VR Steam's Hardware Announcement Thoughts

[TheSoulWalker TheSoulWalker]

So I know I'm gonna get a lot of flack I think because I do think a lot of people will flame me because I'm not treating Valve as Gospel but I really want to get all this out of my mind and written somewhere. I spent the day sifting through the Verge's Articles, The LTT video, Tested's Video, and surprisingly the IGN videos were actually good.

The Steam Controller and Steam Machine is exactly what I wanted, just full out there I have no complaints for either of those two hardware drops. If anything I think it proves Xbox's move into the PC Hybrid system being the right one.

The Frame however, I am completely torn on. I think personally it is the best thing to finally have an entry level VR Headset to rival the Quest, I've been complaining for ages that VR hasn't had a good competitor in the entry level and with people treating quest like a console and making exclusive titles for the system ultimately hurting the platform where it's treated as a niche product only and making it more niche... It's a mess.

I will say that if it is competitively priced to the Meta Quest 3, maybe priced between the 3s and 3 4k, the Frame will be a great competitor for new VR Users. I'm not however a fan that people keep thinking that inside out tracking is fully there. Unless you have a camera that tracks behind your back fully, it's not and I don't believe it will ever be until that happens.

I also don't think discontinuing the index outright is the right call back in September. The headset, maybe, but if that includes kicking the knuckles controllers to the curb, that is a major mistep for anyone looking at the high end headsets and setups. Also really not a fan that Valve produced base stations are being axed either, I'm lucky that I purchased 4 stations early on and all but things like the Bigscreen and Pimax require those things. If I'm spending $1000+ on a setup, I want that hardware to last.

My other major gripe would be the lack of full body support. Nothing is more satisfying than being able to see your character in a social app move the way you move, or to be in blade and sorcery and have the ability to kick an enemy off your blade they're stuck on. I had hoped that there would be the ability to potentially use the Vive Ultimate trackers but that seems to be not an option either. If I have a full body setup for VR, I can't look at the Frame and see it as a legitimate next step for my VR setup.

My last gripe and this is the biggest black mark is that the controllers are not compatible with base station tracking. If the knuckles are also being discontinued and my controllers naturally die out I would have to search for either knuckles controllers on ebay for god knows what price, or revert to the Vive Wands. Further than that if I want finger tracking I would then have to get something like the UDCAP Gloves which then needs more Full Body Trackers and would ultimately take up 4 USB slots and cost about $700.

The monkey paw has curled yet another finger.

 

[Allyourbased]

for me the gabecube would have to be super competitively priced for me to be interested, there are so many other options for mini pcs/small form factor desktops.

 

[Questless Knight]

To broke to give a damn and honestly I have a gaming PC already what could I even need this for ? VR ?? VR is like 3D stupid gimmicky crap. come back to me when they make Holodeck.

 

[vulonkaaz's iconvulonkaaz]

standalone VR headset with finger trackers and eye trackers

gamepad with touchpads and hall effect joysticks (first time that a mainstream console manufacturer adopt this technology)

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i'm 90% sure i'll get the gamepad for the VR headset it will depend on my finances and if i find a buyer for my old headset

VR is like 3D stupid gimmicky crap

you sound like someone whose only experience with VR is google cardboard

 

[Questless Knight]

standalone VR headset with finger trackers and eye trackers

gamepad with touchpads and hall effect joysticks (first time that a mainstream console manufacturer adopt this technology)

---

i'm 90% sure i'll get the gamepad for the VR headset it will depend on my finances and if i find a buyer for my old headset

you sound like someone whose only experience with VR is google cardboard

No I tried oculus rift and meta quest which my best friend owns and the games I tried they all very clunky and more times than not not very impressive even Skyrim VR and Fallout 4 VR looks and play very clunky and nothing to be impressed about. I would not talk shit about it if I never tried it.

Maybe you talk to that type of people every day. I have at least standards to try a game before I talk about it.

So before you make any assumption on what I played or not then fucking ask.

No need to be upset if you like sitting and gooning in VRchat with other weirdos that´s nothing to be ashmed of.

 

[JPchicre]

I have to repeat the sentiment of all the others broke asses in this forum. I would really like a VR headset so i can play Half Life Alyx and Fallout New Vegas VR modded, and if this one is cheap enough maybe i can save for it (Probably not though), a man can only dream.

 

[TheSoulWalker TheSoulWalker]

I have to repeat the sentiment of all the others broke asses in this forum. I would really like a VR headset so i can play Half Life Alyx and Fallout New Vegas VR modded, and if this one is cheap enough maybe i can save for it (Probably not though), a man can only dream.

That's kinda the biggest reason why I'm torn about it, because entry level VR *needs* Competition, but not at the expense of High End users and vice versa.

 

[Dani.]

I think we just need to wait and see how things develop.But it already looks very promising.

 

[JellyjamLu]

To broke to give a damn and honestly I have a gaming PC already what could I even need this for ? VR ?? VR is like 3D stupid gimmicky crap. come back to me when they make Holodeck.

Right there with you, I don't see a reason to dive into yet another console so soon when arguably mostly everything is at our fingertips via steam/pc, not saying its unnecessary or bad, there's probably a market for it but... eh tis what it tis.

 

[PhaseJump]

The most exciting thing about the VR stuff is that it's letting you run Steam PC games on ARM hardware.

They will push the FEX translation layer, and we will ultimately get more gaming on more ARM devices going forward. Proton is helping Linux distros run tens of thousands of Windows games.

Valve is figuratively over there turning that key and unlocking another segment of the hardware market as some sort of no-brainer, while everybody is distracted by the shiny little entry level PC box and new controller that won't drift.

 

[vulonkaaz's iconvulonkaaz]

So before you make any assumption on what I played or not then fucking ask.

No need to be upset if you like sitting and gooning in VRchat with other weirdos that´s nothing to be ashmed of.

successfully ragebaited

even Skyrim VR and Fallout 4 VR looks and play very clunky and nothing to be impressed about

i mean those two titles *are* clunky in VR, and just become slightly more bearable if you fill them with mods

i like Ancient Dungeon and Superhot, quite fun to play and make great use of the VR controls in my opinion

i can understand being underwhelmed by VR, I too find it uncomfortable and not too immersive, but you can't deny the possibilities it opens to be able to actually interact with the 3D environment, it allows for stuff that is not possible with a keyboard and a mouse

i find that it is a great workout equipment and fun with physics sandboxes, maybe a bit too expensive for what it's worth but "stupid gimmicky crap" is way too harsh for what it is

(i have never gooned in VR I did try but it is just way too impractical)

 

[VidiyaGaemer]

Everything about that announcement yesterday was tailor-made for me it seems :3 Been wanting the update on the Steam Controller for years now, that delivered and then some! And the other stuffs too, I want too, but as a bonus.

 

[vulonkaaz's iconvulonkaaz]

Everything about that announcement yesterday was tailor-made for me it seems :3 Been wanting the update on the Steam Controller for years now, that delivered and then some! And the other stuffs too, I want too, but as a bonus.

the announcement had such an effect on you you already changed your profile picture

 

[Questless Knight]

Right there with you, I don't see a reason to dive into yet another console so soon when arguably mostly everything is at our fingertips via steam/pc, not saying its unnecessary or bad, there's probably a market for it but... eh tis what it tis.

Fully agree it´s probably nice but I got 0 need for it.

Post automatically merged: Today at 11:29 AM

successfully ragebaited

i mean those two titles *are* clunky in VR, and just become slightly more bearable if you fill them with mods

i like Ancient Dungeon and Superhot, quite fun to play and make great use of the VR controls in my opinion

i can understand being underwhelmed by VR, I too find it uncomfortable and not too immersive, but you can't deny the possibilities it opens to be able to actually interact with the 3D environment, it allows for stuff that is not possible with a keyboard and a mouse

i find that it is a great workout equipment and fun with physics sandboxes, maybe a bit too expensive for what it's worth but "stupid gimmicky crap" is way too harsh for what it is

(i have never gooned in VR I did try but it is just way too impractical)

But if you need mods to fix a VR game then you failed.

To me VR Is just Like when they tired 3D or even AR it´s sure looked cool but nothing I would go I must have it. The only time I taught VR was cool when I played Elite dangerus but then to make the VR experince in that game more worth it then you need to first blow a few 1000 for a good PC because if you got to much lag it will make you sick then blow 1000-2000 bucks on VR headset + another 1000 or two to get proper flight controlls.


Gaming as a hobby that is alrady expnesive as fuck with consoles going for 2000-3000 bucks and good PC´s goes for 4000-5000 "Im talking PC that can handle VR good" Then another grand or two for a headset.

My final say is VR might be cool depending on the game but the fact is VR is a rich person accessory and not needed what so ever. A regular game or even casual gamer have 0 need for such expensive accessory. Same with OLED monitors it´s a rich people thing but you survive and game with a regular 200 bucks 1440p monitor you don´t badly need a 1000 dollar OLED.


So I say it again WHO is the target audience for the steam PC ?? people with allot of money ? that loves to buy every new tech ever or gamer´s that has no console or no PC. The market seams very very niche.

The steam deck at least has a purpose gaming on the go.

 

[ThatOneLum ThatOneLum]

So I say it again WHO is the target audience for the steam PC ?? people with allot of money ? that loves to buy every new tech ever or gamer´s that has no console or no PC. The market seams very very niche.

The steam deck at least has a purpose gaming on the go.

I assume it's mostly aimed at people who want a dedicated PC gaming machine in a compact form factor that has a UI built-in that's designed to be useable on a TV rather than a monitor.

Weather or not it'll work really depends on the price. Personally, if it's cheap enough ill probably pick one up because I've been meaning to get a TV PC, I have no other desktop, and I'm happy to move away from Windows as much as possible. That said, it's likely to be a bit steep, especially at first.

 

[Questless Knight]

I assume it's mostly aimed at people who want a dedicated PC gaming machine in a compact form factor that has a UI built-in that's designed to be useable on a TV rather than a monitor.

Weather or not it'll work really depends on the price. Personally, if it's cheap enough ill probably pick one up because I've been meaning to get a TV PC, I have no other desktop, and I'm happy to move away from Windows as much as possible. That said, it's likely to be a bit steep, especially at first.

Yeah but it won´t be cheap not with and attached VR to it. maybe if they offer one with 0 VR.

And today there is so many option on minis PC that are good enough they can Run cyberpunk in 120fps on ulltra.

You got the framework and the MSI cubi and many more so it´s a market steam might have a hard time getting a big foot in to. I mean if all they offer is steam OS + VR and the price is wrong that box might be very very niche thing. It´s not like steam OS can´t be installed on anything else.

 

[PrismRed]

My usual take, I'd wait it out until at least a year after release, see what's the opinion of the suckers who bought it too early wait for review and possible competitor and whether I can do some dumb things with it before I decide.

 

[vulonkaaz's iconvulonkaaz]

I'm fairly sure they'll know how to price their cube competitively

when they released the handheld they weren't the only ones on the market but they priced competitively and had the best price performance ratio on the market

tho the mini pc market is way more mature than what the x86 handheld was so idk

 

[PhaseJump]

So I say it again WHO is the target audience for the steam PC ?? people with allot of money ? that loves to buy every new tech ever or gamer´s that has no console or no PC. The market seams very very niche.

The steam deck at least has a purpose gaming on the go.

It's for gamers who don't have a lot of money or patience for building a gaming PC, that want to jump in on the Steam platform. Console gamers specifically.

 

[hazys]

The fact that Valve deems it the right time to jump into the console race means, to me, that the death of consoles is confirmed. Consoles had already been dying for a couple generations now, but the fact that now you can get "a console, except it's Steam" pretty much means that Sony and XBox are done. It's not like they have exclusives anymore, so why get a PS5 or XBX?

Even Nintendo, with its incredibly strong exclusive IP, has gone its own way with a hybrid system (leaning into the handheld market, which it has always dominated), and is also branching out much more aggressively into theme parks, movies, and other ventures.

All I'll say is we're incredibly lucky Gabe is still around. When he goes I think Valve will become the most predatory company in gaming history.

 

[ThatOneLum ThatOneLum]

Yeah but it won´t be cheap not with and attached VR to it. maybe if they offer one with 0 VR.

And today there is so many option on minis PC that are good enough they can Run cyberpunk in 120fps on ulltra.

You got the framework and the MSI cubi and many more so it´s a market steam might have a hard time getting a big foot in to. I mean if all they offer is steam OS + VR and the price is wrong that box might be very very niche thing. It´s not like steam OS can´t be installed on anything else.

Afaik the steam box doesn't include VR does it? You have to buy the Steam frame separately.

 

[Questless Knight]

It's for gamers who don't have a lot of money or patience for building a gaming PC, that want to jump in on the Steam platform. Console gamers specifically.

I doubt that. Shit will probably cost more than a budget PC and probably more than the PS5 and xbox cost. Seeing as it will be stronger and better than the steam deck.
Steam deck is 419 euro for the cheapest one a PS5 digital is 499.99 euro.
The steam PC will most likely be 800 euro or more if we consider it´s power and if VR is not optional.
This will no be a budget PC for people that don´t have allot of money.

If your a console gamer that wanna get in to PC and not pay more than you paid for a PS5 then there are good decent pre-built that won´t cost more than a PS5 PRO and still get you got performance.

Steam PC is something for steam fantaitcs and people with allot of money that will buy it even if they alrady own 3-4 pc´s.

Lets not lie to our self and pretend this will be anything for people with little income.

 

[PhaseJump]

I doubt that. Shit will probably cost more than a budget PC and probably more than the PS5 and xbox cost. Seeing as it will be stronger and better than the steam deck.
Steam deck is 419 euro for the cheapest one a PS5 digital is 499.99 euro.
The steam PC will most likely be 800 euro or more if we consider it´s power and if VR is not optional.
This will no be a budget PC for people that don´t have allot of money.

If your a console gamer that wanna get in to PC and not pay more than you paid for a PS5 then there are good decent pre-built that won´t cost more than a PS5 PRO and still get you got performance.

Steam PC is something for steam fantaitcs and people with allot of money that will buy it even if they alrady own 3-4 pc´s.

Lets not lie to our self and pretend this will be anything for people with little income.

VR is totally optional on existing PCs. You sound like you have lost the plot and don't even know what you're arguing about.

The Machine is the good decent pre-built gaming PC you are whining about here, it has 3 year old mid-tier PC hardware, likely sold in bulk at a discount to Valve, coming in with a BOM that is probably under 500 USD for them to make. It will probably be in the range of 500-800 USD with a controller and storage options, but we don't know yet, and ram prices or tariffs could skyrocket.

It will perform in the ballpark of the base PS5. Valve said it will be competitive with entry level gaming PCs.

It won't be magically sold at a discount to compete with used or aftermarket consoles. It will not appease the bottom end of the console market who cry about poverty every time they see a brand new product or game sold at full price. To expect otherwise is pants-on-head territory.

 

[Questless Knight]

VR is totally optional on existing PCs. But not said to be optional on steam PC which would make it more expensive than Entery level PC.

I know what im arguing about a new tech product no one asked for that will an expensive niche item for hardcore nerds with consoles and PC´s yet no time to play any of it.

I seen this shit before in the past 40 years. My augment form start has been do we rely need this ??

We keep Companies keep saying they wanna be mindfull of the enviroment but keep releasing pointless tech that select few people with more money than they know what to do with.

Steam link failed because it was nothing we needed. Seeing how cheap enter level PC are today and even mini PC. I find if hard for valve to compete in a market where the only ones that know what steam is might get it. Saying you wanna compete in with energy level PC that has not only gamer´s but also working class and the casuals that use for anything but gaming.

We all know this is hardcore gaming market only and I still question most gamer´s have a PC some a PC 5 times better WHY would they need a steam PC ?

And it will not be entry level for console gamer´s moving to PC as it will most likely cost allot more than normal entry gaming PC.

The steam PC will be like a Rasbbery PI pointless to 90% of people but very interesting for tech nerds and people that loves to build and thinker.

So I will ask again who´s the target what´s the end goal do we rely need it.

 

[hazys]

I think you're underestimating the vast number of people who buy, for example, a PS5 simply because they are console gamers and they don't want to deal with the hassle of a gaming PC. They want something that works out of the box, and they are interested in controller-centric games. I think Steam will directly appeal to those people with the Machine.