200°

Third-party Xi3 Piston "Steam Box" console gets $1,000 price tag, but will it be worth it?

"Either way it's starting to look like a tough sell: the Piston (using PC architecture to run Linux and Steam's Big Picture mode), like other forthcoming Steam Box machines, is designed to bring PC gaming to the living room as small-form-factor, modular upgradeable, affordable units. If the Xi3 Piston is anything to go by however, Steam Boxes look set to be just as pricey as next-gen consoles, and not necessarily as powerful, given the size constraints."

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Xaphy4489d ago

why would anyone buy this when they can build a pc themselves for that price?

MurDocINC4489d ago

$100 "stream" box
$300 steambox
$300+ 3rd party

Gabe in a way stated that.

Spoon_4488d ago

I thought xi3 is not the steam Box?

Korezo4488d ago

It isn't the steam box, it's a 3rd party hardware. Valve haven't even revealed the steambox.

MikeMyers4489d ago

This is one of the issues, trying to identify itself from the mainstream computer user and the hardcore who builds their own. Valve also won't likely sell the hardware at a loss like the console makers often do. That's because Valve does not charge as much for royalties and updates that they do to have software offset hardware costs.

If they can scale the systems to different pricing while making it competitive they might do ok.

porkChop4489d ago

Valve actually charges more for royalties. Whereas on consoles the manufacturers take $10 (~15%) on a $60 game, Valve charges 30% for every game on Steam. Even for indie games. So basically, Valve charges twice as much for royalties compared to everyone else. They're able to get away with it because of how popular Steam is.

Pandamobile4489d ago

@porkChop

That's only retail games. Console manufacturers take 15% off the top for retail console games (which doesn't happen for PC games).

For all games and content purchased through XBL and PSN, Sony and Microsoft both take a 30% cut, the same as Valve.

bakasora4488d ago

Try holding the rig you built with your palm. Because that's how small the steam box is.

Sykoticz4488d ago (Edited 4488d ago )

@Bakasora Try justifying paying $1000 on something that maybe only able to play games on medium-low settings.

I know its small yes it looks cool but building you own rig is so much more rewarding and unique.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4488d ago
N0S3LFESTEEM4489d ago

Seriously though... You could build a pretty worthy gaming rig with that much.

FX-8350 = $200
Radeon 7970 = $450
Asus M5A97 Evo = $100

That's $750... so plenty of headroom for the rest of that build.

gamer2344489d ago

so much for PC gaming ,Iam so sticking to console

N0S3LFESTEEM4489d ago

@ Gamer234

Just demoing what $1000 can get you... I can build a complete rig for around $650 that will be more than enough for gaming. $1000 is actually the sweet spot for building a rig that will last.

TheRealSpy4489d ago

The sweet spot for a rig that will last is closer to 1300-1500.

and even that PC will show it's age after 4 or 5 years.

i still think it's totally worth it though. running games like crysis 3 and wither 2 on max settings is glorious! if the "next gen" consoles manage to look as good as crysis 3, i'd be surprised.

Irishguy954488d ago (Edited 4488d ago )

800 sweetspot Mid range gaming, upgrade with another 250 Gpu in 3-4 years.

Lasts for long time

Edit - Just saw Tomb Raider for 30 dollars on CDkeyhouse. New game for 30 quid. PC gaming is cheaper than console gaming in the end.

Utalkin2me4488d ago (Edited 4488d ago )

So 250 more bucks you can get a case, power supply, memory, hard drive and operating system for 250 bucks?

@Irish
Its not even close guy. At least console gaming you can trade or sell your games and get half your money back. Or just rent tomb raider like i did for 10 bucks and have it beat and return it in 3 days. Not like im going to be playing it over and over.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4488d ago
showtimefolks4489d ago

if Valve think they can charge anywhere near $1000 and compete with ps4 or next xbox than they are not thinking straight, for $1000 you could build a killer PC yourself

also like someone said earlier many think Valve charges less for royalties but they actually charge more, consoles charge 15% while Valve charges 30% even to indie developers

CapsLocke4488d ago

Valve has nothing to do with charging for this device.

hellvaguy4488d ago

"why would anyone buy this when they can build a pc themselves for that price?"

Why would anyone buy a store built desktop pc when you can build that for half the price with better parts? Yet complete build pc's far number people who build their own. I build my own desktops and try convincing all my family and friends to do the same, yet some of them "just don't want to deal with the hassel".

Xaphy4488d ago

because most people aren't into gaming? I'm talking from a gamer's perspective here.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4488d ago
Interloper4489d ago

This thing will sink faster and lower than George W. Bush's approval ratings.

Holeran4489d ago

And half as fast as Obamas approval ratings and not near as low.

Biggest4488d ago

And since Obama's ratings are fairly high (especially compared to Bush)... What's the point again?

Holeran4488d ago

Just a jab at our emperor who seems bound and determined to ruin this country one way or another.

Evil-snuggles4488d ago

Who know tea baggers where gamers I Thought it was against There crazy ass religion I'm sure it's in the Bible somewhere Not to game isn't that in the Ten Commandments or something Thou shall not game lol lol lol wow

Holeran4488d ago

And another uneducated drone^^ enters the conversation.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4488d ago
juandren4489d ago

Lol at #1. Turrets syndrome

Rainstorm814489d ago (Edited 4489d ago )

He guns down any and everything thing he sees??

** Looks at comment #1** Oh Tourette's Syndrome......^_^

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80°

Valve Makes Up for Steam Deck Repair Delay by Gifting Free Game

Valve gave a user Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for free as compensation for the long wait during their Steam Deck repair.

UltimateOwnage39d ago

I had a similar experience when I initially pre-ordered my Deck. There was an issue during shipping and they offered me a customer service perk for the hassle and let me pick any game on Steam. It was super nice of them. I got a copy of Rime.

20d ago
250°

89 million Steam account details allegedly leaked, but no one seems to know how

A LinkedIn post from Underdark AI made the discovery, stating that datasets are being sold for over $5,000 on a known black market forum.

Cockney42d ago

Biggest hack in gaming history if true

Christopher42d ago

No personal details, mostly account names, no passwords. Likely would need other account leaks to hope that someone reuses a password with a similar account name on another already leaked service. While a lot of users, the data is useless. Kind of notably by the $5k request for the data.

FinalFantasyFanatic40d ago

Plus, if you have 2FA enabled, then you were at zero risk anyway, from what I've read, Steam isn't even recommending password changes as it's apparently unnecessary.

VariantAEC36d ago

@Christopher
Where are you getting that from?
The linked article above says, "The seller claims this is a “fresh” leak and says it includes usernames, passwords, two-factor SMS logs, message contents, metadata, delivery status, and other sensitive details." Which sure sounds like they might have a lot of other information. If this leak is legitimate I better stop hearing people falsely say PSN is the worst secured digital storefront (even though that hasn't been true for a very long time with far larger data breaches since 2011 all over the world including the Equifax breach which was several times larger).

VariantAEC36d ago

@FinalFantasyFanatic
That seems true only if you use Steam Guard. If you opted for T2A via SMS the article suggests it's time to make the switch to Steam Guard and of course change your password.

Christopher36d ago (Edited 36d ago )

From the credit URL: https://x.com/MellowOnline1...

The article doesn't do a good job of going into the updated detail, they just mention part of it.

Just because the seller claims something, doesn't make it true. If it truly contained that data, it would be worth way more than just $5k. SMS systems don't rely on getting passwords for accounts they're sending an SMS to, just the username, phone number, and timestamp info.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 36d ago
Profchaos40d ago (Edited 40d ago )

You don't remember the psn hack I take it

Cockney40d ago

I do remember it being 77 million, thats why I made my comment

BlueDaBaDee41d ago

Update:
"Valve has now confirmed that “this was NOT a breach of Steam systems” and users do not need to change their passwords as a result. However, it continues to recommend that you set up the Steam Mobile authenticator for extra security."

https://store.steampowered....

Fishy Fingers41d ago

Shame. I liked the idea someone paid 5 grand just for my silly steam name.

DivineHand12541d ago

The government needs a taskforce with serious fundung that can opporate across borders to go after cyber criminals.

It is getting out of hand and it is the regular citizens of the world that suffer the consequences of these hacks and breaches.

My fear is that if left unchecked, state sponsored hackers from corrupt or governents under sections may use this as a method of raising revenue at the expense of everyone else.

Fishy Fingers41d ago

Bro teeing up a Mission Impossible movie.

ZeekQuattro41d ago

Not in this administration. If anything hes been dissolving existing task forces meant to protect consumers.

Amplitude40d ago (Edited 40d ago )

Why? They’d just use the funding to funnel hundred of millions of dollars into fake NGOs that then funnel it into democrat pockets while doing zero cyber criminal defence work.

Then if anybody tried to defund them it’d be a whole thing with the mainstream media claiming that there will be endless cyber attacks. NGOs would then fund protest groups to attack anybody that supports defunding the government’s cyber attack defence branch and then it would turn out it was also being used to stabilize or destabilize governments in other countries and overthrow elections to benefit America. Which is fine until they start using it on us again.

Let’s just not. Private companies who know what they’re doing (Valve) can deal with it

RIP USAID. God bless

Profchaos40d ago (Edited 40d ago )

It's not a may use this not we know state sponsored attacks do this already.

It's a global problem you couldn't have one government playing world police it would require joint collaboration with foreign governments and the problem is many laws have not kept pace with advancement of technology.

even then it's hard to say with certainty if an attack was a state sponsored attacks or a cybercriminal group operating outside of governments

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 40d ago
pwnmaster300041d ago

remember when certain groups were saying PC gamers don’t want other subscriptions because it was not safe and steam was the spot lol.

Shiore2u41d ago ShowReplies(6)
badz14941d ago

it's time to riot, right, pc gamers??

pwnmaster300041d ago

Be careful, PC gamers are the most touchy out of the gamers lol

staticall40d ago

@badz149
@pwnmaster3000
Have you guys actually read what was «leaked»? It was SMS messages from 3rd party provider (not from Steam itself) with one-time 2FA codes (that are active for 15 minutes). No Steam account details, access to an account or any of that jazz.

Let me quote official Steam response:
«The leak consisted of older text messages that included one-time codes that were only valid for 15-minute time frames and the phone numbers they were sent to. The leaked data did not associate the phone numbers with a Steam account, password information, payment information or other personal data. Old text messages cannot be used to breach the security of your Steam account, and whenever a code is used to change your Steam email or password using SMS, you will receive a confirmation via email and/or Steam secure messages.»
Source: https://store.steampowered....

The only bad thing about this is the phone numbers. But while that sucks, attacker doesn't know which Steam account this phone number belongs to. IMO, the only thing people should be rioting about is how unprotected the SMS are and the 3rd party service that was used by Steam. I'm all for punishing people who screwed up and/or lacked the security. But this is not it.

FinalFantasyFanatic40d ago

Why riot? They have nothing of value, can't even steal an account with the details they have, they would have to attempt a brute force attack, you can already do that with a Steam user's account name (or any account on any site) if you really wanted to spend the time and processing power to do it.

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60°

Creature Collector Fest hits Steam with some epic discounts

The Creature Collector Fest event has come to steam until May 19. Here are some epic discounted games to scratch the critter gathering itch.

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