Steam quietly discontinues Steam Link hardware

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Remember the Steam Link? It is (or soon to be, was) a little black box you could plug into your TV, connect to your Steam account from a compatible PC, and play games with in the living room at 1080p 60fps. It seems Valve is now discontinuing the hardware to encourage people using the Android app instead (it was planned to come out on iOS as well, but Apple had rejected it for not being in line with the App Store's guidelines).
If you still want to pick up one, hurry. The remaining stock is already sold out in Europe and almost sold out in the US. Once it's gone, it's gone forever.

:arrow: Source • Ars Technica
 

SpookyGhost

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That's a shame. I suppose that's why it seemed like Valve was trying to get rid of them, I got mine during a Steam sale for around $5USD + Shipping.
Me as well but it collects dust, It works pretty good most of the time. Still I'm sure there will be some PC releases I will boot it up for.

On a side note if anyone finds one for cheap might be worth it if you wanted to play on your tv and can't hook up your PC to HD directly. It works better on a higher end PC from what I can tell.
 
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It's a shame. They were great little boxes that, provided you had a good internet or Ethernet connection, performed wonderfully.I used to play PC games all the time on my TV via streaming and honestly it felt like playing natively on my PC itself, the video quality was great and the input lag unnoticeable.

My rig is a huge 40+ lb monster so carrying it downstairs to my living room every time I wanted to lounge on the couch was a no-go. Used to plug in my laptop via HDMI and use in-home streaming, but they were selling these puppies for $1, so I figured why not, I stream play enough that I could just set it and forget it. And they were selling them for dirt cheap, too.
 

AshuraZro

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This was well telegraphed with how many times it became sub-$10 or practically given away with games. It was always a niche product but it works surprisingly well in my home network despite using wireless to reach my PC which is also using wireless. It made playing World of Warcraft with my partner in the same room very simple.
 
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smileyhead

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I wonder if they're getting ready to launch a new one with 4K & 120+ fps support
That wouldn't justify discontinuing the older model.
Also, you'd need a hell of a connection to transmit 4K at 120fps with little to no input lag.
 

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Had one, but rarely used it. When I did, I'd have issues now and then. Now, I set up my RPi3 to stream my Steam games via Nvidia GameStream. Don't seem to have problems there. Only thing I miss is how with Steam Link, it could detect my Nintendo controllers and arrange the buttons on the right side to match.
 

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That's interesting... They're not interested in first party hardware anymore? Steam Machine died. Steam Controller is all but dead at this point and now this?

It's a shame that Valve isn't into first party hardware. For a company that claims to want to be more like Nintendo you'd think that they would push forward with this kind of stuff. I view Steam as an equal platform to PS4, XBox One, and Switch. To see Valve move away from hardware is kinda sad.
 

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Hm, in all honesty even tho @DinohScene gave his to me, I barely ever use it. But that is because I don't have PC and TV/Consoles separate, it all uses the same screen anyways so I don't really had that much use on it. However in the future I'm more then certain it will be used if still possible.
 
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SonicMC

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:( Sad. I love how easy it is to setup 3rd party controllers on the steam link. I can use wii u, switch, ps3, xbox 360 wireless adapter, and xbox one s bluetooth controllers. And anyone I'm playing can choose what they like. If mine ever breaks I hope it's gets easier to use these other controllers on Windows directly...
Or rather I hope they are just discontinuing steam link for a newer product called 4k steam link 2.0 and not just their android app.
 

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It's a shame that Valve isn't into first party hardware. For a company that claims to want to be more like Nintendo you'd think that they would push forward with this kind of stuff. I view Steam as an equal platform to PS4, XBox One, and Switch. To see Valve move away from hardware is kinda sad.
how is steam anything like those 3 company's? they rarely do games if at all anymore, they are basically an online retailer for other peoples games for years...

i wouldn't even call them a gaming company anymore, they are just online store.
 

LightyKD

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how is steam anything like those 3 company's? they rarely do games if at all anymore, they are basically an online retailer for other peoples games for years...

i wouldn't even call them a gaming company anymore, they are just online store.

You're fine to have that opinion but from where I'm sitting Steam has all the makings of a major platform. Valve (while not often) makes their own games, their own hardware, has their own online communication and gaming infrastructure and store for games. Just because it's all not at the same mass as a Nintendo or Sony doesn't mean that it's not a respectable platform.
 

pedro702

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You're fine to have that opinion but from where I'm sitting Steam has all the makings of a major platform. Valve (while not often) makes their own games, their own hardware, has their own online communication and gaming infrastructure and store for games. Just because it's all not at the same mass as a Nintendo or Sony doesn't mean that it's not a respectable platform.
valve hasn't released a game since what 2012 and it was counter strike global offensive if i recall?

any studio has made more games than valve has done on their entire life.

their own hardware was crap, those licensed steam boxes and such were a huge failure and valve just discontinued them, steam controller is also going down the drain so for hardware i don't see how valve is anything to look up to tbh.

the only thing they have it going for them is really online communication and store, while they made good games they stopped long ago, i guess marketplace makes them enough money so they don't want to make games themselves anymore, and all their hardware attemps were huge flops.
 

LightyKD

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valve hasn't released a game since what 2012 and it was counter strike global offensive if i recall?

Artifact says hello... https://store.steampowered.com/app/583950/Artifact/

any studio has made more games than valve has done on their entire life.

their own hardware was crap, those licensed steam boxes and such were a huge failure and valve just discontinued them, steam controller is also going down the drain so for hardware i don't see how valve is anything to look up to tbh.

Your opinion on Steam Machines is relative. They were supposed to be console like entry level machines for people interested in PC gaming. If you wanted something vastly superior then you were not the target audience for Steam Machines. As for the Steam controller, it's a pretty good idea. I would have one if I wasn't so in love with the GameCube setup and my Hyperkin ProCube. I might still get one. The trackpads would be good for ecchi games.

the only thing they have it going for them is really online communication and store, while they made good games they stopped long ago, i guess marketplace makes them enough money so they don't want to make games themselves anymore, and all their hardware attemps were huge flops.

You do get that while Valve is popular, Valve is not mainstream? Have you gone into a GameStop to hear people talk about Steam? That's the only reason why their hardware efforts have failed. Valve simply needs a breakout title to really get people to think about moving away from the PS4 or at least looking away from it long enough to check out Steam and all its benefits.
 

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