Remember Steam machines? Those things that were supposed to bring Steam to your living room in a convenient user friendly setup? Well, Valve has finally given some information on what exactly is coming, and when.

Their plans include the Steam Link, which will be a game streaming box that uses your computer to stream games straight to your TV. Not a brand new idea by any means, but not a terribly expensive one either. You can pre-order the device directly on Steam for $50 without the controller, or $100 with it. Of course, other places will have the item available for pre-order as well.

The Steam Link is slated to launch November 2015, although they've stated that they'll ship out a limited number of units October 16th allowing some users to be the first wave of Steam Link users.

Steam Machines as we all know will vary in hardware and price, but the starting price point seems to be approximately $450 depending on your choice of manufacturer. All Steam Machines will come with the controller. Steam Machines seem to be slated to launch at that October 16th date given for early Steam Link shipping.

You can find more information about specific Steam Machines available at the Steam hardware page.

As for the controller itself, well, I'll just give an excerpt from the store page:
"The Steam Controller features dual trackpads, HD haptic feedback, dual-stage triggers, back grip buttons, and fully-customizable control schemes."

Basically, it helps to blend the difference in experience between mouse and keyboard gaming and controller gaming. It's hard to say if this will be an ideal solution as of now, but it seems fairly interesting as far as gamepads go. The standalone controller will launch alongside the Steam Link and Steam Machines at $50 but as mentioned, it will be bundled with Steam Machines and optionally bundled with the Steam Link.

For more savvy PC gamers here, I know the Steam Machines here may not be the most appealing thing around, but does any of this catch your eye? Do any of you feel you'll be adding a new gamepad to your collection? Is the Steam Link something you'd want to really take advantage of?

Steam Store Hardware Page

 

[Taleweaver]

I'm certainly interested in the steam controller. Though it somewhat went through a couple iterations since there was public feedback, the touchpad-thingy is apparently as precise as mouse controls once you're used to it (this is from public feedback...not from the press). I'll very likely add one to my collection.

Steam link is an interesting concept, but not needed in my case (my television is already hooked up to my computer).



As for steam machines...I'm afraid valve's tendency to delay doesn't bode well in this case. It was an interesting idea to have it with their own linux port (steamOS), and it certainly did increase the games on that system...but the thing is that it won't attract mass attention unless it's actually sold. IMO, it had that momentum when they announced these things. But then steamOS was anything but ready, and meanwhile some of the very partners in the hardware are now teaming up with microsoft to have these fitted with windows instead. And no matter how you look at it, there are FAR more windows-exclusives than linux-exclusives. So perhaps unless the steam controller is steamOS exclusive (which I doubt), steam machines are dead in the water.

 

[Foxi4]

Yeah, that gamepad gets worse with every iteration, I have zero faith in those touchpads. They might very well vibrate, but they're still not going to be as good as old-fashioned analog sticks in terms of feedback. I was initially interested in the controller due to the touchscreen, but now that that's gone all I see is a meh layout. At least the triggers are two-stage, I like that.

 

[CathyRina]

I kinda do want that controller to check it out. Couldn't care less for steam link and machines.
However for some reason that thing costs 55€ in Germany. I can get a Xbox One Controller for 40€

 

[ederenzi78]

Actualli I'd link a portable Steam machine. I would be interested in portable PC gaming but at the moment there is non convenient way.

 

[CathyRina]

Actualli I'd link a portable Steam machine. I would be interested in portable PC gaming but at the moment there is non convenient way.

Maybe if the Steam Controller gets good reception they are going to think about this.

 

[RJ Sly 95]

Actualli I'd link a portable Steam machine. I would be interested in portable PC gaming but at the moment there is non convenient way.

x86 tablets(+ controller; you could look for a controller that hooks on the sides of the tablets as well) are actually a good way of playing PC games on the go.

That's what you can get with the entry level systems (69£ or so)



I'm planning to get a mid-level one sooner or later

/sorry for the OT

 

[Deleted User]

The button and analog stick placement looks even worse than dualshock's analog stick placement

 

[KingVamp]

The Steam link may be a better idea than the Steam machines.

Yeah, that gamepad gets worse with every iteration, I have zero faith in those touchpads. They might very well vibrate, but they're still not going to be as good as old-fashioned analog sticks in terms of feedback. I was initially interested in the controller due to the touchscreen, but now that that's gone all I see is a meh layout. At least the triggers are two-stage, I like that.

Did it continue to get that much different after the needless removal of the touchscreen?

It may look weird, but maybe it should have been one stick and pad across from each other rather than two pads.

 

[ProtoKun7]

I like the look of these and am intrigued to see which new machines become available. They most likely surpass my laptop's capabilities so I'll keep an eye out.

 

[Seroczynski]

Since I've moved out of my man cave I don't have the computer connected to my 50" plasma any longer. I might be interested to get one of those Steam Link machine's but I'll be using my Xbox One controller for it instead of the Steam Controller.

 

[TehCupcakes]

I have a hard time justifying the Steam Link when my main computer is a laptop and I can pretty easily move it to the living room and hook it up with an HDMI. I guess this is more for desktop users.

Steam Machines are equally hard to justify due to being limited with SteamOS... The general rule in gaming is: Everything runs on windows. Some things run on Linux. Few run on Mac. If I'm planning on getting a new computer, I want one that will have lots of options that doesn't limit my game choices. I'd be much more likely to get a Windows PC of a similar pricepoint... The only downside being that you can't get a PC with the same kind of graphical power as a Steam machine without raising the cost quite a bit. I have a hard time believing Steam machines will sell well, as I imagine most people that have the disposable income for an extra computer or more likely to put it towards something less limiting.

The Steam controller, on the other hand... I have to wait and see. I am intrigued by the idea, and I think it definitely has promise. It would take some getting used to, and probably won't get a great reaction right away. Once people adjust to it, though, I think it will prove to work well for some people and not so well for others- but that's perfectly fine. I think we will see other similar controllers pop up once it has had time to get some ground in the market.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

I'll probably end up nabbing a controller to give it a try, it looks interesting enough...

 

[RustInPeace]

I'm saving up now to build a PC, and by the time I get all the parts, the machines will be closer to sale. I thought about getting a console, but when I already will have a gaming PC, and all my gaming is in the bedroom, is it necessary to get the console? I guess only the controller, if it can connect to a PC.

 

[Issac]

Boo, the controller and Steam Link are both €55 here, that's over $60. I do very much dislike the different prices.

 

[Zerousen]

Pretty interested in that controller, would be much easier to customize the controls compared to my dualshock3.

 

[tbb043]

The link thing sounds like it might have been a good idea 10-15 years ago when TV's and computers weren't both using the same connectors for video.

 

[Hells Malice]

I'm fighting with myself over whether or not to get the controller. It looks dumb but Valve wouldn't spend all that R&D to just release a dud. My only problem is seemingly awful placement of the right pad being where the 4 buttons rightfully should be. Personal preference i'm sure but its closest comparison is the wii60 controller which is the most abysmal of all 3 current major controllers. Not sure how big the controller is (need to google a bit more I guess), but the buttons seem small and closely grouped. Bah. Decisions decisions.

 

[bowlofspiders]

The Link highly interests me as I have a desktop for gaming. Being able to (hopefully) play 4k on my TV without moving my PC would be fantastic.

 

[Veho]

Yeah, that gamepad gets worse with every iteration, I have zero faith in those touchpads. They might very well vibrate, but they're still not going to be as good as old-fashioned analog sticks in terms of feedback.

It has an analog stick, if that's what floats your boat.