Roundup of the 6 New Gaming Platforms Launching in 2013
Peter Donnell / 12 years ago
this is a hard one to quantify because technically if you own a PC, Mac or Linux gaming system right now, then you already own a Steambox. Anyone can hook their computer up to their TV, PC Monitor or other output device and use Steams “Big Picture Mode” to kick back with a control pad and enjoy their favourite games in a more “console like” fashion.
Yet this isn’t what Steam seem to have in mind and its said that the hardware will be running the Linux OS and have its own customisable hardware that could offer a more dynamic alternative to the offerings from Microsoft and Sony, but its all a bit rumour filled at the moment, one thing we do know of course is that “something” is coming from Steam and I don’t think we’ll have long to wait.
It was only recently that xi3 Corporation detailed their Piston system, which you can see above, an extremely small form factor PC with a high price tag that ranges from $499 to $999, is this the next-gen solution? I don’t think so, its a niche at best and while this might put PC gaming in a format that sits under your TV, at least for those with no system building knowledge of their own, I don’t think it has staying power.
