[Discussion] Whispers of a Comeback: "Powered by SteamOS" and the Return of Steam Machines

[Uncrowned Guard]

Encore of Steam Machines? Valve Introduces New “Powered by SteamOS” Branding

Valve, the well-remembered creators of Steam Machines, appears to be gearing up to launch a similar initiative in the realm of third-party gaming hardware under the moniker "Powered by SteamOS". Steam Machines were an uncompleted endeavor from Valve to design an array of gaming PC hardware built upon an initial version of their Linux-based SteamOS.

Valve's New "Powered by SteamOS" Logo Indicates Fresh Plans

The latest indication of Valve's future plans arrived via updated branding guidelines that were revealed on Wednesday. Courtesy of the vigilant SteamDB trackers, we became aware of the introduction of a new "Powered by SteamOS" logo, aimed at hardware designed to run the SteamOS operating system in close collaboration with Valve.

In essence, the "Powered by SteamOS" logo signifies that a device, when switched on, is designed to operate and boot up with SteamOS. This stands in contrast to simple "Steam Compatible" goods, which include non-Valve peripherals that have been investigated and deemed compatible by Valve.

Valve's Brand Uplift Replaces "Steam Machines" and Raises Eyebrows

The fresh guidelines have superseded an antiquated set of branding instructions that haven't been revised since late 2017. This outgoing guide offered detailed steerage on how to use the old "Steam Machines" name and logo on third-party hardware. However, with the "Steam Machines" branding being rendered practically deserted for several years, Valve's somewhat unexpected decision to revamp it has raised a few eyebrows.

Is this a Hint Towards Steam Machines 2.0?

While an official launch of the Powered by SteamOS program hasn't happened yet, it wouldn't be a total shocker if Valve wanted to offer officially licensed SteamOS compatibility for third-party hardware. Known for teasing what the future holds, Valve's Lawrence Yang has enthusiastically quipped since 2022 that he can't wait to see individuals manufacture their own SteamOS machines.

Further sparking excitement, in November last year, Yang told PC Gamer that the scope for SteamOS would be broadened to accommodate "other handhelds with a similar gamepad-style controller" in the near future.

Anticipation Builds for Official SteamOS Support

In the meantime, as Valve continues perfecting its widespread support for numerous handheld devices on SteamOS, enthusiasts have had to devise unique methods to install the Linux-driven, gaming-centric OS onto their devices.

The less-than-stellar software backbone for early SteamOS resulted in Steam Machines faring poorly against Windows-powered gaming rigs in 2015. However, with the recent launch of the Steam Deck, and the broad implementation of Proton-powered cross-compatibility, a contemporary version of SteamOS now emerges as a significantly favorable alternative to an expensive Windows license for hardware Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

Here's to hoping that more hardware manufacturers will soon be endowed with the chance to officially harness the potential of this alternative.

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