Set to bring PC gaming to the living room, Valve have now announced that their Steam Machines will be delayed until 2015.

Try as they might to deny it, game console manufacturers just can’t compete with PC gaming. Not only is PC gaming a more lucrative slice of the gaming pie than that of consoles, it offers a more diverse range of games and it can also beat out the consoles that we know and love (yes, even the PS4 and the Xbox One) on technical specs and raw power. That’s due to the limitations of a closed off machine as with consoles it’s not feasible for everyone to buy a brand new console with upgraded specs every single time and for those who could afford it, the ones who couldn’t would be left out and you would have to factor in all of the different versions of a game that would have to be made. With computers, you can upgrade them at cheaper prices and games can be optimised for all sorts of specs. The problem is, PCs can be heavy, clunky and they don’t fit under your TV quite as nicely. Bring on Steam Machines then that offer PC gaming in a console box.

The idea with Steam Machines is that if you buy one, you’d be able to buy parts to upgrade it as you wish, meaning that even if you don’t want to play PC games with the best level of graphics, you don’t have to, and if you don’t want superb, sleek visuals, you can pay for them should you so choose. Too, Steam Machines would run on Valve’s Steam OS (operating system) and you’d get access to the thousands of games on the Steam Store. While this sounds like an incredibly smart premise, Valve have explained that their “number one priority is making sure that when you do, you’ll be getting the best gaming experience possible” and so as a result they’re delaying the release of Steam Machines until next year.

An additional explanation from a blog post from the Steam Machines team says that,

“We’re now using wireless prototype controllers to conduct live playtests, with everyone from industry professionals to die-hard gamers to casual gamers. It’s generating a ton of useful feedback, and it means we’ll be able to make the controller a lot better. Of course, it’s also keeping us pretty busy making all those improvements. Realistically, we’re now looking at a release window of 2015, not 2014.”

Nonetheless, most wouldn’t want to compromise on quality and Steam Machines look set to deliver on that so we’ll keep you posted once we know more.

Source: Valve

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