WORDS: Chris Rooke

It’s a clever strategy, no doubt about it. Announcing an operating system built around gaming, as well as set-top boxes that will run said operating system, and a brand new controller unlike anything out there would be bullish at the best of times. A couple of months before two new high-spec consoles are due to hit the market? That’s just arrogant. But Valve, with their unparalleled track record and stellar line-up of games, can afford to be arrogant.

Valve rarely make decisions that don’t seem to be incredibly well considered. Both of their main initiatives ― as a game developer, and developing a whole digital distribution system for PC games ―  have been met with critical acclaim. Their continued development of Steam as the leading PC distribution platform is unparalleled and also without competition.

The Steam OS builds on that further, allowing devices (including set-top boxes) to run on a foundation built entirely on and around Steam. They are also working with hardware producers to bring a wide array of boxes out, presumably with varying designs, specs and prices.

The beauty of the platform has always been the wide variety of games, generally available at very competitive prices, and the integration of all those into one place. By bringing those into the living room, as Valve intends to do, and provided a reasonably priced box is released, there’s no reason why Valve can’t stand up to the likes of Microsoft and Sony amongst the more hardcore gamers. They won’t reach the masses in the same way as them, but Steam has never targeted them.

Add to that Valve’s incredibly valuable franchises, such as Portal and Half-Life, as potential system-sellers, and they might have a winner on their hands.

Of course, price will be the ultimate determinant, but for now it’s an interesting shift in what is otherwise a dull console race. There’s nothing like a new console producer to shake things up, and with Valve’s reputation bolstering it, this could be one lean, mean fighting machine.