PC gaming company Valve is bringing its games to the big screen. On June 4, they announced release dates for Alienware’s Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Link, which are looking to give Microsoft and Sony some competition.
Customers that pre-order will receive their devices early on October 16, with November 10 being the store release date.
Steam Machines are basically PCs in a video game console. Instead of accessing your PC games through your computer, this new system lets you play them on any TV. PC games that have been previously bought will also work on the Steam Machine by hooking up a Windows or Mac computer.
The necessary companion to a Steam Machine is the Steam Link. Link lets you connect your computer to your TV to play your previously purchased games.
Buying a Steam Machine lets consumers bypass the need to build a computer to play PC games, which is more expensive.
Polygon.com reports that “Valve’s DJ Powers says he’s not sure what sort of impact the launch of Steam Machines will have on PC gaming, but that Valve is paying close attention to the new systems.”
Gamespot.com stated that there are going to be more PC gaming consoles in the near future.
“While Alienware’s offerings are being highlighted as the ones you can get early, there are a number of alternatives that will also be available come November. These include boxes from Asus, iBuyPower, and Origin, with all of them ranging in power and price from $450 up to a whopping $5,000.”
Steam Machines start at $449 and go to $749, depending on the model you want. Steam Link and Steam Controllers are $49 each.
Starting now, customers can pre-order all of Alienware’s steam products through the Steam website or GameStop.
For more information, and for the specs of each Steam Machine model, check out PCWorld’s article about the Steam Machines.
