Summary
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Not for console die-hards: existing libraries and PS5 Pro make the switch unlikely.
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Not for most PC gamers: Target budget, limited upgrades, and weaker hardware than regular PCs.
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The Steam Machine will likely continue to sell millions as it serves as an attractive gateway to PC gaming.
The Steam Machine is Valve's latest attempt to attract more players to the PC ecosystem, the only place where Steam and countless PC exclusive games live. But when I saw the ad, I couldn't help but scratch my head and wonder: Who exactly is this home console computer for?
This is not for console fans
Before I can talk about who I believe Steam engine for, let's discuss for whom not. Again, this is entirely my opinion, but I think Steam Machine is not intended for console gamers. Let me explain.
People who have been loyal to the PlayStation or Xbox for years likely have an extensive library of games that they've spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on. It's unlikely they'll replace a console they were happy with. Of course, console gamers who primarily rely on subscriptions like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, or the physical copies they sell after completion, are less tied to their platforms, which might make the switch to the Steam Machine a little more attractive.
However, while Steam is famous for its strong sales and vast library of free games that are often not available on consoles, it still means selling your old console and investing in a new machine and games for the most part.
In terms of hardware, the Steam Machine is about as powerful or slightly more powerful than the standard PlayStation 5, but the PlayStation 5 Pro should still outperform it. PlayStation loyalists might be better off selling their old PS5 and upgrading to the more powerful PS5 Pro so they can enjoy high-quality visuals on their living room TVs, rather than investing in another platform.
This is not for PC gamers
I know, I know: this is one of the biggest moments of all time, but let me give you some compelling arguments to support my claim.
The Steam Machine's relatively weak hardware is unlikely to appeal to most PC gamers. Gamers on a budget are the obvious target audience, but these people might also want a basic PC that can do more than just game – maybe a business laptop that can run light games?
While SteamOS Steam Machine technically has a desktop mode, and Valve will obviously let you install another OS, how many people are actually going to do that? This defeats the purpose of the device.
In addition, even a budget PC can be endlessly upgraded. Do you need more or faster storage? Buy a SATA or NVMe SSD. Struggling with multitasking? Upgrade to a more powerful processor or add more RAM. Feel like you're missing FPS? Sell ​​your old graphics card, add $100, and take it to the next level on the used market. You get the point.
PC gamers who have mid-range or high-end machines are especially not the target audience. I'm guessing that if you have one of these devices, you have some disposable income and can easily afford a Steam Machine, but there are many better options for using the hardware you already have.
The first thing I would consider is to simply run 10ft HDMI cable from computer to TV. This is the best option if your TV is next to your computer or if your computer and TV in the living room are on the same wall. A small hole for the HDMI cable is all you really need to enjoy gaming on the couch with a 2.4GHz wireless controller or mouse and keyboard.
I'm not a big fan of buying additional devices unless absolutely necessary, so my 4K OLED TV and my only gaming device, a gaming PC, are in my office bedroom.
If that's not an option, you can always try streaming games from your computer to your TV using Steam Link or an app like Moonlight. An Ethernet cable connected to your computer and another cable to your smart TV or streaming box is all you really need for a reliable, low-latency connection for streaming, although you can usually get by with wireless streaming over 5GHz as well. Either option is free and comparable to Steam Machine.
Steam Machine will sell millions of units
Forget everything I said above: people don't buy with logic, they buy with emotions, and that's completely normal. If you saw the announcement of the Steam Machine and your first thought was that you need to get your hands on one and have the funds to buy one, go for it.
Console gamers love integrated hardware and don't worry about specs and settings. This is a problem that Valve is trying to solve. So, if you're interested in the vast library of indie games that are only available on Steam, you can choose Steam Machine.
You could probably amass an entire library of free and cheap indie games for $100 and get hundreds of hours of entertainment. Even if a small portion of console gamers migrate to or pick up a Steam Machine, that will still be millions of new PC gamers.
Another huge demographic that could buy a Steam Machine en masse is young people, especially teenagers and teens. Again, the Steam Machine is a “general purpose” PC. Assuming Valve can make it available in local stores, it will sell like hotcakes.
If a child goes with their parents to the store to pick up a birthday or Christmas gift and sees a PS5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series S and X, and a Steam Machine at comparable prices, there are plenty of good reasons to choose the Steam Machine over the rest.
Cheap Steam games aside, they can make a compelling argument that the Steam Machine is a two-in-one device and not just a gaming console. In other words, it's easy for a child to claim that the Steam Machine is also a practical computer that they can use to do homework and school projects, surf the web, or even explore open-source creative tools to develop important computer skills for later in life.
Another massive target audience is Steam Deck owners. PDAs in general are great for gaming on the go, and surprisingly, they can already do that. dual use as desktop/laptop. The Steam Machine, which is said to be six times more powerful than the Steam Deck and is designed to connect to your TV, is the perfect add-on device for couch gaming.
This is the new dawn of computer gaming
You've probably already realized that I'm not the target audience for Steam Machine. I will live and die by traditional PCs. However, that doesn't mean I'm not excited.
If the Steam Machine ends up achieving the success it's been advertised to be, it could be perfect gate for attracting millions of new gamers to computer games. If Valve can create a system that automatically optimizes settings for the Steam Machine (or at least the most popular games), it could further lower the barrier to entry into the PC segment. This is all mostly good news for today's PC gamers.
First, the Steam Machine's relatively weak hardware could be a big step toward encouraging video game developers to improve optimization on lower-end hardware.
Steam Machine can't become obsolete a couple of years after launch. People on a tight budget can expect their low- and mid-range machines to be able to run the latest games as long as the new Steam Machine remains current – which is why it's useful to have a unified “target reference” machine. You can potentially create a Steam Machine clone, knowing that you'll be able to play on it for years to come.
It's also worth noting that Steam Machine uses the latest generation RDNA 3 GPU instead of RDNA 4. AMD has been shamefully silent on this matter. FSR 4 (AMD's latest scaling technology) on older graphics cards. Now that the Steam Machine has been released, I really hope that AMD releases a version of the much improved FSR 4 for older cards to replace FSR 3.1. This is a huge milestone for everyone who currently owns an old AMD graphics card, and I am one of them.
