of bigger platform-pushing titles and performance. Valve do need to up their own advertising a bit too, not just of Steam Machines, but of new Linux releases. They give big homepage banners to plenty of new Windows releases, but only a few SteamOS releases have been graced with such advertising. Valve haven't even managed to get their own VR device with HTC on Linux yet, they need to up their own game.
No matter what, SteamOS and Steam Machines have boosted Linux gaming immeasurably and will continue to do so for quite some time. Thanks to games we already have and games we expect to see in future.
SteamOS hasn't had time to truly mature, Vulkan has only recently been released (which should help with the performance issues) and hardly any developers are using it yet.
It's still too early to consider it a failure. Valve are one company who can afford to take their time, and it seems they are. It hasn't even been a year yet.
Windows is still a threat to Valve, especially with Windows 10, the Windows Store and Microsoft's plans for it with the Universal Windows Platform. I don't see them dropping SteamOS any time soon. They lose nothing by supporting Linux, but have the possibility in future to gain a lot from it. It's like a security blanket for them. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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mulletdeath Jun 3, 2016
Not even half of what Steam has to offer is available on SteamOS. That's absolutely bloody unacceptable, is it not? If Steam Machines are supposed to expand PC gaming, then it seems like it's doing a shitty job of it since you can't play so many great games that STEAM has on a STEAM MACHINE. So I feel like if that's never remedied, Steam Machines will never have much success and they certainly won't seem like an early success to people who don't have Valve's vision.
Last edited by mulletdeath on 3 June 2016 at 3:21 am UTC
Last edited by mulletdeath on 3 June 2016 at 3:21 am UTC
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Quoting: mulletdeathNot even half of what Steam has to offer is available on SteamOS. That's absolutely bloody unacceptable, is it not? If Steam Machines are supposed to expand PC gaming, then it seems like it's doing a shitty job of it since you can't play so many great games that STEAM has on a STEAM MACHINE. So I feel like if that's never remedied, Steam Machines will never have much success and they certainly won't seem like an early success to people who don't have Valve's vision.
I think Valve hedged their bets by also developing the Steam Link and including IHS into the Steam Client (of course in Steam Machines too) with the theory that streaming games from Windows would be a stop-gap to cover the new SteamOS not having all Steam games available. So it would make early adoption of SteamOS easier to sell.
As an old saying goes: there's nothing more permanent than a temporary solution. Notice what's being hawked as a Weekend Deal this week? Both Steam Controller and Steam Link 30% off! Not Steam Machines, they're not being talked about on the Steam storefront anymore.
I think what happened is most people were like: then why the hell would I pay extra for a Steam Machine and crappy Linux when I can just buy a very cheap Steam Link? Which is exactly what most people did who were interested in getting Steam games in their living room.
Complete bummer. Most gamers are fat dumb and happy with Windows, they couldn't care less about exploring a new OS that has a lot to offer once you learn it. Windows is what they know, and they aren't interested in change there.
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Hang in there :).
It is still better than it was a few years ago and with Valve should be more sustainable than previous attempts. It doesn't help some sites, like the one Liam refers to have done a hatchet job either intentionally, or just to get something out faster than anyone else. I won't ever touch that site again after what they did with the Attila review, sure its fine to mention a benchmark, but not make it the main and only point (others then proved it was playable).
Not even Mac gets a lot of day one releases, they're still waiting on Total War: Warhammer for instance and they have a bigger market.
It is still better than it was a few years ago and with Valve should be more sustainable than previous attempts. It doesn't help some sites, like the one Liam refers to have done a hatchet job either intentionally, or just to get something out faster than anyone else. I won't ever touch that site again after what they did with the Attila review, sure its fine to mention a benchmark, but not make it the main and only point (others then proved it was playable).
Not even Mac gets a lot of day one releases, they're still waiting on Total War: Warhammer for instance and they have a bigger market.
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" It doesn't help some sites, like the one Liam refers to have done a hatchet job either intentionally, "
the intention does not matter, the fact that they did it does.
just think as any normal gamer would think:
they probably never heard of Steam Machines, there is NO advantage in then and the media coverage don't help.
no matter if ts ars fault, valve fault or the hardware manufacturers fault or the poorly optimized ports fault.
its not a matter of who is fault for the failure, the fact is, the steam machines failed, and until valve change their strategy nothing will change.
the intention does not matter, the fact that they did it does.
just think as any normal gamer would think:
they probably never heard of Steam Machines, there is NO advantage in then and the media coverage don't help.
no matter if ts ars fault, valve fault or the hardware manufacturers fault or the poorly optimized ports fault.
its not a matter of who is fault for the failure, the fact is, the steam machines failed, and until valve change their strategy nothing will change.
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lucifertdark Jun 3, 2016
Obviously the writer on Arse Technica is suffering from C.R.I.S Cranial Rectal Insertion Syndrome.
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I will guess that nothing will convince people who are against Steam Machines. Some people will declare them failrue. Some people will hate anything non-Windows.
As for actual numbers - it still very hard to understand what actual numbers are. So controllers have been sold over 500k. How much over? How much of that share are Steam Machines?
To be fair, I expected SM to be sold around 200k - 300k units, if successful. How that translates that SM are dead in the water I really don't know. They aren't sold at loss. Research is done at Valve side, and they seem to be happy with SteamOS development.
As for actual numbers - it still very hard to understand what actual numbers are. So controllers have been sold over 500k. How much over? How much of that share are Steam Machines?
To be fair, I expected SM to be sold around 200k - 300k units, if successful. How that translates that SM are dead in the water I really don't know. They aren't sold at loss. Research is done at Valve side, and they seem to be happy with SteamOS development.
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Quoting: Mountain ManArs Technica has been down on SteamOS pretty much from the beginning. I really don't care what they have to say.
This. Arc Technica has clear bias against Steam Machines and SteamOS.
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Quoting: PeciskQuoting: Mountain ManArs Technica has been down on SteamOS pretty much from the beginning. I really don't care what they have to say.
This. Arc Technica has clear bias against Steam Machines and SteamOS.
Disagreed. They just don't wear fanboy-glasses, nor do they try to hype it.
And there's no reason to, at this point in time. Objectively speaking there really are not much to be excited about. An OS that is not even a release candidate, machines that are nowhere to be seen, game support that's sorely lacking, game performances that are sub-par...
You all really, really must come to grips with the fact that the Steam Machines are so far from ready for the masses yet, it's not even worth promoting. There's nothing to promote.
So if anything, the Ars editor should just consider SteamOS to be so irrelevant at this point in time that it's not worth writing about yet.
Last edited by Beamboom on 3 June 2016 at 11:35 am UTC
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Mohandevir Jun 3, 2016
Basically, Steam Machines are mini-itx PCs with SteamOS. Nobody loses when buying à Steam Machine. I hope it doesn't happen, but you can still install Windows on it, if SteamOS is not to your taste.
SteamOS is Valve's developper's target platform that opens the door to other Linux distributions. They are putting much efforts to smoothen the ports to this platform so that the costs involved in developping a Linux version becomes a no-brainer: "Bah, it's not that hard, let's do it."
If Valve achieve this goal, developpers that don't publish on Linux will do So for "political" reasons... Shame on them!
In that aspect, Valve has still lots of work to do. The adoption of Vulkan and support for VR devices are key aspects.
We only have to keep in mind that the whole Steam for Linux initiative is still in a beta stage in Valve times, unless M$ does something foolish with the Windoze store that raises Gaben's ire... It's only a matter of time. :)
SteamOS is Valve's developper's target platform that opens the door to other Linux distributions. They are putting much efforts to smoothen the ports to this platform so that the costs involved in developping a Linux version becomes a no-brainer: "Bah, it's not that hard, let's do it."
If Valve achieve this goal, developpers that don't publish on Linux will do So for "political" reasons... Shame on them!
In that aspect, Valve has still lots of work to do. The adoption of Vulkan and support for VR devices are key aspects.
We only have to keep in mind that the whole Steam for Linux initiative is still in a beta stage in Valve times, unless M$ does something foolish with the Windoze store that raises Gaben's ire... It's only a matter of time. :)
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For a PC enthusiast, you really can't go wrong by buying a Steam Machine. The ones I've seen are decent PCs, and you can operate whatever OS you want. I've been using SteamOS on my gaming desktop for a few months now. There are some quirks, but over time, I'm sure the platform will mature into something majestic. It's the one platform that's sure to outlive all other console platforms. In 10 years, SteamOS will still be here, but Xbox One will disappear just like the first Xbox (unless Microsoft changes their paradigm). It's going to take time for market growth.
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