120°

Is the Steam Box Really a Next Gen Competitor?

Things are getting steamy in the console market, with PC-gods Valve planning to release a ‘Steam Box’ that could dominate your living room. But are people getting all hot and bothered over nothing, or is this the next big thing? Daily Reaction wipes the condensed water off of our crystal ball and discusses the future of gaming.
-PSLS

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playstationlifestyle.net
ftwrthtx4124d ago

If it has upgradeable ram and video card, and one helluva processor, I could see it.

PopRocks3594124d ago

What game console has ever done that? Wouldn't that basically just be a Sony branded computer? Also, maybe Sony shouldn't focus on making a kickass processor, considering how badly the Cell CPU hurt the PS3.

ftwrthtx4124d ago

I'm not saying that Sony should build it all, actually. Just that a small upgradeable box would save some serious bucks in the long run. When it comes to gaming PCs, it takes a lot of dough to stay ahead of the curve.

konnerbllb4124d ago

"What game console has ever done that?"

Sega Genesis - 32x cd
Nintendo 64 - Memory expansion upgrade

Blackdeath_6634124d ago (Edited 4124d ago )

@ftwrthtx
the steam box is essentially a pc. upgrading it will also be as expensive as upgrading a pc. everything about the steambox is similar to a pc apart from its size. the only time that isnt the case is if valve decide to cut the price and makes a loss everytime someone buys the steambox in the hope that they will make that money back from steam. otherwise you are better off buying a pc because the parts are more common and you can find anything you need from any electronics store. also it doesn't cost that much to upgrade a pc unless you want the best everything ever in it however if all you want is a pc that is better than any console you can make a mid range and it will perform much better than consoles both this gen and the next

bumnut4124d ago

"When it comes to gaming PCs, it takes a lot of dough to stay ahead of the curve"

My processor is 3 gens old (i7 950), im also running 2 x GTX 570's (1 gen old). You don't need to stay ahead of the curve, I can max out pretty much all games at 2560 x 1440 with great framerates using my 'outdated' parts.

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LackTrue4K4124d ago

how can any one know at this point, we have yet to see or have info on the ps4 and xbox.

bumnut4124d ago

What are you talking about? Don't come on this site talking sense! :)

Root4124d ago (Edited 4124d ago )

We don't even know if that was the actual Steambox shown off...why havent Valve corrected sites yet.

Seriously I'm confused, every article on here so far makes it seem like it is the Steambox, PC/Console hybrid thats been talked about for months.

I thought the Steambox was supposed to be more of a console with it's own gamepad and that....the things shown off didn't seem like it had any of that, just mostly new PCs

doctorstrange4124d ago

A third party steam-focused box was shown, which isn't the Steam Box. But all the Steam Box talk is based on Gabe's rather open talk with The Verge about the actual Steam Box

Foolsjoker4124d ago

I have high hopes for Valve actually pulling this off, hopefully they don't let me down.

maybe it will release with HL Ep 3?

TrendyGamers4124d ago

I wouldn't bet on that but it would sell a lot of boxes.

doctorstrange4124d ago (Edited 4124d ago )

If it does, it's coming out in 2030

doctorstrange4124d ago (Edited 4124d ago )

Arg triple post

doctorstrange4124d ago (Edited 4124d ago )

Arg triple post, guess it's good I don't have 10 bubbles...

NCAzrael4124d ago

Considering the fact that there is no HL2 Ep3 anymore, I'm seriously hoping that isn't the case. I'd be fine with it releasing with HL3, though.

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ElementX4124d ago

I don't think it's a next-gen competitor. It runs Linux and right now Steam has 40 some games which run on Linux, not a very good start imo. Furthermore, anybody who wants to play console games will buy a console and play Steam games on PC.

NCAzrael4124d ago

I think you're missing the entire point of what Valve is trying to do. The biggest drawback to PC gaming for all of the uninitiated who cling to consoles is the accessibility. PCs cost a lot, there are a lot of hardware configurations to pick from, and when building your own system you have some configurations that just don't work. For that matter you have a lack of cohesive software to tie the experience together.

With the Steam Box, Valve is throwing all of that out the window. Sure, right now the back catalog is a bit thin, but that doesn't mean existing games can't be updated to run on Linux. And we don't even know all of the details behind their custom OS yet, so who knows what's going to happen. If Valve and their hardware partner can manage to cut the cost of a mid-to-high range PC down to an affordable level, it will open the door for more console-only players to finally embrace PC gaming as a viable platform.

ElementX4124d ago

I dunno, even a lot of mainstream PC games don't run on Linux

papashango4124d ago

Steam is mainstream pc gaming. Valve is now backing Linux with its own hardware. All serious PC developers will now back PC gaming/Valve with Linux gaming software. It's really that simple.

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220°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv7218h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle5h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18813h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio2h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Cacabunga5h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21834h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga3h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

purple1018h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos7h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac6h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad6h ago(Edited 6h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1016h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic4h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

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150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos1d 7h ago (Edited 1d 7h ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers1d 4h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos13h ago(Edited 13h ago)

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken14h ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g1d ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing23h ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H91d ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola20h ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn66923h ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle22h ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

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insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 15h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 12h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d 10h ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN1d 3h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo1d 5h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies1d 1h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 14h ago (Edited 1d 14h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 12h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic22h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows9022h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 14h ago (Edited 1d 14h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 14h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 14h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 11h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 13h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 12h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

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