Baldur's Gate 3 publishing chief says the Steam Machine isn't super high-spec because there's "genuinely no point" when people who want demanding PC performance on TV "know how to turn any PC into a Steam Machine"

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Larian's Michael Douse says "Steam Deck gave birth to an entire handheld market that helped define the features of the Switch 2," and "the same will happen" with the new Steam Machine and the pre-built market

Steam Machine next to fish bowl.
(Image credit: Valve)

Baldur's Gate 3 publishing director Michael Douse says Valve is positioned for a Steam Deck-level success with the new Steam Machine, precisely because it isn't very high-spec.

Valve hasn't revealed pricing details for the new Steam Machine, but hardware and performance wise, it's been roughly likened to a middle point between the Xbox Series S and a base PS5 or Xbox Series X. That's a little surprising given the fact that those consoles came out five years ago and are themselves upstaged by the more recent PS5 Pro. That said, it also suggests the eventual price tag will be more forgiving in these trying economic times.

Douse added that there's "massive opportunity" in the pre-built PC market, specifically for use similar to consoles in the living room, but that currently there's no "precedent" or "entry point" with pre-built machines ranging from $500 to $5000 and above.

"If Valve can once again normalise and thus create that entry point there is potential for big growth in that new market, and thus potential to move fast and shake up," said Douse.

"Possible that living room will not be dominated by a handful of branded machines rather that (sic) the war for the livingroom will be storefronts, with many many manufacturers putting out the hardware. In that sense Valve & Xbox have the upper hand. (Support for 3rd party hardware). Xbox strategy make sense now?"

It sounds to me like Douse is suggesting the future of living room, TV-based gaming won't be nearly as reliant on hardware manufacturers as storefronts like Steam, Epic, and Microsoft. So, basically, PC master race? Sure, why not?

Here are the best PC games you can play right now.

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Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

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