A while back, we heard talk of a new portable Steam Machine coming out called the "Steam Boy". Not much info on what it was, how it'd look, when it'd release...until now. Resurfacing as "Smach Zero", the company behind it, Smach Zero (what a great name), has officially announced a price and a general ship date, along with a few basic specs.

Here's what we know now:

• The Smach Zero is expected to ship in Q4 2016, with preorders supposedly opening November 10 for $299/€299.
• The Smach Zero has 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 720p touch screen and HDMI output. EDIT: Other sources now confirm there is an SD Card slot for expandable storage, along with USB OTG.
• The Smach Zero carries an embedded G-Series SoC "Steppe Eagle" from AMD, with a Jaguar-based CPU and GCN-based Radeon Graphics.
• And, of course, the Smach Zero is going to launch with SteamOS and "1000's of Steam Games ready to play". EDIT: Sources claim the portable will be able to handle games like Cities Skyline, Civ 5, BioShock Infinite, Half Life 2, and Dota 2 no problem.

The video below is what the company released while at Gamescom on Saturday.



Source
EDIT: Additional Source

I'm quite interested in this project myself, I've always been fascinated by the idea of a portable game system that is essentially a PC, and this project so far looks to be exactly what I've been looking for! If this portable truly boasts a full x86 version of SteamOS, and specs enough to play a good amount of the Steam library, then I'd definitely be interested in giving one a purchase.

 

[HtheB]

That might be true but for virtually 100% the steam will better meet thier needs

True, That's why it will be a mass production

 

[grossaffe]

It won't be anywhere near that - the PS4 and XBO use 8-core Jaguars made custom for the systems, this will probably use one of the off-the-shelf models, and those go up to quad core. Still a nice portable though, all things considered - beats the quadrillion Androids out there just due to the sheer amount of actual games it'll run. Praise be x86.

blech. x86 is such an ugly architecture.

 

[RevPokemon]

blech. x86 is such an ugly architecture.

Well most useful things are pretty much all x86 except ios/Android stuff

 

[grossaffe]

Well most useful things are pretty much all x86 except ios/Android stuff

I understand that it will stick around in PCs due to legacy support, but that doesn't mean I have to like the architecture.

 

[RevPokemon]

I understand that it will stick around in PCs due to legacy support, but that doesn't mean I have to like the architecture.

I agree too but if that's what is being used then that's what people are going to make it for until it becomes obsolete by better things with a good adoption rate

 

[Foxi4]

blech. x86 is such an ugly architecture.

It's robust, highly expandable and has lots of pull due to legacy PC applications, ugly or not. With the added RISC core it's pretty good at both CISC and RISC operations, so it's not too shabby, all things considered. I'll take x86 over low-power ARM's any day.

 

[Deleted User]

If this comes to fruition and I can get one at a decent price in Australia ill be a happy man. I still use my psp for most of my portable gaming/emulation so it'd sure be a must have for someone like me plus I own like 200 steam games so theirs that too.

 

[RevPokemon]

If this comes to fruition and I can get one at a decent price in Australia ill be a happy man. I still use my psp for most of my portable gaming/emulation so it'd sure be a must have for someone like me plus I own like 200 steam games so theirs that too.

Yeah it looks cool only thing is how many of them will actually work?

 

[TecXero]

This looks very interesting to me. I've always wanted essentially a handheld PC. Rarely does anything like that pop up, even then it's usually a different architecture for better battery life. I know it won't be that powerful, but if I can play some of my lower end PC games and be able to run my other software on the go, I'll be happy.

 

[endoverend]

For the record, I think they should have called it the Steam Boy. :/

This is a good idea and I think it will be successful, but unfortunately it's not my cup of tea as I prefer to play games on the big screen, and I'm big on keyboard controls.

 

[RevPokemon]

This looks very interesting to me. I've always wanted essentially a handheld PC. Rarely does anything like that pop up, even then it's usually a different architecture for better battery life. I know it won't be that powerful, but if I can play some of my lower end PC games and be able to run my other software on the go, I'll be happy.

I also like it because since its steam you can buy it once for multiple systems like this which is quite cool

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

For the record, I think they should have called it the Steam Boy. :/

This is a good idea and I think it will be successful, but unfortunately it's not my cup of tea as I prefer to play games on the big screen, and I'm big on keyboard controls.

Maybe Nintendo would have sued?
Anyway this name feels more orginal

 

[TecXero]

I also like it because since its steam you can buy it once for multiple systems like this which is quite cool

Assuming it's running X86 and is open, I'll probably set it up with some cut down version of Ubuntu. I don't use Steam, all my PC games I have DRM-free installers for. If it is locked to Steam, then I might have to consider redeeming my Steam keys from Humble. I'm not sure, I'd have to think about that.

 

[RevPokemon]

Assuming it's running X86 and is open, I'll probably set it up with some cut down version of Ubuntu. I don't use Steam, all my PC games I have DRM-free installers for. If it is locked to Steam, then I might have to consider redeeming my Steam keys from Humble. I'm not sure, I'd have to think about that.

True I also hope it allows another os like dsl or something

 

[grossaffe]

For the record, I think they should have called it the Steam Boy. :/

And maybe the PSP should have been the Playboy.

edit: I mean, a Playboy just sounds more like something with which you'd sit down and enjoy playing with yourself than a PSP.

 

[RevPokemon]

And maybe the PSP should have been the Playboy.

edit: I mean, a Playboy just sounds more like something with which you'd sit down and enjoy playing with yourself than a PSP.

Play boy (use it by yourself)

 

[WiiUBricker]

Steam OS is based on Linux, right? That probably means that Windows-only games won't run.

 

[grossaffe]

Steam OS is based on Linux, right? That probably means that Windows-only games won't run.

Yes, it is based on Linux, and yes, Windows-only games will not run. Fortunately, many developers are starting to see the light of making their games accessible to Linux users.

 

[WiiCube_2013]

Hm, it's damned overpriced for a portable gaming console. Might as well just get a Vita and hack it to play PSP/PS1 games.

 

[RevPokemon]

Hm, it's damned overpriced for a portable gaming console. Might as well just get a Vita and hack it to play PSP/PS1 games.

Well this can do more emulators better and is a different market that is a lot better for PC gamers

 

[grossaffe]

Hm, it's damned overpriced for a portable gaming console. Might as well just get a Vita and hack it to play PSP/PS1 games.

Hmm, a PC is damned overpriced for a gaming machine. Might as well just get a Wii U and hack it to play NES and SNES games.