Steam Machine now has it's own wiki! Head to thefor the updates and comparisons of the Steam Machine hardware from the various manufacturers.

What is Valve's Steam Machine?

The Steam Machine is Valve-developed hardware that is set to be released some time in 2014.[1] Multiple different iterations of the device will be released by different hardware manufacturers, and they will all be running the recently announced SteamOS. Along with the different manufacturers, Valve will also be releasing their own version of the Steam Box. This version will be considered the benchmark for the devices, and the others will highlight other features such as physical design, quietness, price and even power.

Why is Valve Making a Steam Machine?

Valve has a very successful digital distribution platform with Steam and has become extremely interested in expanding its reach. The Big Picture mode is part of the process, which gives Steam a facelift and makes it more gamepad-friendly for use on a big TV in the living room. The Steam Machine is the next step, merging interface with hardware and, at least in theory, letting Valve reach customers who'd normally be scared of more traditional PC gaming.

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How is Steam Machine Different from a Standard PC?

(Most people Including console gamers don't know this.)It appears that it is just be a small form factor PC. It will, according to Newell,be Linux-based. It will not be a closed system like a console. It will also be possible to change the hardware, install your own software, run another OS, and even "use it to build a robot" according to the Valve website.[2]

How Much Will a Steam Machine Cost?

This is not yet known. It all depends on which components Valve decides to offer as well as what the input device turns out to be.

Will the Steam Machine Have a Unique Input Device?

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Newell has indicated that there will be a unique input device for the Steam Box that could somehow utilize biometrics and gaze tracking. He is not very fond of Wii-like or Kinect-like motion controls. Valve in the past has also backed the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality device, and expressed interest in the possibilities of augmented reality gaming. [3]

What Special Features will the Steam Machine Have?



Valve seems very interested in the idea of using one Steam Machine to send a signal to numerous monitors through local networks, perhaps as much as eight, so that one Steam Machine could serve an entire household. [4]

Is Xi3's Piston the Steam Machine?



Sort of. It is not made by Valve, though it is associated with Valve. Some companies, like Xi3 with Piston and NVIDIA with Project Shield, are working with Valve in some capacity. In some cases, like with Xi3, Valve has even directly invested in other companies. This is likely to help the companies produce hardware that might be appealing to a more general audience and then only talk about Steam games, as opposed to PC games. Valve has said we should expect more announcements from other companies about different styles of gaming machines throughout 2013, but those won't necessarily be the official, Valve-produced Steam Machine. [5]

More on the Xi3 Piston

More on Nvidia's Project Shield

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So When is the Steam Machine Going to be Ready?