With Valve potentially giving us more details about Steam Box next week, let’s just take a look at why Steam Box should even be talked about in the first place.
If the rumours up to this point hold true, the Steam Box looks to surpass the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in terms of simplicity and digital functionality. Like a PC, it will let you buy and download games as many times as you want without requiring a disc. Sure, it’ll be a bummer for the few nostalgic gamers who enjoy lining up their games on a shelf and flipping through each title while deciding what to play next. However, for the most part, this is no doubt a positive thing. No more losing games, no more breaking games, no more frustration.
It’ll be small and portable, two words people love to hear in today’s world. It’ll run games at a high level like its big brother the PC, and have the ability to wirelessly connect to other screens or systems scattered around your home.
PC gamers will tell you there’s no better way to play games. Customization is a big part of the fun. Specs can be improved over time, mods can be added, extending the gaming experience to an entirely new level. Steam Box could follow this pattern, not only appealing to gamers because it’s small and portable, but because there’s the possibility of buying, and over time customizing, a Steam Box that’s right for you.
Many people prefer console gaming due to the fact that it’s easy to set up and play. It’s great for gaming with family and friends, and allows you to sit on a couch and conjure up Dremora Lords and other high jinks from there. Steam Box has realized this, and took notes. From what we’ve heard so far, it’s taken what the PC offers, and shoved it into a box that you can carry around and enjoy with others, using cloud gaming as its ultimate weapon.
With PlayStation 4 and Xbox One out in the open, it’s Valve’s turn to show us what they have to offer when it comes to next generation gaming. Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to embrace the cloud.
