The Steam Machines seem to fade away from existence as unceremoniously as they came.

Announced back in 2013, those machines were meant to be akin home consoles but delivering PC-worthy games, using Steam's Big Picture mode to display on TVs all in an ecosystem separate from Windows. Those "PC-console hybrids" would even be powered by Valve’s very own Linux-based operating system, SteamOS! The latter was designed to make it easier for developers to port Windows games to Linux. A much-awaited boon for Linux gamers!

However, as ambitious as they sounded, the Steam Machines never really took steam (pun intended). Several delays (they launched in 2016), ludicrous prices and a lack of flagship SteamOS games made for an easy lackluster recipe. You'd be totally forgiven if you forgot about the existence of those machines! And it seems like Valve has taken a hint and might slowly take steps to phase out the Steam Machines.

As spotted by a user over on GamingOnLinux, the whole 'Steam Machine' section under the 'Hardware' tab has been taken down. While the machines are still listed (for now) and can be found by a simple search, the dedicated section has been quietly taken down. Users can no longer check for different hardware configurations or prices like before.

What do you think? Will Valve phase out Steam Machines or is the company preparing for a Rise of the Steam Machines announcement? Will you miss them if they are phased out or are you looking forward to new machines? Share your thoughts below!

[UPDATE]

Following the reports of the quiet demise of the 'Steam Machine' section from the 'Hardware' tab on Steam, Valve has issued a response in an update post. In it, Valve employee Pierre-Loup Griffais maintains that "that section of the Steam Store is still available, but was removed from the main navigation bar based on user traffic" and that "Steam Machines aren't exactly flying off the shelves".

The post also mentions that Valve is "still working hard on making Linux operating systems a great place for gaming and applications" and that the company has "other Linux initiatives in the pipe that we're not quite ready to talk about yet; SteamOS will continue to be our medium to deliver these improvements to our customers, and we think they will ultimately benefit the Linux ecosystem at large".

You can read more about Valve's response right here.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

How about Steamer? Wait, that's kinda shitty

I dunno, I just mean have someone to give clearance for the names of these things. Or I guess the idea is to be as exotic as possible to make it seem more likeable.

 

[Nada]

They tried to follow the console model but did everything different from consoles so it was just PC again. Why.

How about Steamer? Wait, that's kinda shitty

Your avatar picture is awesome, I loled

Anyway, I doubt they failed based on the name

 

[matpower]

It was basically used as a way to keep MS on a leash, together with Steam for Linux. I am more worried about how this will affect their efforts on Linux support than the lack of hardware itself.

 

[Billy Acuña]

I don't know what went wrong with the Steam Machine, as it basically was a glorified PC with console fashion, same as PS4/Xbone are. Perhaps if they marked it as a console instead of a pre-build PC it would work.

 

[the_randomizer]

I don't know what went wrong with the Steam Machine, as it basically was a glorified PC with console fashion, same as PS4/Xbone are. Perhaps if they marked it as a console instead of a pre-build PC it would work.

And actually had good prices for them too, not overpriced and underpowered.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

It was basically used as a way to keep MS on a leash, together with Steam for Linux. I am more worried about how this will affect their efforts on Linux support than the lack of hardware itself.

TBH, I don't think Steam Machines, or SteamOS by extension, really did much for Linux game support in the first place. AFAIK, Linux usage on Steam has been steadily dropping since before Steam Machines/SteamOS were even launched, and nothing has changed afterwards.

The biggest issue really is getting big game devs to just support OpenGL (and, now, Vulkan which would be the more preferred option) instead of DirectX. All these AAA studios are sticking with well-used DirectX that they all know and love and just completely blow off OpenGL/Vulkan, which = no Linux ports. Every now and again we get some nice Linux ports, like DOOM or the recent XCOM games, but every other game that gets ported to Linux is just indie garbage nobody cares about.

 

[XavyrrVaati]

Well, as long as they keep making Steam Controllers, I'll be happy.

 

[matpower]

TBH, I don't think Steam Machines, or SteamOS by extension, really did much for Linux game support in the first place. AFAIK, Linux usage on Steam has been steadily dropping since before Steam Machines/SteamOS were even launched, and nothing has changed afterwards.

The biggest issue really is getting big game devs to just support OpenGL (and, now, Vulkan which would be the more preferred option) instead of DirectX. All these AAA studios are sticking with well-used DirectX that they all know and love and just completely blow off OpenGL/Vulkan, which = no Linux ports. Every now and again we get some nice Linux ports, like DOOM or the recent XCOM games, but every other game that gets ported to Linux is just indie garbage nobody cares about.

DOOM was never ported, it just runs perfectly on Wine AFAIK.

 

[TotalInsanity4]

back in the days i tought this would be a great idea :C
it could be the nintendo switch of pc's :C
I am really sad that it failed...

It was a great idea, but the market is incredibly niche. They were targeting an audience that wanted to play PC games but didn't want to build a PC

Now, if they released them 3rd quarter last year and sold them around or below MSRP for the parts included, they would have DOMINATED the market

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

DOOM was never ported, it just runs perfectly on Wine AFAIK.

Ahhh, you are indeed correct, forgot it was just good WINE support

 

[Foxi4]

It was a good idea executed terribly. There was no common thread, just vague marketing blurbs on grossly dissimilar HTPC's. If Valve didn't consist of complete retards, they would pick one design, or they'd make one themselves and proliferate it among OEM's. They needed an affordable, console-like, upgradable HTPC they could actually market instead of selling the Steam Machine concept as a sticker on bog standard machines.

 

[The Catboy]

I am honestly not even remotely shocked by this. I've literally only seen one of them in a store and it's mostly still in that same GameStop in the same place.

 

[HaloEliteLegend]

Linux partially killed it. You're paying for decent hardware that's limited by a pitiful spread of Linux-supported games and worse performance compared to the same PCs running Windows. Anyone who was thinking of getting into PC gaming will naturally buy/build a Windows PC. Let's not be delusional, you're not playing PC games on Linux if you can help it. Linux is not a viable games platform and never will be so long as Windows continues to dominate the market.

Anyone who is looking for a console is gonna choose from the Big 3. "PC gaming in the living room" is as easy as moving your PC to the living room and hooking up HDMI. "PC gaming in the living room" is as easy as connecting a spare laptop or Steam Link and using Steam's In-Home Streaming functionality. Nowhere among these solutions for playing games on the TV was there ever space for Steam machines. They were always gonna be a niche market, but in this case, the niche doesn't even exist. No one wants a non-Windows console-not-console. You're gonna buy a console or a proper Windows PC for games. Case in point: the Steam Link at least sold fairly well.

 

[RedBlueGreen]

Aren't Steam Machines just over priced mini PCs running a custom version of Debian?

 

[aaronz77]

I have a dusty first generation Alienware Alpha i7 with windows 10. I use it a couple times a year. I can't even imagine a linux version of it..

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Linux partially killed it. You're paying for decent hardware that's limited by a pitiful spread of Linux-supported games and worse performance compared to the same PCs running Windows. Anyone who was thinking of getting into PC gaming will naturally buy/build a Windows PC. Let's not be delusional, you're not playing PC games on Linux if you can help it. Linux is not a viable games platform and never will be so long as Windows continues to dominate the market.

Linux had nothing to do with it, because virtually none of the Steam Machines actually used SteamOS. It wasn't even an option on the first ones available since SteamOS wasn't even launched, and for every other one it was an optional extra, not the main OS. It was purely because third parties were trying to push overpriced hardware when cheaper alternatives already existed, in both prebuilt and custom built PCs, because of the "Steam/Valve" brand.

 

[brickmii82]

I am honestly not even remotely shocked by this. I've literally only seen one of them in a store and it's mostly still in that same GameStop in the same place.

Lol I was about to say the same thing about a GameStop here in Phoenix I visit once in awhile. Same box in same place..... with same price. Since early 2016 I think.

 

[RedBlueGreen]

Linux partially killed it. You're paying for decent hardware that's limited by a pitiful spread of Linux-supported games and worse performance compared to the same PCs running Windows. Anyone who was thinking of getting into PC gaming will naturally buy/build a Windows PC. Let's not be delusional, you're not playing PC games on Linux if you can help it. Linux is not a viable games platform and never will be so long as Windows continues to dominate the market.

Anyone who is looking for a console is gonna choose from the Big 3. "PC gaming in the living room" is as easy as moving your PC to the living room and hooking up HDMI. "PC gaming in the living room" is as easy as connecting a spare laptop or Steam Link and using Steam's In-Home Streaming functionality. Nowhere among these solutions for playing games on the TV was there ever space for Steam machines. They were always gonna be a niche market, but in this case, the niche doesn't even exist. No one wants a non-Windows console-not-console. You're gonna buy a console or a proper Windows PC for games. Case in point: the Steam Link at least sold fairly well.

You can game quite adequately on Linux now that you can run DX11 through Vulkan with WINE. The only thing Windows has going for it is software support and user friendliness. If there's ever a point Linux gets the same level of software support and ease of use as Windows there would be no reason to use Windows. I'm in the process of switching to Ubuntu MATE and only keeping Windows 10 for games that absolutely won't perform well through WINE. Shitty Windows 10 updates breaking stuff has happened so many times for me that I'm almost completely done with Windows.

 

[HaloEliteLegend]

Linux had nothing to do with it, because virtually none of the Steam Machines actually used SteamOS. It wasn't even an option on the first ones available since SteamOS wasn't even launched, and for every other one it was an optional extra, not the main OS. It was purely because third parties were trying to push overpriced hardware when cheaper alternatives already existed, in both prebuilt and custom built PCs, because of the "Steam/Valve" brand.

I remember that there were some delays on Valve's side (I think?) and that an initial wave of "Steam machines" shipped out with Windows (like the Alienware Alpha, dunno other examples). For the later, actual wave of Steam machines, what OS was primary, then? Because I only know of SteamOS being installed, or Windows on the earlier-wave machines. You could install new OSes on Steam machines as they weren't locked, but as far as I know, they had SteamOS open by default.

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

You can game quite adequately on Linux now that you can run DX11 through Vulkan with WINE. The only thing Windows has going for it is software support and user friendliness. If there's ever a point Linux gets the same level of software support and ease of use as Windows there would be no reason to use Windows. I'm in the process of switching to Ubuntu MATE and only keeping Windows 10 for games that absolutely won't perform well through WINE. Shitty Windows 10 updates breaking stuff has happened so many times for me that I'm almost completely done with Windows.

I get that, though as long as Windows remains super dominant, there'll be streams of game companies who only release for Windows, not considering Mac or Linux worth the extra time investment to optimize for. That's all I meant. It's mainly the software support that deters Linux from being a viable platform for all gaming needs.

 

[Deleted User]

There was a steam machine?