Review of the Steam Controller and Steam Link console

⇡#Background

At the end of last year, a significant event occurred, which in the near future could seriously change the attitude of many users to PC games. A new OS was released, developed by Valve Corporation, a company known to any gamer, which has its own platform for distributing games and other entertainment content. The official reason for this rather unexpected decision is the fact that the Valve team is seriously disappointed with the touch-oriented course taken by Microsoft. In an interview two years ago, Gabe Newell, managing director of Valve, emphasized the need to create an alternative to Windows 8, which, from his point of view, had no future. At the same time, he drew attention to the lack of future for closed gaming platforms. According to Newell, the future lies in systems in which each user can create value for others, as a result of which the line between consumer and creator is gradually blurred.

The released SteamOS was the first step towards creating a fundamentally new structure for communication between content creators and their clients, and the developer called the system itself not just operational, but cooperative. So this is not just an OS, but the first stage of a global project, which, if successfully promoted, could make Valve a leader in the gaming (and not only) industry, and transform the industry itself beyond recognition. However, practical prospects are still quite vague. The new OS, although it has undergone some changes since its first appearance, is still in the beta stage and is currently recommended for installation only by enthusiasts.

Information from the manufacturer's website

However, Valve assures that the full version won’t have long to wait. Like the beta, it will be free for users and freely licensed for developers, which, according to Valve, should become the basis of a new concept for the gaming world. Publishers and developers, if necessary, will be able to make their own changes to the system, and the very fact that there is no single owner allows us to talk about reliable protection of the new gaming platform from an unscrupulous developer who wants to earn extra money by making changes to the system that are beneficial only to him.

Brief history of creation

During the creation of the Steam Machine, Valve provided users with access to a test version of SteamOS, which was available for anyone to download and use. It is worth noting the fact that many manufacturers have released their own versions of a completely finished version of the system, ranging from extremely simple mini-computers to large gaming stations with incredible configurations. However, at the Steam Dev conference, the company independently demonstrated its idea of ​​​​what the Steam Machine should look like.

⇡#Hardware

One can argue for a long time about what the future holds for gaming consoles, but, unlike PCs, they have one significant drawback - a closed architecture that limits the user’s legal right to choose. In contrast to consoles, SteamOS, like any other OS, is installed on a PC with the widest range of components. Strict requirements are imposed only on the processor, which must have a 64-bit architecture. But the developers have already removed the restrictions associated with the manufacturer of the video adapter, indicating in the recommended requirements the mandatory presence of a graphics card not only from NVIDIA, as was before, but also from AMD or Intel.

Valve called the hardware base on which SteamOS is installed simply and succinctly: Steam Machine. Mostly, of course, these will be PCs, but in the future there will probably be people who want to install this OS on something more exotic (for example, on a portable system like SteamBoy). The most important thing is that the Steam Machine can always be assembled not only to your own taste, but also in accordance with the size of your wallet, which cannot be said about closed consoles.

Steam Controller gaming prototype

Steam Machines aren't just for enthusiasts. Valve itself offers users its version of an open game console with SteamOS already pre-installed. What sets it apart from others is the presence of the original Steam Controller included in the package, which is notable for its two round trackpads for thumbs instead of buttons or joysticks. Unfortunately, the Steam Controller has not yet made it into our test laboratory, but, according to the developers, the high resolution of trackpads, comparable to the resolution of a mouse, allows you to work with these input devices more efficiently than with analogues. In addition, the new controller works with all games distributed through the Steam client, even those that previously only worked with a keyboard and mouse. A pair of linear resonant actuators provide the trackpad with haptic feedback. It is stated that the tactile channel has such a wide frequency range that trackpads can even be used as speakers, reproducing sound with their help.

Example of setting up Steam Controller in the game Portal 2

The Steam Controller features many more innovative ideas, such as a multifunctional touch display for control, information, and much more. It’s pointless to describe them without having the device itself, so we’ll leave this topic for the next conversation about new products from Valve. For now, let's just say that Steam Controller, like Steam Machine and SteamOS, is distinguished by the openness of the platform. Moreover, Valve hopes that users and developers will help improve the device in the future, which is still at the prototype stage.

Steam Machine GIGABYTE BRIX Pro

In our experiments with SteamOS, we used the recently tested GIGABYTE BRIX Pro mini-PC (model GB-BXi7-4770R) as a Steam Machine. GIGABYTE itself positions its product precisely as a Steam Machine. Of course, GIGABYTE BRIX Pro is not distinguished by the presence of Hi-End graphics, but, as testing has shown, its integrated Intel Iris Pro 5200 video adapter is the best in its class and is capable of completely replacing entry-level/mid-level discrete video adapters. Well, the high-performance desktop Intel Core i7-4770R processor makes this Steam Machine practically unique among similar-sized devices. Below is the full specification of our test Steam Machine.

Computer or console?

I think there will be an endless amount of debate about what is better to choose for gaming – a personal computer or a console. Everyone is right in their own way, each device has its pros and cons. And while we were endlessly figuring this out, the guys from Valve decided to go a different route, choosing something in between a computer and a modern game console.

Imagine that a powerful gaming computer will stand in your living room, connected to a large TV screen, and in your hands you will not have a keyboard and mouse, but a comfortable joystick. But at the same time, it will not be a closed box with components soldered into it without the possibility of replacement with newer ones. The console has an easily accessible housing, where everyone can install the components that suit them.

Steam Machines will be produced by many companies, Valve has already reached an agreement with a couple of dozen of them. It is known that “cars” will be of different categories, which can be divided into three main points and characterized as: “good”, “best” and “the best”. Accordingly, different types of systems will be optimized for different parameters, affordable price, low noise, compactness, maximum power, etc.

The cheapest options will cost around $100 and are designed more for small games, or the ability to stream games from more powerful equipment.

Machines from the next category are planned to be produced by Valve itself and they will cost about $300 and represent a full-fledged console with all modern capabilities, comparable in characteristics to current test samples. As for the last, third category, it will include those very productive systems that which other companies can produce. As I wrote above, this seems to me to be a simple desktop computer with good hardware inside.

In other words, we are given a choice! Isn’t this what you and I dreamed about when we were endlessly indignant about the closed nature of current game consoles and about their too rapid obsolescence? We will be able to choose the console that suits our wallet, determine its dimensions, power and always be on the “wave” with modern applications and games. The same applies to developers who will be able to focus on modern components without being limited in anything.

But what games will await us? If on systems such as Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo, each device has identical characteristics and games are “tailored” specifically for the installed equipment, then on consoles from Valve, each game will be beautiful in its own way. There are no high-quality projects for these devices yet, so now we can only speculate.

⇡#SteamOS: installation

Installing the first distributions with a beta version of SteamOS that officially appeared on the Internet was a very difficult task, designed for experienced users. There were no files with ISO images, there were only simple archives with a file set, which had to be mounted in strict accordance with unofficial instructions that appeared only after the first users tried the new OS. But even with strict adherence to all the rules and installation procedures, the likelihood that everything would work the first time tended to zero. In addition, strict restrictions on the minimum hard drive size or the mandatory presence of UEFI specifications on the motherboard forced many potential users to postpone experiments until better times.

Installing SteamOS manually

Everything changed quite recently, when on the official website of the developers a link appeared to an image that can be deployed to any flash drive. Now you just need to set the BIOS to boot from USB drives as a priority and enjoy installing SteamOS, which in its simplicity can outshine even Microsoft Windows. There are two installation options available - automatic and manual. There is no need to be afraid of the latter. On the contrary, it is better to choose it, since in this case the user is given the opportunity to partition the disk at his own discretion. Interestingly, the user can take screenshots of what is happening on the screen, although we were not able to open them later.

No work with console commands, which was almost inevitable when installing previous versions of SteamOS distributions, was noticed. In other words, even the most avid hacker, who knows about the existence of such a terrible beast as Linux only from the unfamiliar slang of system administrators in the office where he works, can handle installing the current beta version of SteamOS.

Completing the SteamOS installation

A network connection is not required for installation, but you cannot do without it during the account setup stage. And in general, a Steam client without a network is like a person without hands: it is a network system. After installation and reboot, SteamOS automatically found updates available on the Internet. In our case, there was no need to install any additional drivers. Network adapters, sound, and integrated graphics core were connected. In other words, the system turned out to be ready to work, as they say, “out of the box.”

Why is it needed?

The problem here is that in the library for Steam Machines, an overview of games allows you to see a huge number of very diverse projects that initially do not at all provide for the possibility of using a gamepad in the gameplay. Thus, a standard Xlnput-compatible controller cannot be used in this case, and it was necessary to come up with a device that could be used in any games without the need for any additional processing.

It is quite natural that this task is extremely complex, and therefore, even while the Steam Machines console is being finalized, Valve is constantly improving the working prototype, and even those versions that have already been periodically made available to users are mostly modified versions, in which within a few days or months various changes and additions were made. In particular, at the moment we can note the fact that the joystick does not have a central block of four tiled buttons, and those buttons that are on it have a more traditional layout.

⇡#SteamOS: main interface

In our case, SteamOS was booted from an SSD drive. The full boot speed, from pressing the power button on the Steam Machine to the appearance of the graphical interface on the screen, is just under twenty seconds, which is satisfactory - considering that this also includes the time to connect a network account. But still not too fast. The main SteamOS GUI is nothing more than an updated interface of the SteamOS client in Big Picture mode, installed on a PC running Microsoft Windows, Mac OS or Linux Ubuntu. Although it starts automatically when SteamOS is loaded, it is, in fact, a regular add-on to the base of the new OS - Linux Debian. It's easy to close the interface and go to the GNOME desktop environment. But for now let's return to the Steam client.

SteamOS main interface

Sound settings

The main interface of SteamOS is extremely simple, but at the same time it has an impeccable graphic design with three-dimensional animated elements and simply excellent sound design - calm, predisposing to relaxation, with some fantastic sounds of other planets. You can turn off the sound if necessary, but in the first days of working with SteamOS you don’t want to do this at all.

Shop

Library

The menu consists of three main items: “Shop”, “Library” and “Community”. The first two lead the user to the pages of purchases and already purchased products, and the third point serves to go to the personal profile settings page. The menu itself is superimposed on an animated desktop, under which are laid out virtual covers of various gaming new products, which are constantly in slow motion that does not strain the eyes. In general, increased attention is paid to animation and the dynamics of object movement in SteamOS, as well as in the updated SteamOS client with Big Picture mode. All movements of objects are carried out smoothly and clearly, and the specific musical design only enhances some kind of cosmic effect of what is happening on the screen. In the evening twilight of the living room, for which, according to the developers, the new OS is intended, all this looks really impressive.

Internet browser

The capabilities of the SteamOS add-on are not limited to sections of the main menu. So, on each menu page at the bottom of the screen there is a button that activates the built-in Internet browser. At the same time, a large round button with the Steam logo in the right corner of the screen is always ready to return you to the main page.

Access restrictions settings

Unlike the Steam client, SteamOS has several useful features related to shared family use. Firstly, there is a family viewing function in the settings section. For each user with his own account, a number of restrictions can be set, including manually selecting the games he is allowed to view. You can completely close the entrance to the Steam store or, for example, limit the use of chat.

Family Sharing settings

The second feature is called Family Sharing. With its help, any member of your family or, say, one of your friends will be able to play games from your library when you yourself are not using it. In total, up to five users can be admitted to this “family circle”.

Streaming settings

Another feature that distinguishes SteamOS from a regular Steam client is not directly related to family restrictions, but still solves issues that are somehow related to the fact that each family member often has their own computer with games installed on it. Placed in your living room, a Steam Machine running SteamOS can remotely launch games from your Steam library on other Windows or Mac OS devices. The main thing is that the Steam client is running on this computer with the same user account. The system will automatically scan the network and establish a connection, after which the user will be prompted to use the games that are installed on the server device. This function is called streaming and can also be used to run games on the Steam Machine that have not yet been released for SteamOS and Linux.

SteamOS Settings Menu

The rest of the SteamOS settings concern the network, sound and image and, in general, do not differ in anything remarkable. But the possibilities of SteamOS don't end there. The most interesting things await those users who show additional interest in SteamOS.

SteamOS: hidden features

GNOME desktop

Most users will likely stick with the SteamOS GUI and use the Steam Machine only as a home entertainment center. Games, social networks, and in the near future also access to media services - what else is needed for a relaxing pastime? But if suddenly, in between combat special operations and studying the latest entries in your friends’ journals, you want to do a little work, then feel free to press the [Exit] button at the top of the screen and from the drop-down menu, instead of [Turn off] or [Change user], select [Desktop] . And within two or three seconds the GNOME working environment will appear on the screen.

Activities menu and open windows

It is slightly different from the Windows interface familiar to many, but it is intuitive and does not require any special training to quickly master. Instead of the familiar [Start] button, GNOME has a [Activities] button, which, when clicked, will take you to a menu of installed applications and open windows.

Pre-installed applications

Working with the console

SteamOS has minimal pre-installed software. The system is not overloaded with unnecessary applications, so everything, including the video player, must be installed independently. The Debian Wheeezy repository has quite a lot of programs and various applications for both work and entertainment, but to install the software you will have to use the console - a text line, which can scare off users unfamiliar with Linux. Those who are not too lazy to spend an hour or two learning the basics and reading simple instructions will discover new features of SteamOS and everything that is available to Linux Debian users. Even if you were not familiar with Linux before, mastering the basics of working with it will not be difficult at all. Worth a try!

File manager

Linux Debian System Settings

Otherwise, working with Linux Debian should not be misunderstood even among those users who were not previously familiar with Linux. There is a traditional file manager, a completely ordinary Internet browser, and a host of other utilities familiar to Windows users. The hardware settings and the system itself also do not look unusual. In extreme cases, a Russian-language interface and numerous references and forums, of which there are more than enough on the Internet, will always come to the rescue.

SteamOS: in progress

System information about SteamOS and the PC used as a Steam Machine

Judging by the numerous reviews on the forums left by the very first users of SteamOS, at first there were many problems with its operation. A lot of errors and shortcomings forced experienced users to bring everything to working condition with their own hands. But today’s version of the system can already be safely recommended for installation and operation even for those users who are completely unfamiliar with Linux. The latter circumstance is associated not only with the stable operation of the system, but also with the fact that it requires virtually no configuration and is ready for use immediately after installation.

Linux Debian resource consumption with internet browser running

During the entire testing period, not a single failure was noticed. Moreover, this applies to both the proprietary SteamOS environment and the GNOME desktop. Navigation through the system is carried out without the slightest delay. The operation of the browser and the launch speed of various programs are no different. At the same time, in a quiet state, that is, with the Internet browser running and several windows open, Linux Debian itself requires a minimum amount of resources.

Linux games from the Steam store

With games the situation is somewhat more complicated. Valve has already adapted almost all of its games to work with SteamOS. Everything that remains will also appear on the new platform soon. As for the rest of the developers, they are not only watching the unfolding events with interest, but are also taking an active part in developing the Linux games market. So far we are mainly talking about adapting various successful Windows projects. At the time of writing, the Steam store included 538 titles of gaming applications for SteamOS. Agree that this is not so little for a project that has not even been officially released yet and exists only in beta version! But it is possible that if SteamOS gains the popularity it deserves, then Valve may abandon developing games for Windows altogether, so the gaming world may face significant changes in the future.

Transferring data using the streaming function

Our GIGABYTE BRIX Pro-based Steam Machine performed roughly the same in games running SteamOS as it did on Windows. In any case, there was no noticeable difference, and there are no specialized test packages for SteamOS and Linux yet. As for the streaming function, it turned out to be quite functional on a home gigabit network. At the same time, the client with SteamOS almost does not spend its own resources on work. The main loading of the hardware takes place on the server computer, and it can run under any OS on which the Steam client can be installed.

Pros:

• The Steam Controller is ideal for playing PC hits on the couch in front of the TV.
• Steam Link allows you to erase the boundaries between rooms in your apartment.
• Ability to transmit 1080p images at 60 fps via cable or Wi-Fi.
• Included with the controller you get 19 great Valve games.
• Two unique touch panels with next-generation haptics.
• The ability to completely reassign buttons and fine-tune the controller.
• Long-term operation of the gamepad from two AA batteries.
• Steam Link supports streaming your games to the Internet.

Instead of results

In its current state, SteamOS as the main system does not make any practical sense, primarily due to the small number of games available for Linux. Moreover, even for informational purposes it’s hardly worth installing it - to do this, just switch to Big Picture mode in the Steam client. In fact, now SteamOS is a pure beta test, testing the future system on enthusiasts. The system is still crude - for example, on the official Steam Machine one of the official updates completely killed Wi-Fi, and selecting the Remote Access item in the system settings consistently sends the system to an instant reboot. On another system, the SteamOS shell successfully froze a few seconds after connecting to the Internet (the GNOME environment continued to work without problems).

As such, SteamOS should be judged solely on its future prospects. It is quite obvious that Valve is thus trying to “jump off the needle” of Windows - having a gaming platform with tens of millions of users, it is stupid to build it on the operating system of a direct competitor (which for Valve is Microsoft with its family of Xbox consoles and a comparable number of users ). Of course, this won’t be possible to do overnight, and during the “transition period” the lifeline should be streaming Windows games - the Steam Machine will then become a “second PC in the house” connected to the TV, so that ideally, over time, when developers become actively support SteamOS, become “the first” and then “the only”. The plans are Napoleonic, and the prospects, frankly speaking, are vague - the Steam Controller is clearly not yet a full-fledged replacement for the keyboard and mouse, and the ready-made Steam Machines announced by a number of manufacturers look more like a “zoo” of completely motley desktops on which SteamOS was installed. There is currently no clear vision and division of systems into levels, and this will clearly not benefit manufacturers, since a confused potential buyer will most likely abandon this idea and postpone resolving the issue until the distant future.

In general, it’s now possible to predict the fate of SteamOS and Valve’s entire venture, but in any case it will be guessing from the tea leaves (one of the unknown factors here, by the way, is the fate of Windows itself - perhaps after the release of some Windows 9 hardcore gamers will simply have no choice but to “go” to SteamOS). The immediate future of SteamOS (after its official release and the release of a commercial version of Steam Controller) seems quite simple - everyone who wants to play computer games on a big screen in the living room will be able to build an inexpensive PC (with the minimum configuration required for streaming games) or buy a similar barebone and install SteamOS on it. There is no point in purchasing a powerful gaming station for SteamOS - there are almost no “heavy” games for Linux, so you will still have to stream them from another PC. Installing SteamOS in a dual boot with Windows is also pointless - in this case it is easier to install one Windows and use the regular Steam client in it, which in Big Picture mode is no different from SteamOS.

The editors would like to thank Sergei Galyonkin, creative director of Red Beat, for providing the devices for review.

How relevant is it?

It is worth noting the fact that Valve was still able to ensure that their controller was supported by any games, and this is already a good boost to the popularity of Steam Machines. Games after connecting this gamepad, even to a computer running the Windows operating system, begin to perceive it as a standard mouse, as a result of which it can be used immediately after connection, that is, there is no need to install all kinds of drivers and carry out additional computer settings. The disks located under the thumbs are touch panels, and it is worth noting the fact that the right panel provides quite interesting feedback, which is somewhat similar to the effect of scrolling on a mouse.

SteamOS

This operating system is part of the Linux family and is distributed absolutely free to everyone. The system requirements of this OS are suitable for almost any computer, so if you are also interested in experimenting, you can download the system from the official website of the developer.

SteamOS itself is an add-on to the standard Debian, and if necessary, you can even switch to the GNOME desktop environment by selecting one of the checkboxes in the settings. Virtually, the operating system completely replicates the interface of the original Steam client, that is, although there are differences between them, they are almost invisible.