It looks like PCs and consoles are on a collision course.
The next few years will very much be Valve vs. Microsoft. This isn’t to say either of those companies are hostile to each other. It’s more like both of them are pretty much reaching the same conclusion.
For the past 10 years, Valve has specifically been targeting console gamers – pretty much turning Steam into a full console replacement. They’ve largely succeeded at this.
Last month, there were 36 million concurrent Steam users online. And the Steam Deck pretty much proves that PCs can replace consoles in every way by providing a console-like experience. The reason they’re able to do this is because Valve has invested in a custom Linux OS that provides great optimization for the handheld.
Meanwhile, ever since Xbox started using x86 CPUs for the Xbox, it’s pretty apparent that this is almost a Windows PC. I say almost because, until now, Xbox has continued on the same walled garden path as other console platforms. But it seems as though head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, is signalling that all that could change. He’s talking a lot about making handhelds like the ROG Ally having a more integrated Xbox experience.
I can tell where this is going. It looks very likely that there will be an official Xbox handheld that will eventually run vanilla Windows. This is because, if anything, Valve presents a weakness for Windows as a gaming platform. And a good reason why many people use Windows, myself included, is not only because of the many games released every day for it – but also because of the impressive backwards compatibility you get with no other platform.
But if Valve has their way, this will no longer be Microsoft’s advantage. Already, the majority of Windows-only games are compatible on Linux – no thanks to Valve’s investment in Proton. If every Windows game suddenly works on Linux, why should gamers necessarily choose Windows as the default? Especially if Valve provides a more optimized console-like experience for those Windows games?
We’re living in interesting times!
I pretty much exclusively use GOG and Itch.io these days. That and FOSS games. DRM is a deal breaker for me.
I actually prefer to not be forced to use a launcher so in that respect GOG gives me exactly what I want. As far as Steam goes I prefer to not have to guess what is DRM free or not. Steam has made no hardware that interests me so GOG not making any doesn't concern me.
@publiclewdness Okay, but none of that has to do with what I was originally saying.
@publiclewdness I prefer GOG.com over Steam.
However, GOG.com leaves a lot to be desired with its launcher. And I don’t think they have any plans on making hardware.
The thing about Steam, and why it’s so convenient, is because they’ve made it incredibly dominant.
By the way, you can get DRM-free games on Steam if you know where to look. 🙂