730°

Sony And Microsoft Should Be Worried About The Steam Box. Very Worried.

Kotaku - The future of home gaming. The next generation. For years now, the anticipation and excitement over what's to come has been dominated by speculation over what would come next from Microsoft and Sony.

In one day, Valve has changed all of that.

It's been hard to get excited about PC gaming in the way you do about a new console. The nature of the PC means it gets a little better all the time. You don't really notice how powerful the platform has become until you stop and look back at the games and hardware that have come before.

LackTrue4K4124d ago

if it was price at 600 or less then ya, 1,000 is toooo much.
only hardcore gamers will get it at that price.
im interested in getting this, if no ps4 this year...then there's a 50/50 chances im getting this.

4124d ago Replies(8)
Pandamobile4124d ago

I don't think there's a confirmed price for the Steam Box yet.

But yeah, ideally, they'd want to price it around (max) $600 USD.

pandaboy4123d ago

Ideally? It wasn't ideally when sony did it with the ps3...

zebramocha4123d ago

@pan That's because Sony went a bit over board with the ps3.

hakis864123d ago

The Steam box seems interesting, although we don't know enough yet.

IT is a "PC", since Gabe stated it's linux based - but you can install Windows.

Will that mean it will run a normal PC game?
Because I already have a decent PC for gaming.

What I don't have (and WANT) is a next-gen console with awesome exclusive titles.

Will Valve create exclusive games for Steam Box, that won't run on PC as well? I kind of doubt it...

Not hating on the SteamBox here, just not sure why we should want one?

Rubberlegs4123d ago (Edited 4123d ago )

@hakis86

Of course it will run normal PC games but it won't be locked down to just Linux and that's why they mention Windows. They are trying to build Linux up so that it can support a majority of the games offered on Steam.
They just started supporting Linux on Steam so its something they still working on and improving. You won't see this Steam box until they finish with the Linux support.

If you already game on a PC and have something built up for games, no you probably won't need this. They are aiming this for console gamers with the added controller and big picture mode. This is something you will be able hook up straight to your HDTV and won't have mess around with anything else just like how consoles are.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4123d ago
Kur04123d ago

Not even hardcore gamers will get it. You can get a much more powerful PC for that price. You're only really paying for the size of the thing. I'm not even sure it comes with a GPU. Just isn't worth it. Its for people with extra money lying around who don't know how to mess with computers but want to get into PC gaming.

yeahokchief4123d ago

i agree.

i also agree with the director of resident evil 2. kotaku are douchebags.

DA_SHREDDER4123d ago

It's priced at $1000?! I would rather just build my own pc for half the price, and then again, I really want a Tablet cause I hate the problems that come with pc's so there goes my hopes on maybe getting into pc gaming this year, or any year for that matter.

DudeJets4123d ago

Problems what problems its 2013 pc gaming is so easy now days

HappyGaming4123d ago

Yeah but even now days you get the odd few driver issues etc and you have to fend for yourself in forums to find solutions. I have never had a problem that I couldn't solve myself but I know many people who wouldn't be able to resolve them themselves.

Rivitur4123d ago

It doesn't cost $1000 btw that's the XI3 7a gaming series they haven't even shown the Steam box off what the hell have you people been reading?

nukeitall4123d ago (Edited 4123d ago )

What I haven't seen addressed (vaguely remember seeing a Steam controller pad?) are a few things with this steam box:

* price
* convenience
* controller? Are we still stuck with mouse/keyboard? Don't get me wrong, they are needed, but lets face it, the reason I use my console is because I don't have to type a lot or require very precise movements. It's fast, it's easy.

To the people that care, they likely already have the ability to build one probably much cheaper and already probably has.

To the others, they want the console experince (i.e. people like me, who don't want upgrades, don't want settings and etc....)

I welcome competition, but I hope it's going to be stronger. There are already too many gimmicky devices such as the nvidia Shield and now this.

JsonHenry4123d ago

If you have read any of the articles or paid any attention to the news you would know that there is no confirmed price yet. Convenience? It is a console like all other consoles. And finally, yes, it comes with its own controller which is why steam has made such a big push lately with big picture mode and controller support for their existing library of games but also has all the ports you need to support keyboard and mouse should you choose.

CapsLocke4123d ago

Who said $1000? Valve said it would be accessible, low price.

LackTrue4K4123d ago

I seen a video saying 1,000 and 700 for the budget one. But was not Valve, it was the builders of the Piston. Valve supports it, but dose not build them.

Rivitur4123d ago

No these people can't get their facts straight Valve has yet to even show off this "steam box" all they have shown is XI3's 7 series Piston which runs Big screen mode of steam. That is what costs $999 Gabe said in an interview that ideally they will release 3 types of steam boxes starting at $99

nirwanda4123d ago

Its a shame valve wont be able to compete with ms and sony on price as sony and MS will have there own factorys manufacturing plants making most things themselves rather than have to outsource everything

NoFanboyRequired4123d ago

Erm, both microsoft and sony outsource their hardware...

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4123d ago (Edited 4123d ago )

According to this interview with Gabe Newell steam box could start at free or at least $99 and have 3 tiers.

" He says the goal for a "Good" platform is a free device, but that one would probably start around $99 and eventually come down. Newell says a midrange device should cost around $300, and that the top-tier is only limited by how much someone is willing to spend."
http://www.theverge.com/201...

nirwanda4123d ago

Thats great news if they want to mass market it but im not keen on a tiered system it makes it harder to optimize code and splits the user base up, hopefully they will make games for top tier only and optimize for them specs.

miDnIghtEr20C_SfF4123d ago

Uhm... why would this article even matter? I just got done reading everyone's post in the Bayonetta article that Kotaku is crap and should never be read.

Why no Kotaku bashing in this article?

chukamachine4123d ago

Already have a pc with more power then that box will contain.

Halflife 3 is missing in the wind,

Sales for this will be nothing compared to PS4/720.

Steam is ok, but I prefer real media tbh. I don't mind d/l content from digital, but full games, no thanks.

Veni Vidi Vici4123d ago

You'd better get used to not having tangible media. Everything will eventually go that way. It kills the used game market, hurts piracy, and gets rid of the costs of producing the disks, cases, covers, shipping, etc.

dedicatedtogamers4123d ago

My problem with Steambox has nothing to do with Steambox but rather with Steam itself:

If you aren't online, and if Steam can't check for updates for a few days, you are completely locked out of your games until you can get back online. Yes, even single-player games that do not require an online connection. Steam says "cannot access key server". In other words, Steam will pretend that you don't have valid registration keys for your games, and you won't be able to play them. If you hate the idea of "always online" gaming, Steambox will likely have it for every single game. I worry about that.

HappyGaming4123d ago

I believe when I had gone to visit my grandparents my steam account still allowed me to play offline for the 2 weeks I was there. Have things changed or am I mistaken?

Mounce4123d ago

I hear a rumor that the lowest starting point could be $99. Course, it is just a rumor, but if true then that'd be pretty awesome, there are many models being questioned and many types of builds that could be possible, but at the very least the RAM and CPU being upgradable, unsure of GPU but it too should be likely.

Rivitur4123d ago

Read shutupandtakemymoney's comment theirs you "rumor"/announcement .

frankiebeans4123d ago

its still more money than a pre built computer spec for spec.
it has to have some sort of software advantages on the steam side that would justify someone getting into computer gaming that would sway someone to it rather than buying a "real" computer which would have significant advantages in terms of upgradeability and price.

in my opinion they're hoping to have that apple effect with the fine tuned hardware and releasing an upgrade every year or so but with pc gaming. I don't think its going to happen unless they can be competitively price with a xbox or a playstation and $1000 is not the way to do it, the market for this is very small and I would buy it and scratch the next xbox off my list if it was priced at $400-500 because the only games I play on my xbox are also on pc and being able to have mods and controller support on games would be that thing to justify paying $500 over an xbox.

WeskerChildReborned4123d ago

Yea it's gonna need to be cheap enough to attract the masses if this is gonna be any threat to Playstation or Xbox.

showtimefolks4123d ago

not happening, do you think Valve name is as big as xbox,playstation or nintendo's brands?

seriously i know valve fans will hate me for saying this but he market valve is targeting knows about games and are corer gamers where they are gonna loose is when someone walks into a store to buy a new console and who doesn't come to gaming sites daily what you think he will buy? a $800 valve box or $400 xbox or playstation?

its the other way around valve should be worried about ps4 and next xbox.

price matters look at PS3 and how much hate it got so all of a sudden $600 was way over priced yet $1000 is ok? don't look at your self as a consumer we are buying because we know the tech and don't mind paying for our hobby but casual market who only buys COD and madden/Fifa each year isn't about to spend $1000 on a machine when $400 ps4 or xbox720 will be able to do both of those things

HardCover4123d ago

$1000 is the expensive option.

It's not the only option. Not at all.

And it's modular, so it's DEFINITELY going to be a better deal than consoles if they're still as limited as they've always been with hardware.

+ Show (13) more repliesLast reply 4123d ago
iNathan4124d ago

Running Linux ?

It will die as soon as 720 hits the market.

Pandamobile4124d ago

You can install Windows on it if you choose.

cee7734123d ago

Who told you that?

#in my king jaffe joffer voice

I_am_Batman4123d ago

Linux is a way more efficient OS. That means you have more recources left for games than on Windows.

Cueil4123d ago

You're assuming that this guy knows how to compile Linux for his machine specifically... and the driver support for Linux is substandard... that in itself makes it less "efficient" for gaming. I don't mind Linux as an OS, but it's not a desktop OS that I would use on an every day basis as a gamer.

Waddy1014123d ago

But there's a lot less games on linux though, the support for it just isn't there.

frelyler4123d ago

What's wrong with Linux? Does all the same things as Windows and then some,plus it's free.

Mounce4123d ago

Yea, 720 will totally destroy everything, both consoles and PC...Totally....

360 destroyed the market enough, like, damn, look how far ahead it is of Sony[/sarcasm]. Look how many people aren't supporting Windows 8 as it's likely to be another Vista. Since somehow when 720 comes around and if it's Kinect oriented, it will totally die since 360 and 720 will sell like hot cakes....because 360 totally sold like hotcakes....

PffffftLOL.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4123d ago
Just_The_Truth4124d ago

I like the idea. I think it's aims more towards PC gamers.

Pandamobile4124d ago

Or console gamers on the fence about getting into PC gaming due to the perceived complexity of the platform.

boybato4124d ago (Edited 4124d ago )

looks like a next gen.... oil filter.
or you could say, MegaMan's energy pack.

EliteDave934123d ago

Neither Microsoft or Sony should be worried.

BrianG4123d ago

Definitely agree. Within the past week I've seen 3 computer hardware and software companies show off their entry into the home console and portable console market.

Valve, Nvidia, and Razer.

The problem with all three is the price or limitations. Steam box rumored at up to $1,000. The Razer tablet is $1,000 and up with weak hardware. And the Nvidia Shield is basically an Android phone that can stream your PC games to a TV with a major exception, you need a GTX 650 or up.

Show all comments (124)
210°

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

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere6h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN3h ago

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

Barlos55m ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

PassNextquestion5h ago(Edited 5h 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

blacktiger3h ago

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

Profchaos5h ago(Edited 5h 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

Tacoboto5h ago

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

Profchaos4h ago

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

Yi-Long1h ago

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

XiNatsuDragnel4h ago

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

Profchaos2h ago(Edited 2h ago)

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

TheColbertinator3h ago

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

Show all comments (15)
110°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg6h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos6h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion5h ago(Edited 5h ago)

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola1h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

Show all comments (6)
280°

Xbox's Preservation Step Sets A Much-Needed Example, Especially For Nintendo

Hanzla from eXputer inquires: "If Xbox can care about preserving its games and legacy, what exactly is wrong with Nintendo, trying to kill game preservation single-handedly?"

purple10111d ago

Ahh yes the good old game preservation of saving all your games to a removable hhd on the Xbox 360, taking it round your mates house, setting up multiple tvs to
Be met with “save data corrupted, please re download”

Or how about removing 360 games
From the store
, download them now or else, and, better hope to god that save data doesn’t corrupt, or it’s lost for ever

Nice one ☝️

Zeref10d ago

It's better than what Nintendo and Playstation is doing. It might not be perfect but at least they are TRYING. Unlike the others.

DarXyde10d ago

Trying? Take off the blinders for a moment, mate.

1. A failure to preserve games is just that: a failure to preserve games. Don't try to sugarcoat it: NO ONE is doing it properly. Better than awful is nothing to write home about.

2. At the time of this comment, isn't it the case that you need an internet connection to play Xbox games even if you buy physical discs that are hardly in circulation anymore? I don't have a Series X and I can't verify, but I think that is correct. I'm fairly certain you can at least play PS5 games at version 1.0 (not much of a win really when many games require day one patches). I think Microsoft's all digital, licensing approach is by far more aggressive than anyone else's. They really try to push you to game pass where you lose your entire library by umm.... Skipping a month of payments.

I don't think anyone is doing it right whatsoever. Don't get me started on Nintendo, who goes after anyone looking to preserve their games better than they ever would with extreme litigation.

Don't be a simp for any of these companies. Get it together.

PhillyDonJawn10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

@DarX never speak on Xbox again. You lost all credibility with your internet connection comment. Smh you have 0 clue and misinformed yet speaking on something you don't no squat about.

Einhander197210d ago

What has Sony done exactly? You guys keep deflecting to Sony but I am not actually seeing any results, and ai am certain nothing that you can come up with even comes close to what Microsoft has done and what they have tried and failed to do, like tie all your disks to your account on xbone.

Microsoft removed their whole indie section when they moved to the xbone because they were going to only allow games on the service that came from a publisher, id@xbox started after xbone launched and it only exists because Sony embraced indie and Microsoft was forced to cancel their plans and reverse course.

And every single game that was part of games for windows live including disk games (I have gta 4 on disk that won't work) so hundreds of games that use that DRM no longer work unless the company themselves patched it out which of course very few did.

MrBaskerville10d ago

Not trying. Tried. they killed of the backcomp program years ago. They set something up again, but sounds like it's more of an attempt to save the current library on whatever they are planning next. With luck they save everything and more, but let's see. I could see them killing off parts of the OG xbox and 360 libraries. Can't imagine that they would allow us to play Forza 5-7 in the future.

With that said, I do like what they've done and really wish they could have done more.

shinoff218310d ago

Zeref

So killing off physical media is trying what exactly. Ms don't really give a fk if you think they do your kidding yourself.

Profchaos10d ago

They are not trying this team is established for forward compatability the team is. It interested in preserving Xbox or 360 games.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
isarai11d ago

Is that why Hellblade 2 is digital only?

Zeref10d ago

Just because it's digital only doesn't mean you can't preserve it. Just put it on an external and you have the exact same functionality of what a disc does.

MrNinosan10d ago

Guess you're trolling, but if you actually think that's how it works, I'd recommend buying some braincells.

mkis0079d ago (Edited 9d ago )

Volitile vs nonvolitile data. A disc will not corrupt either. A drive can be corrupted.

Einhander197211d ago

This is just a scammy PR move to distract from the fact they are going digital only and trying to push streaming and subscriptions only.

No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft.

Without discs there is no preservation, preservation can't be done by the rights holders it can only be done by the consumers, anything else is a lie.

11d ago Replies(3)
Einhander197211d ago

Anyone remember xblig which Microsoft removed their whole 360 indie section removing hundreds of games from people?

11d ago
11d ago
Zeref10d ago

Do you know you can put your games on an external and preserve them that way? There are no benefits to discs. ZERO. Idk why some of you are still obsessed with them.

DarXyde10d ago

Because games like Persona 5 exist. It's STILL V1.00. On Playstation, that's a win because 1.00 is installed on the disc—no need to download anything.

If a game does not require any updates, it's all on the disc.

Extremely low bar in the modern era, of course. It's not much of a win by any stretch.

But for now, physical media does have a purpose, at least on Playstation.

Einhander197210d ago

That is factually not how game licensing works, try plugging your hard drive into someone else xbox, It's not going to work, and it won't work if the licensing servers ever go down.

Einhander197210d ago

Anyone remember games for windows live.

I have around a dozen games, some on Steam itself that will not work because Microsoft shut off the licensing servers.

BehindTheRows10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

I do. I STILL have games (Gears of War being the big one) I cannot access because Games for Windows LIVE is total garbage and no one has held Microsoft accountable.

Zeref10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership.

Chevalier10d ago

"You don't have an Xbox apparently. Because you can 100 percent plug in your external and play games from it on any Xbox console lol. You just have to be logged in to prove ownership."

Damn how many times do people got to explain your idiocy to you? You can take a copy of Persona 5 like someone used as an example and play that game on ANY console WITHOUT logging in which means I can lend the game to a friend without internet and they can play my game. Can you lend your hard drive to anyone without logging in for them to play? NOPE. That is a huge difference and if you think otherwise then sorry you're an idiot.

Tacoboto10d ago

"No gaming company has pushed harder to remove ownership than Microsoft."

Ubisoft is literally erasing games people bought from their libraries... My PS1-3 discs are useless on modern hardware. Nintendo's re-published and resold almost their entire Wii U library, and the eShop is completely dead with no BC mechanism in the Switch software. Microsoft publishes everything they make today day one on Steam and Xbox/Windows. Sony only brings to PC the titles they think you might want some years later and Nintendo won't even design a functional long-lasting joystick.

You're absolutely trolling and not serious if you think Microsoft today is the worst offender.

shinoff218310d ago

Yay steam

Not everyone fks with computers though. The disc is still the best way as a console player. Period.

Tacoboto10d ago

How do Sony and Nintendo feel about these discs from 2001-2013?

Don't be stupid, you know Xbox is the best at this today.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 10d ago
Hofstaderman10d ago

Nobody wants this. Sales or the lack of it in the case of XBOX is very telling. I wonder how the adorably all digital series X will fare. Adorably dismal perhaps?

crazyCoconuts10d ago

Only time will tell, but for from someone like me suspecting that Xbox is trying to gracefully exit the console market, that "forward compatibility" team is trying to get Xbox games playing on Windows PCs. I mean, it's nice that they're not planning on exiting with a "enjoy your games while the hardware still works" message, so that's nice. They still have a brand to protect via Microsoft so probably feel obligated to have a better exit strategy.

Xeofate10d ago (Edited 10d ago )

That is not their plan, their plan is to transfer users accounts to the cloud.

Phil Spencer himself said as much a few months back, plans could have changed but I think people are reading way too much into one statement where Phil said he would allow Epic on xbox because he wants to be able to sell xbox games directly on other platforms. Aka, instead of selling Sea of Thives through PSN he wants to have an xbox store to sell his games on PlayStation without giving PlayStation any money.

Again, it's extremely unlikely that Phil plans to put PC on xbox and licensing would prevent them from just giving out other publishers games purchased on xbox copies of thier games on PC, Microsoft does not own their games.

crazyCoconuts9d ago

The thing that doesn't align with the cloud strategy is the giving up on exclusives. You'd still need strong exclusives for cloud streaming - it's still a "platform" , just with a lower upfront hardware investment. I feel like they've learned what PS learned with PSNow long ago. We're not ready to stream games and it's only gonna lose them money to try at this point

FinalFantasyFanatic10d ago

I would love that, I'd buy up some of the Xbox games if they could run on PC, like the Rare Replay, Lost Odyssey and Dead or Alive Ultimate, probably a pipe dream though.

Show all comments (43)