330°

Valve confirms hardware development

A job listing on Valve’s site confirms that the company will begin developing hardware. A listing for an industrial designer says “Valve is traditionally a software company. Open platforms like the PC and Mac are important to us, as they enable us and our partners to have a robust and direct relationship with customers. We’re frustrated by the lack of innovation in the computer hardware space though, so we’re jumping in.”

Dante1124984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

The only thing that bothers me is the "open platform" part. Wouldn't having something so open like that make it easier for glitchers to exploit and cheat on games?

@ Blastoise

Word. Wonder if this new hardware is an upgradable console of some sort. But that would be too similar to a PC wouldn't it?

DoomeDx4984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

I hope not..

Consoles are designed to be friendly for everyone.
Upgradable consoles would be to complicated for young people, or people who dont have any intresest in hardware.

If they want an upgradable console, they should just buy a PC. not a console

decrypt4984d ago

@doomedx

Up gradable consoles arent really feasible. Its amusing when people bring it up.

First of all there are cost constraints designing such hardware.

Secondly, an upgradable console would need proprietary parts. It would not use Ram, Motherboards, CPUs from the PC industry. When we have a up gradable gaming PC, parts aside the GPU are used by the entire industry. Which means they are produced on very large quantities and that keeps costs low. Imagine ram being sold just for the next Xbox or Playstation, the demand would be much lower then the PC industry hence cost would be very high, add in all the royalties MS and Sony would need.

Secondly another issue is of Bottlenecks, its pointless having a highend GPU equipped with a low end CPU or an out dated motherboard for that matter. How many of those parts would console makers produce on low volume (again going back to my first point), the costs would be too much and again even if someone managed to upgrade one of those parts. The upgrade just wont be worth it as other parts will quickly become a limitation.

Lastly Power and heat requirements, You add in more powerful parts might even need a more powerful PSU. Now since you are generating more power, you are also generation more heat, with the constrained casing of a console all of this can become a problem.

Hence upgradable consoles might be a wish however in reality there are too many problems associated with such a venture. In the end it just wont be worth it Cost, performance and effiecency wise.

Campy da Camper4984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

@DoomeDx...this is Valve, though. They are a PC game company first and foremost. They KNOW their fanbase is computer savvy. Steam is not for little Billy from Nebraska who wants a quick run through of Mario.

I would jump for joy if Valve announced some sort of customizable console for gamers and had direct Steam access. Hell, I bet their digital games would be cheaper than any retail store.

Gazondaily4984d ago

Woah.....this is mammoth news.

Half Life exclusive to Valve's new console? We could potentially have 4 next gen consoles.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 4984d ago
Hatsune-Miku4984d ago

That's awesome. I'll buy it.I can't wait for ps4

Locksus4984d ago

Don't know if you were being sarcastic but this could be pretty big.

kneon4984d ago

If you read what he says it really sounds like they are looking to replace and/or improve on the keyboard and mouse as the primary gaming interface for PCs. So it's not as big as if they were making a new gaming platform.

DOMination-4984d ago

They said a while back they were working on some glasses. Its probably that.

jimbobwahey4984d ago

Gabe must really reeeeeeeeeeeally hate Windows 8.

iamnsuperman4984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

or that is why he is openly hating on windows 8 (i.e. because he knows he has competition and his word seems to go a long way)

STONEY44984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

It's not a console guys.

“Even basic input, the keyboard and mouse, haven’t really changed in any meaningful way over the years,” it says. “There’s a real void in the marketplace, and opportunities to create compelling user experiences are being overlooked.”

"The post specifies that the position will add “expertise in product design and manufacturing, ergonomics, usability, aesthetics, and surfacing."

Sounds more like they want to get into making PC peripherals. Probably a replacement for the keyboard and mouse, or a head-mounted display since Gabe Newell is constantly talking about how they're the future of gaming.

shutUpAndTakeMyMoney4984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

This is good for pc gaming because these console will most likely be easier to upgrade, have standard part and pc games will be free of the slave boxes holding pc back. A bad pc port form steam box to desktop & vice versa will not be an issue.

A console with google chrome?

PC,MAC,Linux + Console = Valve universe in coming.

Of course this will further delay HL3..

I can see it now! Every game MS releases steam releases their superior console version $10 less + free dlc & mods from workshop!

fermcr4984d ago

... they will probably release it in 2025 with Half-life 3.

ATi_Elite4984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

1. The word "Console" is D.E.A.D. Now before you Fanboy Rage use your B.R.A.I.N. and not your fanboy heart.

This Gen consoles were just weak computers and Next Gen Sony/MS Gaming systems will be full blown x86-64 PC's wrapped up in some nightmare OS but with the CPu/Gpu/Ram soldered to the Mobo to prevent upgrades.

Sony/MS "Gaming Systems", no more console as the Wii was the last one.

2. Valve promotes "Open Platform" and Apple all though a tightly guarded CLOSED system has allowed Valve to flourish on Mac and Apple in the future will open up it's OSX more and more as it seeks to topple Microsoft.

The PC is the Ultimate Open Platform but Microsoft has positioned itself as Key Holder to the wonderful Openness of the PC and Microsoft and Windows 8 is looking to try to make the PC a lot less friendly.

Sure you can run Linux, ubuntu, Chrome OS, or hell you can even put OSX on a PC but Microsoft is the main OS on PC's.

3. So this is where Valve's Steam Box comes into play: A x86-64 based box that is fully upgradeable and will allow Gamers to load the OS of their CHOICE while being able to boot directly into games through STeam or other Clients.

4. The Openness part is that it features OpenGL and will Leave out Microsoft's DirectX and maybe even allow Devs to program directly on the GPu/Cpu and thus increasing Gaming Power.

5. Console = a CLOSED system designed to only play video games

Valve = a company that does Many things and promotes OPEN systems

Therefore Valve Console = Oxymoron.

6. Valve is gonna carry the flag that takes PC Gaming further away from the grasp of Microsoft and it's Xbox Live, GFWL, DirectX, Windows 8 BULLCRAP!

7. Whatever Valve does it's ALWAYS innovative and in the best interest of the GAMER and Valve promotes Openness and Freedom.

8. Some have mentioned Openness and the ease for hackers and glitchers: Every Game no matter the platform, Open, Closed, PC, Console etc. has Hackers and Glitchers, this comes from the game SOFTWARE being manipulated and is up to the Dev to fix it.

also the Openness allows for Incredible Free Mods and new gameplay. EA tried to lock down the Frostbite 2 but BF3 now has MODS.

The Openness is "Digital Jazz Man"

Jacobster4983d ago

Innovation is marketing spiel surely not? When do you not hear a software company not talk about pushing the engine or innovating this or that. I think it is naive to think that ANY firm would make a decision solely in the interest of the gamer? Think about when Gabe refused to make Portal on the PS3 because of its infrastructure?

I do agree with some of your assumptions, however it is proven that consoles make millions and the increasing push for micro-transactions, season passes, DLC, company support- in terms of services found on consoles. The existing market players won't just disappear over night and nor will they make it easy for new entrants to take a slice of their market share (look at Onlive).

I also think a closed system is not always a bad thing. In a world of no boundaries perhaps it would be great, but just how practical would it be? For one, surely costs would be an issue in terms of constant upgrades and the cost of software development which could rocket out of control? Nonetheless, I think the market does need more choice so I welcome any new technological developments.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4983d ago
thebudgetgamer4984d ago

A Linux based Valve box, I'll buy that.

Captain Tuttle4984d ago

What games will you play on it? 98% of their catalog runs on Windows. If it's possible to "port" all those Windows games to Linux (I really have no idea, maybe some PC guys can chime in here) then that would have to be a pretty big expense I would think.

thebudgetgamer4984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

They came out and said they are going to start supporting Linux.
http://n4g.com/news/986078/...

They also came out and said.
"Linux runs our games faster than Windows 7"
http://www.zdnet.com/valve-...

Just a thought.

DeadlyFire4984d ago

Just need to be rebuilt on a different API. All Windows games use DirectX. All Linux, Mac OSX, and other platforms use Open GL or another API. That is the main thing. It shouldn't be any harder than it is to port from console to console and that has become streamlined pretty much. I believe with enough demand for the platforms it can become as streamlined as porting between the consoles. The demand is growing slowly as Mac is gaining support, but its only problem is that its hardware is not always at the same level.

Thing that worries me is that this guy wants to change up keyboard/mouse and revolutionize gameplay controls for games? I would rather type/click.

Captain Tuttle4984d ago

Thanks for the reply Deadlyfire. I think this will be focused on peripherals like you said, maybe mice and keyboard combos for DOTA or something

DeadlyFire4984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

I imagine it would be more like a PC platform with a popular Linux OS or Valve's own Linux OS that is upgradeable with all the standard PC parts.

SheenuTheLegend4984d ago

they may be designing gaming accessories instead of a console

Skateboard4984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft Goodbye. HELLO NURSE!!!!!! :)
I was joking about Sony.

Show all comments (51)
60°

Xbox boss: Memory crisis could impact next-gen hardware pricing

Xbox boss Asha Sharma has discussed how component shortages will impact the company's plans for Project Helix.

Read Full Story >>
gamedeveloper.com
Eonjay2h ago

When does this end? Its killing everyone. Consoles and PC. And for what? AI? The benefits of AI are completely outweighed by the negatives. And the government should have never allowed one company to buy up all the RAM.

Lexreborn218h ago

This kind of proves this is an after thought product, most products like this are in r&d 5 years before they start mass producing. So they typically have the cost of components and things worked out long before assembly starts.

This is an assumption still, but I wouldn’t be surprised if project helix is similar to Scalebound,perfect dark and sod3. They had an idea but no actual execution other than concept stage. Being impacted by the ram shortage likely would also put this device 3-4 years out.

I’m not even sure MS has that endurance with Xbox yet

Fishy Fingers15h ago(Edited 15h ago)

I mean.... what?

We're at a point that Samsung wont even provide their own phone department ram because they can sell it at higher prices to 3rd parties (AI). Its more profitable to sell the ram than make their own devices with it.

You think because R&D starts 5 years ago the 3rd party component manufacturers will honour that price? They'll sell it to whomever is paying the most today, not some gentlemens agreement they made years ago. AI farms will buy more volume at higher prices than any console manufacturer will. It'll be the same for Playstation.

Sitdown11h ago

You don't really know how this works huh?

Profchaos15h ago(Edited 15h ago)

Helix is going to be stupidly expensive

Instead of leaning into smarter upscaling techniques they're brute forcing hardware that will cost them dearly and it remains to be seen if it's genuinely going to provide a meaningful differential

I know in the oc.doace people like to brag about not using frame gen or dlss to get to high on a game but for the majority of players they happily use those technologies without a second thought

That's going to be ps6 vs Helix

Eonjay2h ago

Yeah with FSR 5 they should be able to offer a much cheaper version of Helix.

Eonjay2h ago

While this does seem to be the case, I am encouraged by the statement from Microsoft about wanting to provide affordable options. If this means a Series S style Helix, at least there will be something affordable being offered.

blacktiger15h ago

It's called systematic inflationary. Yes we get it Microsoft, keep raising in the name ofall kinds of stuffs

pwnmaster300014h ago

Honestly if there was thing I learned from this generation is that new consoles arnt day one anymore.
I can wait 1-3 years.

DarXyde13h ago

Another important lesson from this generation: while Nintendo showed us that prices don't necessarily need to ever drop, we've now learned that waiting 1-3 years does carry some risk that prices increase. This generation is just bizarre in all the wrong ways.

LucasRuinedChildhood12h ago(Edited 12h ago)

The factors are largely external. Covid and Russia-Ukraine war causing inflation led to the first price increase in 2022.

Then we get Trump's tariffs increasing hardware prices, AI boom causing a RAM crisis, war on Iran causing a worldwide fuel crisis which impacts the cost of everything.

Gaming doesn't exist in a vacuum. The last few years have been a shitshow and lot of it was definitely avoidable.

Show all comments (22)
30°

Top Racers Need Top Gear – Introducing the Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition Controller and Headset

Omar writes: "With the Horizon Festival coming to breathtaking Japan, you’ll need the essential gear to prove you’ve got what it takes to become a Horizon Legend as you cruise, drift and explore an open world full of spectacular driving experiences. That’s why we’re happy to announce the newest Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller and Wireless Headset collection, featuring inspired designs from Forza Horizon 6. The bright cyan and lime colorways celebrate the Horizon Festival’s recognition of iconic cars and hit music, with special features that are sure to impress any collector."

Read Full Story >>
news.xbox.com
50°

44% of games industry professionals have considered leaving the industry as a result of redundancies

New report from Skillsearch found that 22% of those surveyed had been laid off within the past 12 months.

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
Cockney9d ago

Well if that 44% left im sure there would be a lot less redundancies