Steambox is more than just a new system for playing games. In fact, something much more important about Steambox is what worries Microsoft. Steambox runs on something called Linux.
Linux is an operating system, much like Microsoft's Windows, except it's open source, meaning that it's free and anyone can make their own version and distribute it if they have the technical know-how. It's often used for servers or by people with technical prowess. Over the years, however, it has become easier to use and can perform all of the operations that the average computer user needs.
At face value, it might not seem like a threat; it has less software support and Windows comes pre-loaded on pretty much all computers sold (other than macs, obviously). But try telling that to Microsoft. Microsoft has been working to keep open source software at bay, including Linux, for years. They tried making it impossible to use Firefox and Chrome on Windows 8. They threatened companies away from using Linux in netbooks (which would work much faster than Windows on a netbook), even getting Asus’ chairman, Jonney Shih, to apologize in June 2009 for showing a Linux PC.
They clearly fear open source and frankly, they should. While Linux has less software support, a big company like Valve could change that. Starting with converting gamers as Linux game support increases, Linux would start being talked about more. Like anything else, Linux is starting small and could gradually become quite tall. Up and coming manufacturers could start using Linux to keep costs down on their computers.
That's what Linux needs to become something bigger; support and manufacturers that aren't afraid of Microsoft. You can scoff at a seed for not having roots or leaves, but like a seed, a new idea in technology can struggle its way into relevance, despite big established trees surrounding it. Linux isn't very big now (in comparison), but it can be. Valve's support is the sort of watering that such a seed could grow on. And that is why Microsoft should (and as history shows with Linux) DOES fear Steambox.
Microsoft announced its financial results for Q3 of fiscal year 2026, including an update on its gaming Xbox business and more.
Not looking good. Hopefully Asha Sharma is able to turn Phil’s disaster around.
To me it's still quite remarkable how they can cash-in 5.3bn in revenue in a single quarter, since their hardware is basically dead.
The stock mark is what makes Microsoft remarkable, They have convinced every institutional and retail investor to just keep piling money into them. Like many big tech giants they are just a big growing pyramid scheme. As long as people keep dropping money into ETF's that cover the market Microsoft will always be liquid. At the same time it is completely stifling innovation and competition. People need to start being more discreet in how they invest their money as it's killing the system.
Riiiiight because people will just flock back to them for one or two games per year.
15+ years of bad performance is what they call irreparable in business. It is time for them to sell off the assets and get out of entertainment.
These declines are on the back of extra revenue received from releasing games like Forza horizon 5 on PlayStation. So I’m being sarcastic here when I said they should go back to exclusives. Killing off a revenue stream from Ps5 sales will only make things worse
The charity event will be streamed live from Gamescom in August.
Thanks to the slip-up of an artist working on the title, we now have more evidence that a new Injustice game is in the works.
nice article , i liked win xp because it was really open , then the vista bs came in , now win8 doesnt even support firefox or chrome , dick move ms dick move ! well im sticking to win7 and not planning to upgrade anytime soon , man i want winXP back
I dream of a world in which I go into a computer shop and hear...
"Which of these 5 (or more) operating systems would you like with that"
Nothing against Microsoft but their venomous stranglehold on consumer PC OS's has to end. If it takes Steambox and Linux to do this then so be it, I'll buy one.
Unless Valve comes up with a way to easily port Windows games to Linux the Steambox will just be a dream at worst or a niche product at best. I just don't think that the major third party players can be bothered supporting another platform. Windows definitely won't be around forever but it will be years and years before it goes away, unless a MAJOR party does a better Linux interface that the general public can accept (like Google does with Android)
Edit: Well written blog post though, I enjoyed reading it.
If anything, the steambox will be the end of our current form of pc gaming, if it takes off. Valve will demand that publishers and devs make their games exclusive to the device if they get enough of a "stranglehold", as some of you put it, on the industry via hardware.
Say goodbye to your custom rigs and hello to a small linux box!!!!