It all depends on how well they support the current iteration, though.
If it turns into a Google Glass or an Apple Vision Pro and is left nearly or actually abandoned, then I think people won't be so interested.
If it turns into a Google Glass or an Apple Vision Pro and is left nearly or actually abandoned, then I think people won't be so interested.
They use the OS in multiple products. Tons of people run it on their own hardware.
They could probably not update a single thing on there and it wouldn't matter, the games themselves are mostly running through an emulation layer anyway and will continue to work.
Not many people run games on linux, only about 5%, amd of those nearly all keep a windows OS around to handle edge cases and upgrading firmware, etc.
This is what the fight is about. If Steam can't get linux based devices into the hands of enough people continuing to support it will remain a money pit for them for as long as they try.
Releasing the Steam box at this price is not helping their cause. They have to recover from this now.
> So what are you saying? They can do this single limited release and then discontinue it and everyone is going to be happy about it?
They're selling a gaming console, of which in their case the hardware is the least important part and a means to an end. It is commodity hardware. No integrated memory. No special sauce.
These are hardware drivers that are a part of the Linux kernel.
What they are selling is a portal (grin) to their ecosystem, and an experience that is different from their competitors. One that unlike many of their competitors, doesn't require a monthly fee to be a part of (multiplayer). AND access to it is now scarce. A limited premium product.
> Not many people run games on linux, only about 5%
You're going to find a bunch of those on this website, myself included. No windows PC laying around though.
I game on Fedora 44 w/ Steam.
> Releasing the Steam box at this price is not helping their cause. They have to recover from this now.
You just don't get it.
The other potential failure outcomes involve selling the product at a loss, or tying up too much cash in it and having liquidity issues while stock moves. Valve's cash flow is likely excellent, we know they're not selling it at a loss and we know they aren't producing too many.
So overall, the possible outcomes all seem like different degrees of success.
To be clear, their competitors are pretty pathetic.
> I think you're too cloae to take any criticism
I'm not even their target market, nor would I buy one when I can roll my own on my own hardware - even using SteamOS if I wanted.
https://www.theverge.com/games/953411/valve-steamos-desktop-...
The fact they've worked on running games on linux for over a decade and still only have a 5% market cap does not bode well for them.
This was supposed to be their great moment, and they ruined it with an expensive box with subpar performance. They should have waited. Now after the hype dies down and it doesn't sell, they'll just have another black eye they have to recover from.
Look, I run linux and have for 30 years. I run games on linux and have steam on linux installed myself. But I'm not trying to fool myself and others that it's some great success story. It isn't.