Front-page
Updated
[UPDATE] 'Steam Machine' Section Removed From Steam Page
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.
Last edited by Prans,