Home Gaming Valve preparing for launch of Linux hardware next week?

Valve preparing for launch of Linux hardware next week?

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Steam Box
We’ve known for a while that Valve was preparing to launch some kind of new hardware, often referred to as the “Steam Box”. It seems we don’t have much longer to wait for details – we should be getting news as soon as next week!

Speaking at LinuxCon, Gabe Newell explained Valve’s vested interested in Linux:

“The next step in our contribution to this is to release some work we’ve done on the hardware side. Even more broadly in terms of the grand unification, we really don’t think that the fragmentation around the physical location or the input devices of computation is either necessary or desirable for software developers or for consumers.”

“…none of the propriety closed platforms are going to be able to provide that grand unification between mobile, the living room, and the desktop. Next week we’re going to be rolling out more information about how we get there and what are the hardware opportunities that we see for bringing Linux into the living room and potentially pointing further down the road to how we can get it even more unified with mobile.”

It will be interesting to see how they approach this. If it looks anything like the PS Vita TV, they could be wildly successful. If they are looking to unify the experience between mobile, living room (read: TV) and computer, we might see something cool. Or, it could just be another gadget to collect dust. One of my biggest issues with PC gaming is the lack of living room/controller. If the ‘Steam Box’ lives up to expectations, it could be an awesome ‘must-have’ device.

Last Updated: September 17, 2013

42 Comments

  1. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    September 17, 2013 at 12:36

    This could be either very cool or very gimmicky. We shall see

    Reply

  2. oVg

    September 17, 2013 at 12:37

    and Half Life 3

    Reply

    • That Dark Twit

      September 17, 2013 at 12:37

      YES!

      Reply

      • Mark Treloar

        September 17, 2013 at 13:02

        no

        Reply

        • Unavengedavo (aka. Frik)

          September 17, 2013 at 13:03

          I think you mean…

          Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          September 17, 2013 at 13:06

          BOOBS!

          Reply

    • M-m-m-monster John

      September 17, 2013 at 13:10

      You’re getting me too excited about this

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        September 17, 2013 at 13:15

        You can relieve the pressure by playing GTA V when you get home tonight…. oh…..

        Reply

        • M-m-m-monster John

          September 17, 2013 at 13:36

          Damn you!

          Reply

  3. Admiral Chief of Rivia

    September 17, 2013 at 12:39

    Dammit Gabe, just give us HL3 dammit!

    Reply

    • That Dark Twit

      September 17, 2013 at 12:39

      Again… YES!

      Reply

      • Mark Treloar

        September 17, 2013 at 13:02

        Again… NO!

        Reply

        • Unavengedavo (aka. Frik)

          September 17, 2013 at 13:04

          Again… I think you mean…

          Reply

          • Mark Treloar

            September 17, 2013 at 13:09

            I mean HL3 is approaching the Duke Nukem Factor and is overrated

          • Unavengedavo (aka. Frik)

            September 17, 2013 at 13:28

            Lol, my brain made the connection because of your profile pic and the “no” 😛

          • Mark Treloar

            September 17, 2013 at 13:39

            I like yours better

          • Johan du Preez

            September 17, 2013 at 14:06

            Valve never said HL3 is in production … so how can it be compared when they not even working on HL3

            Duke Nukem was in production for over 11 years, they didn’t start any work on HL3 yet … quite a big difference.

          • Mark Treloar

            September 17, 2013 at 14:21

            The point is if they ever did make it it would be several years too late and end up being irrelevant.

    • Hammersteyn

      September 17, 2013 at 13:15

      Day one exclusive launch title? I’ve been calling this for a long long time

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Rivia

        September 17, 2013 at 13:22

        Would be the secret of the decade should he pull that one off

        Reply

  4. InsanityFlea

    September 17, 2013 at 12:40

    I use steam on linux, works great.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Rivia

      September 17, 2013 at 12:43

      Cool

      Reply

    • Johan du Preez

      September 17, 2013 at 14:09

      Yeh same here loving Dota 2 and Serious Sam atm on linux.

      Reply

  5. RincemySniperKittEH0-O

    September 17, 2013 at 12:44

    I don’t get it? Where’s the GTAV angle? 0-O

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Rivia

      September 17, 2013 at 12:46

      Hey, what do you and me have in common at the moment?

      Neither of us has GTA V

      😛

      Reply

      • RincemySniperKittEH0-O

        September 17, 2013 at 12:47

        What a day 🙁

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief of Rivia

          September 17, 2013 at 12:53

          Hugs

          Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          September 17, 2013 at 13:25

          The day must really be dragging for you, still what? 3 hours to go? Think of all those GTA V copies on the shelf at CNA just waiting for you, and you’re stuck at work. And what if something goes wrong when you’re leaving and you don’t make it in time, that would be so disappointing, or you get home and you find the rain got into your local transformer and you don’t have any power. I can’t imagine the kind of stress you’re under right now. TROLLOL!

          Reply

          • RincemySniperKittEH0-O

            September 17, 2013 at 13:34

            This is the ‘Automated Reply System Electronic Hold On Logistical Engine’ (ARSEHOLE) Your call cannot be returned at the moment, please kindly find a 5th floor window and leap from it. Thank you for your time- END.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 17, 2013 at 13:38

            😀

  6. That Dark Twit

    September 17, 2013 at 12:47

    Adorable header.

    Reply

  7. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 17, 2013 at 12:58

    Lack of living room/controller? Steam Big Picture, Xbox controller, we be having it.

    Reply

  8. Unavengedavo (aka. Frik)

    September 17, 2013 at 13:02

    Valve has been pushing to get Linux gaming into the mainstream for a while now. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are doing this to get it geared for HL3.

    Reply

  9. Mark Treloar

    September 17, 2013 at 13:05

    Does your MAC have a living room/controlller?

    Reply

    • Unavengedavo (aka. Frik)

      September 17, 2013 at 13:27

      Even if it did, she would still not be able to play games on it 😛

      Reply

  10. Robert Infy Hart

    September 17, 2013 at 13:10

    If anyone can make a good UI for Linux.. Valve can.

    Reply

    • Mark Treloar

      September 17, 2013 at 13:13

      Yeah it will be great to play all those retro 80’s indie games on a Linux box

      Reply

  11. Mossel

    September 17, 2013 at 13:35

    As long as I can dump my entire steam library on a console I’m sold!

    Reply

  12. Mossel

    September 17, 2013 at 13:36

    Imagine HL3 is a steambox exclusive…

    Reply

    • M-m-m-monster John

      September 17, 2013 at 13:37

      Don’t say things like that. This is serious stuff you’re talking about. Someone could just go missing if you start spreading rumours like that.

      Reply

      • Mossel

        September 17, 2013 at 14:08

        Must find a hideout! I already know too much…

        Reply

  13. Matthew Holliday

    September 18, 2013 at 00:05

    Came here for cats in boxes
    was not satisfied, so i went looking for Maru videos

    Reply

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