Steam Machines available to purchase by the end of January

Steam Machines will be launching at the end of this month. And at least one of them will include both Windows and SteamOS.

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It's possible to have a Steam Machine run both SteamOS and Windows--it just isn't a particularly easy process to go through. While the notion of a Steam Machine with Windows is sort of self-defeating (you'll be able to play every Steam game on Windows, versus just a selection of Linux-compatible games on SteamOS), there's clearly some interest in making it happen.

Digital Storm has unveiled its Steam Machine: the Bolt II (pictured above)--a small form factor hybrid Steam Machine that features both SteamOS and Windows out-of-the-box. It's one of the many ways third-party manufacturers will attempt to differentiate their offering. However, one additional detail caught our attention: it will be available at the end of the month, likely in line with competing Steam Machines.

The Bolt II will go for $1899, which shows that Steam Machines won't necessarily be cheap. Of course, Digital Storm seems quite proud of their price tag: "We are not looking to compete with console pricing,” director of product development Rajeev Kuruppu said in a statement. Clearly, the statements means that some Steam Machines will be designed to compete with the $500 price point of the current-gen consoles.

Bolt II will be available at the end of this month, which suggests that the Steam Machine roll out is happening very soon.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 6, 2014 10:45 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Steam Machines available to purchase by the end of January.

    Steam Machines will be launching at the end of this month. And at least one of them will include both Windows and SteamOS.

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      January 6, 2014 12:43 PM

      What I'm interested to hear is how powerful does a steamOS box need to be just for streaming games from a PC to the SteamOS box? I already have a powerful PC, but for some games it would be nice to play them on my TV without moving it to another room and hooking up.

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        January 6, 2014 1:28 PM

        They won't need much power for that. Keep in mind the nvidia shield can do it (at a lower resolution) over a wireless network.

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          January 6, 2014 2:48 PM

          True. But I'd at least like some specs to go on as I could put together a low-end pc for that only purpose.

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      January 6, 2014 3:20 PM

      I'm confused by Steam Machines. Machines like this one seem to indicate that the intent is to play the Steam library locally, whereas I thought the whole point behind SteamOS was to stream with some kind of proprietary software that reduces lag. Why would such a monstrous video card be in something intended to stream from an existing PC?

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        January 6, 2014 3:32 PM

        The in-home streaming for SteamOS looks to be meant as a stopgap so people can play popular Windows titles (and legacy/classic titles) without requiring them to be ported to Linux, or before they have been ported.

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          January 6, 2014 3:40 PM

          [deleted]

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            January 6, 2014 3:48 PM

            Yeah, if that streaming works well, it would be *amazing*, to let me play PC versions of games I'd generally buy on consoles because I prefer to be in front of the TV. I use my computer for too much non-gaming stuff to move it full time to the living room.

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        January 6, 2014 3:54 PM

        The Bolt is just a small form factor high-end gaming PC like a Tiki or X51 that Digital Storm decided to throw the "steam box" label on so they could get more hype for it.

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          January 6, 2014 4:17 PM

          [deleted]

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            January 6, 2014 4:21 PM

            I think they'll have a lot of potential once they get media playback 'n stuff integrated nicely with SteamOS. Go for more of a HTPC thing than pseudo-console thing.

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              January 6, 2014 5:39 PM

              Has anyone seen anything from Valve that indicates that's even a priority? I'm pretty sure it's mean to play games and that's about it--not be an HTPC.

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                January 6, 2014 5:54 PM

                I think they said that not only isn't it a priority, but it goes against their vision for the OS or something. I can't cite that though, so many I'm remembering it wrong.

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      January 6, 2014 4:51 PM

      This seams premature.

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      January 6, 2014 6:51 PM

      Why would I want a SteamBox if I can't play all my STEAM games on one? Bizarre.

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        January 6, 2014 11:33 PM

        I don't want one. I'm very happy to see them. I feel like its a very smart move, but will pay off more in the future. I would love to hear someone that knows more about the industry to speculate the future of PC gaming because of these. I could only hope that it pulls PC gaming away from Windows. I would love to have an extra $100 dollars to throw on a better video card. Not sure how different developing on LINUX is from a PS4 or XboxOne. I've read that a lot of the next gen games are being develop on PC and ported over or what ever they do to their respected console. My hopes is that we will start seeing Triple AAA exclusive coming to SteamOS first and have the PC perks taken advantage of. Most of my console friends are eager to pick one up. They already play steam games on their work computers and bought a few on sale that they are unable to play. I've offered to help them build one, but live 400 miles away and don't want to be responsible for any upkeep since they willingly want to stay ignorant about it. More demand may make prices of PC part come down a bit?

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