I wouldn’t really count Valve as a competitor because
Their pivot towards Linux came from a perceived threat that Microsoft could force users into using their app store exclusively, and effectively shutter Steam out of the market entirely. This is something Microsoft have already done with Windows 10 S.
The OG Steam Machines were a massive flop for various reasons, and the new one Valve is creating in-house is set to be priced more equivalently to a gaming PC than a home console. It’ll give a nice accessible path towards PC gaming but because they’re not selling it at a loss and recouping that money from software sales…
PC gaming has always been treated as its own separate thing since home computers became a thing.
While the Steam Deck has been incredibly successful, handheld gaming is also its own separate thing, and their main competitors in that regard are Nintendo, Asus, Lenovo and all the budget Chinese Android handhelds designed with emulation in mind.
I wouldn’t really count Valve as a competitor because
Their pivot towards Linux came from a perceived threat that Microsoft could force users into using their app store exclusively, and effectively shutter Steam out of the market entirely. This is something Microsoft have already done with Windows 10 S.
The OG Steam Machines were a massive flop for various reasons, and the new one Valve is creating in-house is set to be priced more equivalently to a gaming PC than a home console. It’ll give a nice accessible path towards PC gaming but because they’re not selling it at a loss and recouping that money from software sales…
PC gaming has always been treated as its own separate thing since home computers became a thing.
While the Steam Deck has been incredibly successful, handheld gaming is also its own separate thing, and their main competitors in that regard are Nintendo, Asus, Lenovo and all the budget Chinese Android handhelds designed with emulation in mind.