As Valve confirms the Steam Box, Microsoft's Phil Harrison issues a warning

EuroGamer - Valve hit the headlines this week with the confirmation that it will enter the console business with its own Steam Box.

For the Half-Life company it marks a desire to take on Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo with its own hardware powered by Steam and Linux.

[Kamikaze135]

Valve came out of nowhere and turned PC gaming around in a positive way. I can't claim to know enough about the industry to say they will succeed, but I feel that if anybody has a chance of succeeding, it's Valve.

[JoGam]

im getting it myself

[Kurt Russell]

I'll be certainly giving it a chance, that's for sure. It'll either be something amazing, or a huge flop... Either way, I'm chancing it.

[insomnium2]

I love it how it goes. You either are THE gratest thing ever or you are the biggest and most pathetic flop in the world. Where are the shades of grey in today's world?

[MikeMyers]

Of course Valve has a chance of succeeding, they have already established themselves in gaming. The biggest issue is Valve does not have a distribution channel because Steam is a digital store. As of yet they haven't sold hardware before. That's their challenge. They have already secured partnerships with game publishers and are the leaders when it comes to support for indie games. They also have over 50 million Steam members.

Their big hurdle is marketing and the retail end of it. They could also take some business away from Alienware.

What we have to remember is Valve isn't interested in all the other fluff. They don't sell operating systems and use hardware to catapult other sales. They don't sell TV's or blu-ray and use a game platform to offset those sales. Their interest is games and if they can treat publishers more fairly and not charge them as much in royalties then yes, we could have a winner on our hands.

"So I wouldn't in any way criticise what they've achieved and the role they've played in the industry. But I'm not sure we would choose Steam as a benchmark of success. We would always seek to innovate and push beyond.

"Xbox Live as a foundation, the reach we have and the experience we deliver is a great place to build on."

I don't agree with that comment. Steam is actually a great service. You can also gift items within Steam. It also allows other things like dedicated servers and mod support. The prices are also much more competitive for the consumer. I do see it as a benchmark of success and one that doesn't need to hide itself with a ton of apps and other things so they can justify a fee either. Steam is free, that's a benchmark when compared to Live.

[darthv72]

What you initially typed you could pretty much replace "valve" with "MS" and it would be the same situation. MS didn't have a distribution channel. They had not been in console gaming before.

Also, steam was nothing like it is now without looking at live as a reference. Let's say, all good ideas are influenced by something else. Now I could be wrong but when I used steam it was for hl2 and counter strike. There were no achievement or community like it is.

I got into the 360 after the Xbox and the changes with live were obvious. If steam had achievements first then I didn't know that. No need to discredit one to promote the other.

[dedicatedtogamers]

I'm a PC gamer, I already have a Steam account, I already have a PC hooked up to my TV...

...but if Valve allows us PC gamers to use our existing Steam account (and our already-purchased games) on the Steambox, I'm getting one.

THAT is something people keep forgetting. PC gamers who are already using Steam may pick this up simply as a mini-PC to use on an extra TV, or to bring over to a buddy's house. Sure, non-PC gamers who are new to PC gaming will get it, too, but there's a big threat of PC gamers who are currently using Steam on a Windows-based PC migrating to a Linux-based system.

[kayoss]

@darth
I respectfully disagree. One thing that the xbox did have that Steam didnt have is Microsoft. Before microsoft went into the gaming business they were a powerhouse in computers. They had a distributing channel that distribute computers, software, and let not to say they had very very deep pockets to invest in gaming. Therefore they can take a risk. Microsoft was in a very good position to make the xbox successful because they had the money, the staff, the knowledge, and they are a very well known brand.

[darthv72]

MS was/is primarily a software company. they dont make or distribute computers (unless you count surface tablets).

So their only real hardware experience was in making keyboards and mice and controllers for the PC (sidewinder line).

their experience in any kind of console form would be their name on the dreamcast because it used a modified windows CE operating system. They did try the home market with webTV but that was exactly what it was. "WebTV" no games.

To be fair, even Sony was a newcomer to the console market at one point but there is no need to discredit them for that when we see that it took them a few years to mature and be accepted. Many will just hate MS because its MS regardless.

Its like the Google effect. Google was a search engine that built into something bigger and is taking on hardware and software but they didnt get there without something else as a base of reference. Was it MS or Apple or even Commodore...but still all good ideas come from something else.

Valve as a company is a software company. Steam was their distribution service for new games that you could buy digitally or at retail and validate through steam. It grew into something bigger just like Live grew into something bigger. Like it or not, all of these companies are connected to each other in more ways than people give them credit for.

The Steam box as a concept is very similar to the idea behind the 3DO. Meaning that while there had to be a base unit to demonstrate the idea, that idea was open to any other company that wanted to build a platform that was their own but compatible with the standard 3DO library.

Valve will not be the only ones making steam compatible units. Just as i would imagine MS has been toying with the notion of building a set of standards for their next xbox that would be open to other companies making xbox/live compatible units as well.

Nintendo (and possibly sony) are the only ones who continue to do it alone from concept to R&D to finished product. That takes lots of $$$ and lots of risks.

If there were (insert game platform) compatible units on the market from various companies like Samsung, JVC, RCA, Panasonic then we would have more of a DVD/Bluray type of electronic selection on the market and all of them would work with the same software.

It would be like buying a PC from Dell, HP, Compaq etc and they all come with windows or (if offered) your choice of OS. That is what the steam box idea is and probably what the next xbox would be like as well. The set of standards created by valve (or MS) but the hardware would be competitive because there would be more than one company making it.

[nveenio]

I'll stick to PC for Steam games, but I can see how this may benefit kids who can't get their parents to buy a decent PC (but will spend the same amount on a console).

[guitarded77]

For me it's a good device to have. I like the PC gaming experience, but I'm a computer programmer, and don't feel like being strapped to a PC when I get home, so this is a great cross-over and will fit in right along side my other consoles.

Phil's concerns are legitimate. Production and distribution will be the two big issues, I think Valve will have one great advantage jumping into the game with the possibility of having their titles like Half-Life, Portal and Left 4 Dead become PC exclusive. Don't know if they'll do it, but it will be interesting to see.

I know at one time Valve were talking about Steam on consoles... we never really saw anymore than Steamworks on PS3, but it makes me wonder if the SteamBox is a result of the lack of a Steam system on consoles. Like they decided to build it after not being able to do what they wanted on consoles.

[Ju]

I'm just to lazy to look this up...but did they actually say they will built their own HW? Why not do what Google did? Big picture is the platform and let anybody willing build the HW according to specs. Valve doesn't need to make money off the HW, they do it through Steam anyway. And they do have an online infrastructure already. Not a lot of companies do. I can understand why MS would want to warn...because this will migrate games away from a Windows based platform. Sure thing can't be in MS's interest.

[MikeMyers]

darthv72,
I wasn't really referring to the Achievement status. I still think Xbox Live wins in this area due to the fact all games on the Xbox 360 have it. I'm not sure if all Steam games do. I just disagree with the comment of not acknowledging Steam as a benchmark of success. In PC gaming it is. They have led and never looked back. Heck, even Microsoft tried to get their hands in there with Xbox Live on the PC and failed miserably. Origin is nowhere near the same caliber as Steam either. Will that success transfer over to the Steambox? I'm not sure. I think companies like Microsoft spend a lot of money marketing and securing partnership deals with the likes of Activision and Epic. I don't think Valve will go that route. They are interested in bringing a platform that is far more flexible and open. Will gamers care? That we will soon find out.

One thing both Microsoft and Sony are willing to do is sell hardware at a loss. I don't think Valve is willing to do that but the value will still be there for customers. You're not paying for things you may not want like a blu-ray drive or having to pay a membership fee to play online. The software may also be better value on Steam, in fact it already is.

As for distribution channel Microsoft was already a player with Windows and Window based PC games before the Xbox. They didn't have hardware so yes, you are right about that, but they still had software at the retail end. I think all Steam has now are Steam cards which are like iTunes, Xbox Live and Playstation Network cards.

[linkenski]

I love it but, I fear that it could be the fall of mouse+keyboard gaming at some point :/

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

Better Valve than apple.

I am glad to see a company who doesn't have to answer to shareholder jump in.

Make me wonder since I can sign into steam with my psn account will they try to break down the barrier of cross platform on console? PC, steambox & ps4 multiplayer? portal2, DCU & payday are all on steam and are cross play & maybe planetside 2 & Ever Quest Next for ps4. I already know MS is not having it so I won't mention 720.

That would be cool though.

"Steambox Seen by Newell to Have Three Tiers of Pricing, Could Start at $99"

http://www.gameranx.com/upd...

Also this could mean less bad pc ports.
Idk I am just happy now I want to huge everyone!!

[MasterCornholio]

If they produce a steam box at 399€ that capable of playing all games on steam well (and some at max detail) i would get one for the steam deals because im sick and tired of paying 60€ for a video game.

[Mutant-Spud]

You're not going to huge me, you won't catch me with my trousers down!

[nukeitall]

@shutUpAndTakeMyMoney:

"I already know MS is not having it so I won't mention 720."

MS is the dominant player in the online connectivity of consoles so they won't include another platform unless they are threatened by it or if there is very strong synergy.

"I am glad to see a company who doesn't have to answer to shareholder jump in."

Well the other part of it is, Valve really couldn't jump into the console business. There aren't many players that have the financial resources to get a console released and be successful. MS spent billions entering the industry, and other than old time players there hasn't been a new serious entrant in a long time.

There are mostly just small timers.

"Also this could mean less bad pc ports."

I always dreamed of this 3-tier setup, but I hope Valve has a forward moving plan i.e. how do you move to the next generation for the lowest level. How long will it be supported?

There are a lot of questions like that and Valve has no history of building any hardware. In fact, Steam was more of an accident than a planned business.

Valve is a great company, but I question their ability to succeed. I welcome competition with open arms though.

[roadkillers]

Haha I want to huge you too. It's better then giving someone a tiny any day.

[CyberCam]

@JoGam
So I'm I... not that I really need it, I already have a LAN, but just to tinker with it in front of the TV and to support Valve. Valve is a good company that gives us gamers value for our money and they don't try to nickel & dime us to death.

Plus I'm a Linux nut and finally getting rid of M$ would be my dream come true. So I'm going to support the penguin!

[SilentNegotiator]

Microsoft is really trying to scare Valve out of waking the sleeping Giant known as Linux as a gaming platform. Another Firefox/Chrome on their hands in the form of the entire OS would be hell for Microsoft.

[cee773]

Yeah and everyone knows windows and office is Microsoft's backbone that's where 90% of there revenue comes from

[nukeitall]

LOL!

Scare?

Practically the entire business world runs on Windows. It's easy to change browsers, because there is no lock down on software. Practically any website can be viewed on a different browser.

Can't say the same about productivity software, let alone games!

Remember when PC manufacturers tried to include Linux? Like Dell? The PC ended up costing more! That's irony.

[SilentNegotiator]

@nukeitall

That's WHY a big company coming in and pushing Linux scares them; because right not it can't compete with Windows. But once Gamers switch away because Linux game support skyrockets, others will follow. Don't pretend like business is the only important part of OS sales.

[DragonKnight]

@nukeitall: Dude, seriously you need to step away from that Microsoft mug every now and then and just take a deep breath and look at the world. All Linux really needed is one serious backer to make the push in the world. When that happens, it'll gain more support and if you think businesses will still spend $200 on a Microsoft OS when they can spend nothing on an OS that has seen huge support gains, then you are really a lost cause.

[nukeitall]

@DragonKnight:

Have you been involved with software licensing and cost decisions in a company?

If you have, you know the biggest cost isn't the software, but rather the employees time. Half an hour wasted a day easily outweighs the cost in almost a week or two.

One serious backer doesn't make a big difference at all. What they need is the industry support overall. They are facing the mountain that MS did with the original Xbox, except Linux doesn't give gamers anything Windows doesn't.

To the vast majority, Windows is practically free with the computer. In fact, computer cost increases without Windows as seen before when Dell tried to push Ubuntu laptops.

It's a pipe dream to replace Windows and Valve had a better shot using Android than Linux. Primarily because there is already customers there.

@SilentNegotiator:

If MS was scared, they would have supported Windows gaming far more. MS wants to push Xbox, not PC gaming anymore. It's mostly there to have a presence.

Linux game support ain't gonna skyrocket. Why would it? What about Linux would make gamers compelled to choose it over Windows whom they are familiar with, exist on their PC pre-installed from the store and has most of their other compatible software.

If you feel differently, I would like to know WHY? What about Linux will compel gamers to choose it over Windows?

The only real backer of PC gaming these days are Valve really, because that is their main business.

[darthv72]

to the custom PC building community there is a benefit to using linux. But the custom building side of things has changed dramatically over the last 10 years.

Mainly due to the cost of building a PC vs simply buying one already built and loaded with an OS. I liked building computers but it got to a point where I just couldnt build one at the same price as what you could buy.

you may have more control over the parts you want to use but all of that adds to the overall cost. People (in general)these days are more enthralled with just buying a new machine or tablet or smartphone than building one.

Linux has its pro's (mainly being free) but it also has it's cons (no standarization from version to version). There are many variants of Linux and each one is made from the same basic core but tweaked to be just a bit different than the next one. At least with windows, you know your copy of windows 7 or 8 on a dell will be just like the copy of 7 or 8 on an HP.

I think valve is more concerned in getting other companies to make steam units than them being the sole supplier. That way they can lay out the standards for the service to work. Obviously they chose linux in their design because of licensing but if they let other companies make units then it would be on them (Samsung, Dell etc) and those companies could use whatever works for them so long as it meets the bare minimum for compatibility.

[Blackdeath_663]

the valve has some issues standing its way the biggest being price.

also many pc gamers have no reason what so ever to buy a consoles that is essentially a tiny pc that costs the same as the desktop pc they already own.

anything can be a steambox. you can connect a gaming laptop to your tv and that can be a steambox. you can make small pc with a mini ITX motherboard that will be the same size as a console and connect that to your tv. alienware have a small gaming pc that can be your steambox

finally the third problem is the open nature of the steambox, if valve do decide that they will lower the price to stay competitive they are doing so in the hope that they will make that money back from items bought from steam however not all people who buy the steambox will use it for gaming. i think the piston or the Xi3,Xi5 & Xi7 computer will be a success but i'm not sure that success will come from people using it as a games console and i can't see them replacing people's gaming PC's

[InMyOpinion]

The $900 price that has been revealed is for the Piston, and not for the Steambox. People seem to confuse the two.

I haven't been into PC gaming for the last 10 years or so but I've always been a big fan of Valve, their games, and their philosophy. If the Steambox turns out to be good I wouldn't mind getting one. Really hyped about what it could do. :)

[Blackdeath_663]

@InMyOpinion the steambox is said to have similar specs to the Xi7 its only natural that it will also have a matching price tag unless ofcourse they cut the price and are willing to bet on the assumption that people who use the steambox will also use steam which is harder to do on an open system. the ps3 for example was sold at a significant loss but they can do that because everyone who buys a ps3 will atleast buy one game to go with it
(you can't use the ps3 for anything else other than to play ps3 games and use sony services thats why sony prevented people from installing linux to the ps3 when it came out and removed support for other os)

i think valve will do it if they want to as they do have the resources to do anything they please but how beneficial it will be to them is questionable. from a consumers stand point I am looking forward to the steambox too!

[ifistbrowni]

pretty excited for the "steambox." I AM NOT a PC gamer, but from what i hear/know of Valve, they are fair when it comes to pricing. Steam is able to set low prices for their games because they dont have to worry about pi**ing off other outlets like walmart, target, best buy etc. (because Valve does not depend on these outlets to sale their product *at the moment*) They can set their own price and have ridiculous sales.

This, to me, sounds like Microsoft trying to scare off Valve. I play my xbox 360 primarily over ps3 (therefore i am an "xbox fanboy") and i am really looking forward to Steambox.

This is big for console gamers, whether you be Microsoft or Sony fan-boys. Hopefully Steambox stays true to Steam and they offer the same great games that Sony/Microsoft offer, but at 1/4 of the price.

Good luck, Valve! Unlike Microsoft, i actually mean it.

[aceitman]

Lol phil said deep pockets ,he left that one open for a pun , if anyone knows deep pockets it's ms.

[CanadianTurtle]

Usually when a new system comes out, I become very skeptical and worried about how the system will turn out during it's life spam. That's why I get them when they are at their 3rd or 4th year of the cycle for the games catalog to grow.

Valve's SteamBox is one of those systems where I'm confident in getting it during it's first year of release.

[edwoods]

This MESSAGE is for 99 percent of the N4g community: Stop posting lame messages below articles with your pseudo intellectual, business-mind wannabe strategies on what multi million/billion dollar companies should or shouldn't be doing. Just because you took a few economic classes in college and learned a few big words doesn't mean you know anything. No one on here has any true investment wisdom, so stop stroking each other off and go get job's in the stock market if you're so damn "smart"

[BABYLEG]

Took the words right out of my mouth

[GamerToons]

If you were so damn smart why did you spam the same
Message twice.

You are acting like the people you are criticizing.

[LOL_WUT]

Well said ;)

[salsabandana]

You'd rather have people bickering about console fanboyism instead?

By all means let's stamp out some reasonably intelligent dialogue. Seriously, it's either this, or baseless grumblings about who has the best hardware, games, online service, or whatever.

If you had even gone to college you'd know they don't teach you about stocks in economics, that's all in the finance department.

If you hadn't noticed, virtually every comment on n4g is speculation. Maybe you hadn't, considering how exceptionally unobservant you are.

[edwoods]

This/////// MESSAGE is for 99 percent of the N4g community: Stop posting lame messages below articles with your pseudo intellectual, business-mind wannabe strategies on what multi million/billion dollar companies should or shouldn't be doing. Just because you took a few economic classes in college and learned a few big words doesn't mean you know anything. No one on here has any true investment wisdom, so stop stroking each other off and go get job's in the stock market if you're so damn "smart"

[GamerToons]

All I see is Microsoft talking points.

Harrison has been a failure everywhere. Sony England.... Atari.

Tough biz indeed Mr Harrison

[awi5951]

I'm Pc again ill never go back to consoles. I loved PC gaming when half life 2 and unreal 2004 came out. I had to move to console because i was in school and didnt feel like upgrading my pc. But parts are so much cheaper now and ebay helps alot with upgrades.

[fermcr]

Steam Box looks like a basic PC config, but smaller and more expensive.

Not interested and i don't think it will be that successful. Might be wrong.

[Bleucrunch]

I will definitely support Valve with their new console...I like them a lot and they are business who truly understand the field that they are in and the people they serve.

[UnholyLight]

I agree. Also, I find Phil Harrison's words to be good words overall really in regards to what he says at the end. He welcomes competition just like I do as a consumer, because in the end it allows the industry to compete to create products that better each other with each successive new idea etc.

[geddesmond]

Lol this MS guy ha. Wrong you only need deep pockets when you have to bribe gamers to play your consol like say paying millions of dollars to secure exclusive DLC for some of the bigest selling games in the industry. What Valve will do if they price the Steambox right is give consol gamers something they've been waiting for for years now. MS are just scared because they know they have f all exclusives and something like this bites into a lot of their market. What other gaming company besides MS is very respected in America? Answer valve. Steams games are cheaper than Xbox live, offers everything Xbox live does except no subscription costs and Half Life 3 lol that becomes a steambox exclusive then what american gamer won't want one of them, not to mention Left for Dead and Portal.

[princejb134]

I'm gonna give it a chance depending on the price
If its worth it in the long run might even consider dropping Sony and Microsoft consoles all together

[thezeldadoth]

his comments just come off sounding like a butthurt competitor.

[marigold]

Valve has already positioned themselves (rather adeptly) as a major player in PC gaming - and as a distribution channel. It seems almost natural that they'd want to focus their attention on hardware as well. From a strictly gamer perspective, I'm kind of excited to see the Steambox in action and will love to own one.

[Cueil]

Why? The whole reason I'd want a Steambox was because it was different from my PC... but I've already got Steam on my PC..

[cl1983]

So nice to read a article with a positive vibe

[AznGaara]

If I didn't spend $800+ on a new PC last year id definitely buy the Steambox. Valve can definitely do this though, their steam sales are amazing. One thing that would be cool would be for them to make their own "Steambox" controller. Sure the Xbox controller and various 3rd party controllers work but if they want to capture the casual audience, a Steambox with a Steambox controller would look really nice and not confuse customers.

[LocutusEstBorg]

You're better off buying a Steambox. $800 is my budget just for one component: the GPU.

[PurpHerbison]

This guy.

[AznGaara]

But my PC is already way better than the Steambox, unless the Steambox has an i7 3770k, 16gb ram, SSD and a GTX 660ti lol

[jon1234]

people people, especially you pc people, instead of typing out all these ridiculous names when you are talking about your pc. like a geoforce239126xxazc7qg or whatever theyre called and just agree to say, i have a good pc period

[tachy0n]

we cant say we have "good" computer since specifications and uses vary a lot.
i agree with AznGaara , i smell like steam box will not be that huge since people would rather buy a PS4 or an Xbox720.

keep in mind that the support linux has is awful, there is a reason why windows is still dominant after all these years same applies with apple and OS X.

+

EA is starting to pull their games from steam.

[jon1234]

No.... No... You people can say good computer, I think you guys like putting out these lame names just to show off and be pretentious....

[AznGaara]

Now this is an interesting comment because, with all the articles floating around with the next Xbox and PS and what they're specs are its fine. It's okay if those article say things like "Xbox720 8gb ram" or "PS4 AMD CPU" but as soon as a PC gamer says their specs its suddenly blasphemy.

[jon1234]

no, not what im saying, going back and reading what you wrote, i see that you werent listing all the components in your rig, but the way you listed the ones you did, set me off i guess... however, i find it very annoying in many of the comment sections regarding multi platform games, when a debate goes back and forward between consoles, you always have one pc gamer interject his own opinion and start by listing all these goofy names, but still, it would be nice to for people to just say, hey my pc is badass, instead of, well you know...

[BanBrother]

People always give MS flak for their past sins (any PC gamer can tell you why, or any PC enthusiast lol), but their PR department is classy, which is more than can be said of other companies. EA are the absolute worse, and will attack at the throat any chance they get.

I never like companies that attack each other, as it is childish. Glad to see a great response from ms. Right now Gabe Newell is probably slowly putting on suglasses; "challenge, accepted".

[grayfoxx881]

Microsoft's PR Department is anything but classy.

[Veneno]

Aaron greenburg is classy?

Turn 10 are classy?

[morganfell]

He said anything BUT classy. That means they are not classy. What happened to grammar class?

[Sp1d3ynut]

Hey, morganFAIL...Veneno was replying to the OP, not grayfoxx881. Maybe you need a reading comprehension class?

[WetN00dle69]

No but at least Turn 10 got humbled and due to that they got their shit together and released an amazing title that is Forza Horizon.

[SilentNegotiator]

Oh please. They do everything with a smile, but they aren't classy.

Try looking between the lines. Valve is making Linux the backbone of their Steambox. Microsoft thought that they had officially killed Linux off as a threat when they threatened hardware companies out of using Linux in some their computers (least MS take away their privilege to license Windows), even making Asus’ chairman, Jonney Shih, apologize for SHOWING a Linux powered computer.

Microsoft's biggest fear is open platforms. Look at how Firefox and Chrome have taken over. Microsoft has tried several times to keep people from downloading them at all. Even with Windows 8 they tried pulling that crap.

It's about trying to scare away potential partners/investors and Valve themselves, that way Linux won't have a chance to grow. Not class. They're a corporation; you can't seriously think that they MEAN IT when they said "We welcome competition with open arms! ;)"

[InMyOpinion]

Both MS, Sony and Nintendo have some major douchebags who make PR statements (or just spout random crap on their Twitter accounts). I wouldn't call any of them classy.

[BanBrother]

As a business, maybe not. But you can at least admit their PR can restrain themselves. They could have easily used the PSN attack to their advantage, but they didn't.

Then again, as usual, people hear what they want to hear on N4G.

[Baka-akaB]

Except they couldnt have easily use it at all . Any kind of attack about that would have made them look bad , and it affected the whole industry anyway .

This got nothing to do with being classy , there have been enough instance to show that , you just wanna hear what you wanna hear .

[InMyOpinion]

Taking stabs at the competition rarely brings any good. Neither does boasting about something that the competition might do better.

I think it would be better if they focused on their own stuff and stick to more informal PR about upcoming games, services, technical innovations etc.

Phil Harrison comes off as kind of ignorant boasting about the 40 million active users on Xbox Live when Steam has 50 million.

[Sevir]

Gaming PC that runs on Linux and supports steam to its core. If anything this will only help make PC market look more attractive to publishers. They didn't even announce publisher support. It seems kind of worthless since they have steam on all PCs defeats the purpose.

[Murad]

I hereby state that if I am going to buy a next gen console, it will be "the Steam Box". I will support a company that has supported me.

[WeAreLegion]

That's why I'm supporting both Valve and Sony next gen.

[Agheil]

I've always wanted to get with the steam crowd with all it's ridiculous sales and great community, but never really liked having to upgrade PC's , so I'm really excited for this.

[Veneno]

Speaking from experience I can tell you that the Valve and Steam community are great. But like you, I find it frustrating with all the mainainence that comes with gaming on PC.

Hopefully Valve knows this and can make the task of maintaining a Steambox nice and easy. BUT i had an absolutely terrible customer service experience with Steam so Im not totally convinced they can do it. It's a wait and see situation for me.

[deadfrag]

Frankly this only seems M$ TRYING TO INTIMIDATE Valve using Phil Harrison has a spokesman.Yes M$ is actually scared of what a Steam Box could take from the xbox brand leadership!But its not only M$,Sony and Nintendo are also scared thats for sure.

[Veneno]

Microsoft has the most to be scared of. If you can get the best COD and Battlefield and EVERY OTHER FPS experience on Steambox and play online FOR FREE, then Microsoft should be in panic mode.

[phantomexe]

Really because i'm preety sure sony and nintendo haven't said a word. I don't think nintendo even will......why because they don't cry. For some reason nintendo is alwasy doing there own thing like the rest of the world doesn't exist.There messed up like that but it's 2013 who knows.

[th3n00bg4m3r]

When did Phil Harrison start to work for Micro$oft? I though he was still working for Sony.

[ElitaStorm]

he is a spy, u can see him in santa monica studio at 0:44

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[majiebeast]

Thats Stig Asmussen the game director of god of war 3 who is working on a new IP with his team at Santa monica.

[ElitaStorm]

i was joking

but they look alike in some way

[Veneno]

Wrong. Phil Harrison worked for Sony then some oher companies, including Atari, before going to Microsoft.

[th3n00bg4m3r]

I was asking.

[Tainted Gene]

i was going to ask the very same thing

[pr0digyZA]

"When did Phil Harrison start to work for Micro$oft?"

Beginning of 2012, I believe.

[landog]

from artile; "Xbox Live currently enjoys over 40 million users from over 70 million Xbox 360s sold. Steam enjoys over 50 million active users."

so is he saying steam already won? is that fear i detect philly? you worried you wont be able to keep the xboxlive milk flowing

steam is 4000x better than psn or xboxlive, sorry, its just a fact, the deals, the mods, the clans, the forumns, the guilds, the greenlight, the patches, the multitasking, next gen consoles will not even come close to what steam had 3 years ago, let alone what they will be bringing in the future!

steam has 50 million already, 100 million is coming, very, very soon!

[Bladesfist]

I do agree that steam is better than PSN and Xbox Live feature wise. With PSN+ you get worse and less deals than you get with steam each month, not even counting the huge sales. You can take and share screenshots, mods and video content with its community features. After using PSN for a while on my vita I have been constantly wanting it to be more like steam although it is not a bad service itself.

[DragoonsScaleLegends]

People registering on a website does not mean they are willing to spend hundreds on a locked system that does the same thing. I think less than 10 million of those users if that would be willing to purchase valves system. And even if those 10 million are willing that does not mean they have the money to spend. Not all thoses who have registered on steam are spending money. Some do it to try a free to play game than relize they suck and never login again.

[landog]

@drpepper

this is NOT aimed at pc gamers, STEAM already has all of us, the 50 million that are already steam customers, i alone have bought over 200 games from them!

we build rigs that DESTROY this steam box, ps4 and xbox 720 all combined, i wouldnt ever buy some tiny pc that only does console resolutions and console settings

but, millions will, people who don't have the money to buy a $500 gpu and the tech abilities to build a pc (though its pretty damn easy)

this is aimed at console players and casuals, and it will work

[DragoonsScaleLegends]

@landog

Hell if it's not even aimed at there current user than theirs no way in hell they will be able to get into this market. Nintendo got the casual market sealed down tight. Sony and Microsoft have a huge fan base and I can't see fans changing over to a PC console maker. The only people I see possible thinking about getting are there current PC makers. 200 Games you must buy alot of 2 dollar games on steam.

[Insane087]

E3 might be slightly more interesting this year just want to see what the actual steambox can do!

[Steadyhndz]

" But it's very rare for a new hardware entrant to get to scale, and I mean tens or hundreds of millions of units"

Coming from a guy who's company he represents for and previous represent for has not sold hundreds of millions of units...also a rep for one of the biggest hardware companies in console gaming.

[Hicken]

Actually, Sony's reached a hundred million twice, actually, and stands to do so again at the PS3's current sales rate. Depending on how Microsoft handles things, the 360 could also see 100 million sales, but I don't think it's as likely.

In any case, his point was that selling a hundred million is VERY rare, especially for a first entry into the console market, where selling tens of millions will be tough enough.

[Steadyhndz]

Actually MFST has sold a little less than 74 million units. Sony is right around the same number...these aren't 100% accurate being that we can't gather numbers from China which was last estimated around 6 million units for the PS3...I can't find estimated numbers on the Xbox 360.

[MYSTERIO360]

I think MS are really scared of Valve entering the console market, they know that valve are a big player when it comes to software digital distribution of well known PC titles and games in general. MS main claim to fame this generation of consoles was their xblive/windows OS which they used to nickel and dim their customers and exploit their kindness. Also MS connection with 3rd party PC studios is what brought some gamers to them who wanted a capable machine but didn't have the money. Valve could break MS benefits and bring in a new trend in consoles with open systems.

[League_of_Draven]

The Steambox should be pretty good. I mean I won't get one cause I already have a PC that can play all those games. He's just scared because he jumped ship to Microsoft and Xbox is a sinking ship (especially when the Steambox comes out). What little "exclusives" they tried to pass off as being only on PC & 360 will basically come to an end now thanks to Steambox.

[JeffGUNZ]

xbox is a sinking ship..Really? Did you not see their sales numbers over the holiday season? You ever realize not many exclusives are coming out for the 360 this year because they will be launching the nextbox within the next year? Most of thei first party studios and exclusives are developing games for their next gen console. When E3 rolls around, xbox will most likely announce the next system.

[Theangrybogan]

Steam box = day 1 buy

[black911]

No more left 4 dead.

[360ICE]

<3 Phil Harrison.

[DiRtY]

Steam is a retailer. Nothing more.
If the Steambox runs steam, EA probably won't support it, because they try to do their own thing.

You can't succeed with a console that does not offer Fifa, Madden or Battlefield.

That is a major disadvantage.

And why should devs go for Linux now? It has a 1.2% market share in the OS market and there are 28 games on steam that run on Linux. That is not much.

And Valve has basically no first party developer support. Sure there is Half-Life every 5 years, but that's it. ANd Valve would lose about 50% of its revenue if they stop developing for other consoles. Left 4 Dead made more money on 360 than on Steam for example.

I don't see it succeed. Sony, MS and Nintendo have more money, more experience, more support, more first party support, more budget.

[darx]

Of course the Steambox is going to run Steam.

As far as first party support. There a more games exclusive to PC than a PS3 & 360 combined. Moot point!

[IronFistChinMi]

That's still 3rd party support, mostly down to genres that are more suited on PC. If those devs wanted to make Xbox/PS games, they can do so if they want.

[DiRtY]

And how many of them run on Linux?

PC gamers will play on the PC. They won't switch to consoles, because the retailer they buy their games from builds one.

My prediction is that the Steambox will fail to get its fair part of the market. It might sell its 3 - 5 million / year, but that is it.

[chukamachine]

Have to agree with DiRtY.

Valve makes some good games, and steam works well for it's users.

But I can't played Uncharted,Battlefield,GT,GOW, etc. On a steam box.

I already have a very nice pc.

I think a lot of this depends on what PS4/720 bring to the table.

[C4BL3]

is it me or does Phil seem a bit butt hurt.

[YodaCracker]

It's you.

[SITH]

I got a PC with steam on it. I have zero desire to buy a smaller version of a PC running steam just to toss in my living room. The new Xbox however...

[SirBradders]

More money then sense mate.

[SITH]

Why, because I don't do what you do, buy what you buy, build what you build? I got more everything than you. Don't hate.

[bluetoto]

Guess you'll feel better to know that valve has zero desire to appeal to you. This isn't for PC heads. How many times does this have to said. They are not interested in the elitist who have a super pc that runs X game at XY fps blah blah blah. They don't care and neither do the rest of us regular gamers.

They are going after the console gamer like me who are dieing to get into pc gaming without having to deal with the crap that comes with it, namely elitist pc heads to name some of the crap that comes along.

Have fun on your new Xbox playing halo 45 and gears 19, heaven help you if you buy an xbox to play multiplats lol

[Xian]

Microsoft themselves had to build up the supply and manufacturing chain themselves just a little over a decade ago. Before the Xbox, about the only hardware they sold were mice and keyboards. Valve should be able to do the same, though they are going to have to grow as a company to do so, for instance they won't be able to rely on only having email support to deal with hardware issues.

[The_KELRaTH]

Why settle for Sony/MS multi-platform low quality (by comparison) console ports when you can have the console it was designed on - the PC console.

The biggest take up issues will be price but if it's not too far away from PS4/ 720 pricing then I'd say it's got a great future.

[SnakeCQC]

ms has become a joke to the pc gaming scene seriously gfwl was horrendous they only ever released halo1 to pc gamers windows 8 was horrible and now this warning WTF is wrong with ms? wait what now they care about pc gamers?

[SegataShanshiro]

Wow you so smart! Stating facts and what not, surely makes you look smart here....but you should know that halo 2 is for pc too....

[Garrison]

I love steam. I have a pc some some great steam games that I enjoy. I buy all of my games on steam.

I'm kinda worried about the whole thing thou. Steam sure did great things for pc gaming but now that it's coming with it's own console, what says that most pc devs won't just make games based on the specs of that console instead of actual kick-butt pc hardware?

This is something that could be actually one of the biggest blows to a pc games industry. Steam is doing just fine, wtf do they need to make a console for?

[kevnb]

its not a console, its just a branded pc. Other companies make them too... Unless they sell like 10 million of them a year, dont worry about it.

[kevnb]

sigh, its not a console... How can we take an article like that seriously? The media is trying to put this against consoles for some reason, but it should be put up against similar pcs.

[Saryk]

Everyone and their mother puts PC versus consoles, so why not?

[urwifeminder]

Its funny gabe gives microsoft flak but windows platform has made him a very rich man.

[Saryk]

MS was about to bend over Valve and everyone else. If MS didn’t throw the first punch, Valve would be happy where they were. This is called Blowback!

[rapidturtle]

Phil's just worried the consumer will wake up and realize that Xbox live is the biggest ripoff in the gaming industry.

[gamernova]

I said it before and I will say it again. I am a PC gamer and I love Steam. I do not trust Gabe as a person though. He was talking trash about W8 like it was an anti-gaming platform but it isn't. It is just windows 7 with a few extra perks. He should have been honest and said that he feared the w8 store which would compete against him as a method of software distribution. With that being said, I believe the steam box will add more competition and this is a great thing. With SHIELD releasing also and all these other devices built for gaming it should only lead to great things for the consumer. I am okay with MS, Sony, Nintendo (very impossible but just saying) being ousted from the gaming race if they cannot keep up innovation or quality.

[Saryk]

People speak with their money. And right now the MS giant is getting hit hard from all directions!

[MilkMan]

No hes right, Valve is fucked. Somebody just liked to these good 'ol boys and somehow impressed upon them that a good "store" equals a great hardware business?
I'm not sure I buy this.
Whats the catch?
Come to us we'll treat you like family and give you sweetheart deals you can charge what you want..blah, blah, blah.
We'll see.
At the end of the day competition is always good.
But I just don't see value in what they are proposing. Entering this market. They are good as a store, but coming into this arena can damage them in a big way.
I hope they stacked their funds, its gonna be a bumpy ride.

[modesign]

phil is a dirty bald traitor.

[andshesays]

how much is it?

[2v1]

Yeah, fuck Steam, an intuitive, cheap, simple and well designed client. What we need more of is subscription fees for things that should be free and ads on top of that! That's the only real benchmark for success.

[The_Con-Sept]

This is a little bit off topic but Phill Harrison is still on my Turd list. And its not because he is now an ex Sony employee... But for what he said about the developers of motorstorm back in 2005.

[jacksheen0000]

The question is what can Valve give us all that we haven't already experienced before? In other words, if valve want to be successful in the gaming industry they're going have to bring something new. Oh, and no more motion control either.

Now don't get me wrong, I m sure Valve's Steam Box will do well in the gaming market. but if Valve want to complete with Microsoft and Sony they're going to have to spend some serious bucks.

Valve need to to buy a couple of game studios to make games exclusively for their game console.

Valve's steam box need to have multimedia capability(net flick/hulu/etc) like all the other gaming console.

last, valve need to stay away from using off the selves technology to built the steam box. No one is going to buy a console if you can built yourself.

[Hozi]

So let me get this straight. For 2013 we have

Xbox 720
Ps4
Steambox
Ouya and
Project Shield?

that's a lot of competition.

[Raoh]

Isn't Ouya not really a consumer product but a developer kit for developing games?

[koga88]

As far as the competition list there goes, it's pretty much only

Wii U, Xbox 720, PS4 and Steambox. The Project Shield is good in theory, but either won't be released at any point or barely make it above super niche level. The Ouya may sound great, but it's a flash in a pan that many people ended up overhyping and will be forgotten about by most of the mainstream audience by the time E3 rolls around.

[aLiEnViSiToR]

Personally i see this as THE END OF BAD PC PORTS... :D

[Kratoscar2008]

I hope if the system is going to have a definitve genre (Like Xbox have FPS) that genre to be RPGs.

[kingPoS]

Let the tournament begin!

Ouya
Valve
Sony
Microsoft
Nintendo
Nvidia
???

Let the games begin!

[sandman224]

Ill definitely buy one if its released before the new Xbox/ps4. As long as it puts the current consoles to shame.

[koehler83]

I already have better hardware than anything Valve will bring to market themselves.

But I will very happily continue to use their service.

I'm sure they're just fine with that.

[OSIRUSSS]

If I can't buy used, I'm not buying. Hopefully the next Gen is on notice.

[Raoh]

I'm interested in valves offering. I only run windows for pc gaming. I'll switch to valve's linux option and dump windows. Turn my pc into a server for streaming music and movies.

[8bitHero]

so just making sure, the steam box WILL be a console, right? because when they first described it it sounded like a console to me but everyone kept going on how its not that and its a pc.(even though valve has said the system will be closed; you know, like consoles >.>)

[Karum]

I reckon it'll be a PC just branded as "Steam Box" or whatever the name ends up being.

They'll maybe partner with one or various OEM's to build them to certain specs but at it's core it'll just be a PC that runs Steam with whatever OS (possibly Windows along with Linux versions) so it can double up as like a HTPC.

It'll be interesting to see how it goes.

[Karum]

Not sure I would get a Steam Box, simply because I already own a pretty powerful gaming PC that I run Steam on already.

If anyone was thinking of one because they want to use Steam on their big TV and not build a big gaming rig then I'd say got for it as Steam is a fantastic platform.

[isyourhouseonfire]

Now that Microsoft has had Sony for lunch... Looks like Valve is dessert.

[InTheZoneAC]

isyourhouseonfire is handsome jack

sony is the vault hunters

[ATi_Elite]

Phil Harrison.....This Guy is a typical jerk from Microsoft!

Phil Harrison----"But I'm not sure we would choose Steam as a benchmark of success"

Itunes, Newegg.com, Steam are like the best ONLINE only eStores that make Billions yearly how can you NOT choose Steam as a Benchmark!

What ever Microsoft chose as a Benchmark for GFWL sure was CRAP!

Xbox Live is just taking advantage of people who don't realize your paying for Xbox Live to get features your PC does for FREE and charging Gamers to pay to play online is a total bogus rip off! Kudos to Sony for having a Free and a Pay service!

Xbox Live currently enjoys over 40 million users from over 70 million Xbox 360s sold. Steam enjoys over 50 million active users.

Now when the Xbox 720 comes out and support for the Xbox360 gets shut off like a 6 month past due Electricity bill that number will decrease while Steam's numbers only increase as more people buy PC's and Steamboxes which have support that last FOREVER!

People need to realize that Gabe Newell use to work for Microsoft and left when he realized that he could do way better and had a better and more realistic connection with Gamers than Microsoft who now just copies everything everyone does now a days!

Steambox may just be the kickstarter that Linux needs to really become a Windows Competitor!

[Tzuno]

Lol if it was nothing to worry about why he commented about this? :)

[ajax17]

That dude looks like a serial killer! Freaked me out

[InTheZoneAC]

besides mmo's, sim's, and rts games what EXCLUSIVES does steam offer that I can't get on a sony console/handheld.

To those already pouting, I'm not arguing against the steam box, but this is the reason why I don't have a 360. None of it's game interest me.

This is an honest question and if there are amazing AAA gamesout there, then I might give this a chance. And there are no gimmicks like the wii/wii u/3ds has so that's another plus.

[Mikeyy]

Whoa, when did Phil end up with Microsoft? Thats weird.

[Robotronfiend]

If they can cross-platform (PC-PSN) more games like they did with Portal 2, I'm totally in. Who am I kidding? I'm in anyhow. :-)

[Orionsangel]

No one can beat Steam's deals. 4.99 and 7.99 for PC games also on 360 & PS3 that once cost 60 dollars!

[NobleTeam360]

I find it funny how some are saying huge instead of hug. Two different things their people.

[Droid Control]

Question: if the steambox runs with Linux what about steam games that all run on windows OS?

[finite]

Bring on the 41 Linux Games available on steam, force Game developers to start migrating their games just for the new system to Linux ... and make sure all PC Games being developed currently also for Linux... is this really going to happy for a platform that is already available on a windows platform..... I really can not almost see it happening during a massive rescission and almost no money available.

[Bimkoblerutso]

....

......

.......I'm just going to say it. That guy looks like he just murdered someone, looked up, and is about to murder the cameraman.

[DivineAssault]

a steam box & ps4 in my living room will be all i need..

[jjb1981]

I'm in....

[BertlSenix]

"Entering the hardware business is a really tough business," he said."

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Has to be really hard if you only release CoD and Failo 7 times in the whole Gen and have a bunch of war hungry kids buying that crap.
Valve will manage fine and Microsoft can take a seat at the 4th place Next Gen behind Nintendo,Sony and Valve.
All have Variety in different Genres and Quality Exclusives unlike Microsoft aka Copy+Paste Shooterbox.

[Knushwood Butt]

Didn't read the article, but I suspect Harrison's warning was, 'I'll say good things about whoever is paying me the most money.'.

[ATi_Elite]

One more big thing that that IDIOT Phil Harrison failed to realize is that Valve is NOT manufacturing anything. They are not making Hardware! They are not paying Chinese child Laborers 10 cent a day to do anything.

All Valve is doing is designing a Box and tossing already made hardware into it and it will be up to the already plentiful PC Hardware manufactures to put the SteamBox together while all Valve has to do is load it with Steam/Linux software!

Any PC manufacturer can make a STEAMBOX!!! Valve is not looking to be the sole beneficiary from sales of it's Steambox cause it's not some Proprietary console.

Now once this Box is assembled you can open it up and toss in new upgrades and enjoy all the PC Games without EVER having to be bothered by Microsoft.

Many Games have a Linux version and the ones that don't.........Valve has a program that wraps DirectX games in a Linux wrapper and plays them just as well if NOT BETTER on a non Windows machine.

PURE GENIUS!!!! Valve has truley opened up another portal in PC Gaming!

....and Now Apple and Linux are just waiting for Microsoft to make another Greedy move and PC Gamers along with a SteamBox will start to second guess the need to Buy Windows 9 or 10 or 11.

Microsoft's foundation is Business but you better do your homework if you think that PC Gamers didn't have a lot to do with Windows success over Apple OSX.........PC Gaming is the ONLY reason I have a PC instead of a Mac!

[FlyingFoxy]

Well I won't arguewith Valve, they make the very best FPS games. Not like overrated companies like Bungie with Halo etc..

Plus PC is the home of FPS, where they belong.

The best FPS developers ever:

ID Software (at least for Doom) Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

Valve: Half Life series, Left 4 Dead series, Portal series.

Early Rare: Goldeneye 64, Perfect Dark. (literally the only FPS games worthy of consoles)

Raven Software: Soldier of Fortune 1 & 2 (awesome online game in 2002)

Unfortunately these devs don't really make games anymore or rarely come out with any, Luckily PC has the very best which is Valve to rule over any console game.

I did hear Raven are interested in coming back for a new Soldier of Fortune, that'd be awesome as SOF3 left a lot to be desired.

[Sunk]

Valve has a lot of smart and talented people working for them. I'm sure they don't need any advice from anyone.

[DomceM]

translation:

Microsoft is sh1tting its pants because a lot of 360 users are going to realize what a huge ripoff xbox live is after Steam gives better features for free, and a ton of games discounted to prices that no other company can compete with.

Also if they release 3 steamboxes (low, mid, high) priced that would mean everyone can get different graphics based on their budget. If you have 1000$ to spend on a console you dont have to be dissapointed that it will cost 300 and have crappy graphics.

if you have 150 to spend on a console, you dont need to save 1000 which is way out of your budget. Everyone wins.

[McLuvn]

Steam box sounds great.
Valve will keep it real.
Pick one up probably a year after release.
Next xbox not so much.

[level 360]

We'll see once a reliable confirmed stats and hardware gets out.

It's really hard to tell even with the integrity that Valve holds, this is a totally new ballgame they're entering.