Valve has been on a bit of a tear recently as they just announced a bunch of new hardware coming to market early next year. First off was the tease of a new Steam Deck, but with no details released about it this time. Then we got to see the new Steam Controller which looks very nice and has magnetic thumb sticks for more accurate gamepad controls and even gyro support, fancy!
The main star of the show however was the Steam Machine (lovingly nicknamed the GabeCube by fans) which is essentially a bridge between a gaming PC and a console, being dedicated for plug-in TV play whilst having the specs and customizability of a mid-range gaming PC. It’s a great idea as it bridged the gap for people who maybe don’t know too much about the technical specs of setting up a full PC for gaming whilst allowing for a couch experience, something my sore legs are starting to appreciate more and more. Finally, there was the announcement of a new VR headset, the Steam Frame, which is not only a technical leap from their previous headsets but also features eye-tracking rendering, updated controllers and even the ability to play through a wirelessly streamed connection, huge for someone like me that can’t physically connect my headset to my playspace without drilling a hole in the wall.
Overall a nice suite of new stuff, though with no price announcements yet these very well could be something out of reach for a lot of players. Still, it’s good to see Valve still in the hardware game, and who knows, maybe Half Life 3 could be a launch title! (Probably not). That’s all for now, and as always. It’s not just a game, It’s a Life.