To paraphrase Jeff Grubb, there’s been more smoke lately indicating a console than VR, but “frame” implies glasses implies VR headset. It could go either way or both, where the console and VR are complementary. Or neither! But I think smart money is on Valve announcing new hardware imminently, and personally, I think it’s a console like a Steam Machine but with the library problem now solved.
There were leaked specs for hardware that Valve was testing that could theoretically retail between $500 and $700, but that is analysis and inference only, not an announcement. Separately, there were leaked designs of a new Steam controller that was supposedly on its way to the production line for mass production. Valve also has ties to Keighley and the Game Awards, where Alyx was announced back in 2019 before a March release in 2020, so there could be something like that again. Another reminder that the next Half-Life game is also rumored to be imminent, so it would make sense to pair these things together like Alyx and the Index.
My first thought on hearing frame is server. I’m likely way off the mark (to the point I don’t actually think it’s what they’re doing) but it could be the basis for a cloud gaming setup for steam. Would extend the deck life and allow them to optimise settings for proton locally.
My first thought is a dock of some sort for the Deck
there’s already a dock
I wouldn’t mind a budget dedicated server of some sort designed to shove in the corner of my room and host game servers on paired with a similar ease of access as SteamOS
What if it’s some system where you buy a server system in a box with everything pre-installed, you can use it as a console game box, and when not in use it’s a game streaming server to other players (like Geforce Now), and it pays a bit in your steam wallet.
So it would be a Mainframe, without the Main as it’s distributed, hence a Frame
I really hope not, that feels like crypto all over again, with inconsistent payouts and varying electricity prices… And on top of that probably awful service since people tend to have the weirdest internet connections.
Though if you remove the part where it’s used to stream games to other players, that sounds too niche to be viable, but could be cool. If going in that direction, I’d imagine it more likely to be gaming servers for businesses, like VR gaming spots, where they have multiple gaming computers hooked up to headsets.