PC Rumor: Valve working on handheld Steam console

[Brian]

@stepee let’s goooooo

[stepee]

13 minutes ago, ManUtdRedDevils said:

@stepee let’s goooooo

 

in for 1 pls

[gamer.tv]

I’d be more for a plug and play pc than a handheld if I’m honest.

[Ghost_MH]

Why can't I just get a nice 7-10" Android tablet with built in controls for game streaming? Everyone's been trying to cram a full PC into a tablet and come up with a Switch competitor, but is there really no market for a dedicated handheld streamer with a nice screen?

[Keyser_Soze]

@GameDadGrant is in fo sho

[Keyser_Soze]

1 hour ago, gamer.tv said:

I’d be more for a plug and play pc than a handheld if I’m honest.

 

They had those, they were called Steam Machines, no one bought them.

[gamer.tv]

2 minutes ago, Keyser_Soze said:

 

They had those, they were called Steam Machines, no one bought them.

Well, I predict the same thing for this based on my own, very anecdotal evidence.

[crispy4000]

54 minutes ago, Ghost_MH said:

Why can't I just get a nice 7-10" Android tablet with built in controls for game streaming? Everyone's been trying to cram a full PC into a tablet and come up with a Switch competitor, but is there really no market for a dedicated handheld streamer with a nice screen?

 

This is kind of how I feel as well.  Switch games have the benefit of being optimized, sometimes even to crazy extremes.  The last thing I want to do with a handheld is tweak settings just to make a game run okay.  Once its a little outdated, I'd trust it even less.

Valve also isn't going to be making exclusives for this thing.

[Best]

I despise handhelds so I have 0 interest in this. 

 

@Biggie might be interested? I know stepee would be all over this.

[Ghost_MH]

10 minutes ago, crispy4000 said:

This is kind of how I feel as well.  Switch games have the benefit of being optomized for it in specific.  The last thing I want to do with a handheld is tweak settings just to make a game run okay.  Once its a little outdated, I'd trust it even less.

Valve also isn't going to be making exclusives for this thing.

 

I remember years ago Archos had exactly what I wanted long before the Switch was even a thing.

 

Archos introduces GamePad 2 Android gaming tablet with improved display, more memory - The Verge

WWW.THEVERGE.COM

 

Look at that grin back in 2013. I want that, but like newer and actually capable of streaming modern games. Microsoft recently showed this off...

 

Microsoft has turned the Surface Duo into a handheld Xbox

WWW.THEVERGE.COM

---

Xbox Touch Controls shine on the Surface Duo.

 

No...and I HAVE a Surface Duo, but still no.

[Zaku3]

Id be down for a portable PC. Though with the current situation Ixd prefer it being AMD based. 

 

My alienware is intel based. They announced an AMD version but it was only the 15in model.

[stepee]

2 hours ago, Ghost_MH said:

Why can't I just get a nice 7-10" Android tablet with built in controls for game streaming? Everyone's been trying to cram a full PC into a tablet and come up with a Switch competitor, but is there really no market for a dedicated handheld streamer with a nice screen?

 

Man, I don’t get it either. I’ve looked so much for something like it and all the android tablet/phone stuff you can try to use is either just super expensive or trash.

 

I just decided to not sell my iphone XS Max (i have a new phone) and just keep that attached to my kishi as my streaming/emulation device. It looked like I would only get $300ish and at least I get a good screen with this.

[stepee]

What I can’t believe is that with streaming taking off more that nobody can just release a switch lite like device exactly with a bigger 1080p screen with a decent snapdragon in it for $200-$250. I feel like that would sell but it doesn’t exist.

[Mr.Vic20]

Dear Nvidia, give us a new DLSS enabled Shield tablet with the option for switch like physical controls! 

[Spawn_of_Apathy]

I’m sure they’re working on it. If it ever releases, and that’s a big IF, I doubt it will be around long. 

[stepee]

9 minutes ago, Mr.Vic20 said:

Dear Nvidia, give us a new DLSS enabled Shield tablet with the option for switch like physical controls! 

 

It would have to be x86 not one of nvidias arm based chips right or it would have to have everything ported?

[stepee]

Honestly this doesn’t need to play the latest and greatest, design it for indie games and last gen stuff, emulators, and streaming and give it a good price.

[Mr.Vic20]

1 minute ago, stepee said:

 

It would have to be x86 not one of nvidias arm based chips right or it would have to have everything ported?

You know, that's a fair point! 

[crispy4000]

Exclusive: Valve is making a Switch-like portable gaming PC

ARSTECHNICA.COM

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We can confirm some, but not all, of what's in store for the codenamed "SteamPal."

 

[Rodimus]

yeah, Why wait. There are portable handheld gaming PCs on the market now the Archos. But always nice to have some competition.

[Biggie]

2 hours ago, best3444 said:

I despise handhelds so I have 0 interest in this. 

 

@Biggie might be interested? I know stepee would be all over this.

Nah. Not my thang. But yeah @stepeewould like it. That dude buys everything like @Mr.Vic20

[Stickey]

Lots of rumors are also saying this is for the Index 2 standalone VR.

[Best]

Isn't a laptop a portable computer lol. 

 

I mean, it's just me saying this so who cares. But handheld devices suck imo. 

[Mr.Vic20]

The problem with a portable PC is that its generally antithetical to how PC gaming works for most. They are often high priced, low spec, fixed hardware devices. they're niche devices that sell to a select crowd. Now, if streaming services become better and cheaper, then its game on with devices of this nature for the masses! 

[stepee]

20 minutes ago, Biggie said:

Nah. Not my thang. But yeah @stepeewould like it. That dude buys everything like @Mr.Vic20

 

This is totally a vic/stepee thing yes!

[GameDadGrant]

I’m interested in this.

[stepee]

7 minutes ago, GameDadGrant said:

I’m interested in this.

 

SEE GUYS THE MARKET EXISTS

[TwinIon]

Yeah, I don't have any interest in something like this.

 

I would expect the hardware to either be expensive or under powered, likely both. If they could somehow put out a decent gadget for a reasonable price, you still have the problem that anyone that currently plays PC games probably has a much better way to play them. Thankfully, many PC games are now optimized for a controller, but many PC games are not optimized for a small screen.

 

When I'm home (which is by far the place I play most games), if I really do want to play a game away from my PC, I'm probably better off streaming games to my iPad. Doing that I get a really high quality screen, get to use a full sized controller, and can have the graphics pumped up to the max.

 

For me this would only potentially be worthwhile when I'm traveling, when I'm probably better off playing a native iPad game or using the switch.

[Brian]

As someone who has a relatively large Steam library but no longer owns a gaming pc/laptop, I am interested in this option. 

[legend]

I feel like they'll drop support for it, or just let it languish. Much like the steam controller (which I otherwise liked a lot)

 

 

8 hours ago, Ghost_MH said:

Why can't I just get a nice 7-10" Android tablet with built in controls for game streaming? Everyone's been trying to cram a full PC into a tablet and come up with a Switch competitor, but is there really no market for a dedicated handheld streamer with a nice screen?

 

I wonder if you can setup streaming on a Raspberry Pi. Plenty of people have built switch-like Pis. If there's a good streaming software solution then that might work? I think Steam itself supports PC to PC streaming already. Not sure it works on a Pi though.

 

This seems to suggest it's possible (except replace TV with some other small form factor screen for the Pi):

How to Use a Raspberry Pi and Steam Link to Stream PC Games to Your TV

WWW.PCMAG.COM

---

Valve may have discontinued the hardware, but you can still can use the Steam Link app on your Raspberry Pi system to stream games to your TV or anywhere else.

 

[stepee]

I mean, if all you want is strictly a streaming device that’s pretty easy. Just get any phone at a good deal on Amazon with a 1080p screen for like $100-$150 and razer kishi for $64 or whatever and just keep them attached.

 

Like this https://www.amazon.com/BLU-Smartphone-Triple-Camera-Nightfall/dp/B07VB5LDD1?ref_=ast_sto_dp would be more than fine for all the streaming services and some retro gaming like up to psp level.

 

My thing was I wanted a device that can handle decent emulation as well and you don’t get a decent processor unless you pay more than a device like this is worth. 

 

 

[Ghost_MH]

1 hour ago, legend said:

I feel like they'll drop support for it, or just let it languish. Much like the steam controller (which I otherwise liked a lot)

 

 

 

I wonder if you can setup streaming on a Raspberry Pi. Plenty of people have built switch-like Pis. If there's a good streaming software solution then that might work? I think Steam itself supports PC to PC streaming already. Not sure it works on a Pi though.

 

This seems to suggest it's possible (except replace TV with some other small form factor screen for the Pi):

How to Use a Raspberry Pi and Steam Link to Stream PC Games to Your TV

WWW.PCMAG.COM

---

Valve may have discontinued the hardware, but you can still can use the Steam Link app on your Raspberry Pi system to stream games to your TV or anywhere else.

 

 

You absolutely can stream to a Pi. I have a few devices I can stream to; the most unfortunate of which being the Chromecast TV that doesn't seem powerful enough to handle the 4k stream even with a wired Ethernet connection. I have streamed game to my laptop for those times I don't want to be tied at my PC. However, I want a tablet. I have a Kishi and a Galaxy S21 Ultra. Games stream perfectly to it, but I want a bigger screen and something sturdier than the wobbly Kishi.