Moving on to next gen - PS4, Xbox One, Steam Machine?

[jp1]

I'm thinking of going with a Steam Machine for my jump to next gen, the sales alone seem to justify the small additional cost. I like that it can be upgraded, and that I can switch controllers.

Does anyone have a compelling reason to go with a console instead? I don't get a lot of time to game these days so I want to make the most of it. How does the Steam machine stack up performance wise? Assuming I go with the best model available.

I'm not too concerned with exclusives, my boys have a PS4 and an Xbox One so if something pops up I really want to play I can just pop in to their room for a gaming session.

VR also isn't really on my list of important features, if that makes any difference.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[noiseredux]

Go with a Windows based one.

[isiolia]

Does anyone have a compelling reason to go with a console instead? I don't get a lot of time to game these days so I want to make the most of it. How does the Steam machine stack up performance wise? Assuming I go with the best model available.

Like noise said, go with Windows if you do a PC.

The major downside to a Steam Machine is that you're getting a subset of a subset of PC games. First, they have to be available on Steam. While a great many games are, there are plenty of notable absences. Blizzard stuff is all going to be on Battle.net, for example. Any newer EA stuff is in Origin. MS published stuff may wind up being only in the Windows store now, and so on.

Just in general, you're paying for the hardware that'd run all that stuff, but booting straight into SteamOS limits access to it.

Second, the game has to be compatible with Linux/SteamOS. There are plenty of games that are...but there are tons that aren't as well. I mean, if you just look at newer releases...Battleborn? Nope. Dark Souls III? Nope. New DOOM? Nope. They're on Steam, but only for Windows, at least at this point.

Take the same hardware, but run Windows and just plan on using Big Picture mode on Steam most of the time, and you now get access to very nearly anything on Steam...and the option to jump into a different storefront/content platform if you want or need to. To me, that's the far better option, it might just wind up being less consistent or convenient. At the same time, much more flexible, with by far the most potential games to run.

Steam Machine configurations and cost go up quite a bit. With enough hardware, it'll come out ahead...but in a $5-600 range? I kind of doubt it.

Even as they've become more PC-like, consoles are still going to win out for simplicity. One "platform" for all the games to be on, the hardware that the developers tested on, etc. So that might skew things in favor of one.

[ElkinFencer10]

Go Wii U

[jp1]

Does anyone have a compelling reason to go with a console instead? I don't get a lot of time to game these days so I want to make the most of it. How does the Steam machine stack up performance wise? Assuming I go with the best model available.

Like noise said, go with Windows if you do a PC.

The major downside to a Steam Machine is that you're getting a subset of a subset of PC games. First, they have to be available on Steam. While a great many games are, there are plenty of notable absences. Blizzard stuff is all going to be on Battle.net, for example. Any newer EA stuff is in Origin. MS published stuff may wind up being only in the Windows store now, and so on.

Just in general, you're paying for the hardware that'd run all that stuff, but booting straight into SteamOS limits access to it.

Second, the game has to be compatible with Linux/SteamOS. There are plenty of games that are...but there are tons that aren't as well. I mean, if you just look at newer releases...Battleborn? Nope. Dark Souls III? Nope. New DOOM? Nope. They're on Steam, but only for Windows, at least at this point.

Take the same hardware, but run Windows and just plan on using Big Picture mode on Steam most of the time, and you now get access to very nearly anything on Steam...and the option to jump into a different storefront/content platform if you want or need to. To me, that's the far better option, it might just wind up being less consistent or convenient. At the same time, much more flexible, with by far the most potential games to run.

Steam Machine configurations and cost go up quite a bit. With enough hardware, it'll come out ahead...but in a $5-600 range? I kind of doubt it.

Even as they've become more PC-like, consoles are still going to win out for simplicity. One "platform" for all the games to be on, the hardware that the developers tested on, etc. So that might skew things in favor of one.

Interesting. I was thinking the console type Steam pc would be cheaper than off the shelf options for a gaming pc. I could build one, but honestly I was liking the aesthetic and form factor. When you start trying to build a decent gaming rig in a small form factor case with quality components, things get expensive quick.

I figured it would become cost prohibitive pretty fast going the custom route. I'll have to investigate.

Thanks for the advice fellas.

[Exhuminator]

Does anyone have a compelling reason to go with a console instead?

If you enjoy JRPGs along with your domestic thrill rides, the PS4 is your best bet. It will get ports of all the AAA western games as well as give you access to the big JRPGs.

[isiolia]

About all you really save is the cost of a Windows license.

From what I've seen though, most Steam Machine builders have the option to use Windows instead (or in a dual boot setup). So if the form-factor n' such is what's appealing, you could still pretty much shop those, and just maybe check a different box under the OS part.

Personally, I'd probably still lean towards building it myself, and not worry about it being the smallest possible. You can get HTPC cases that'll fit in an AV rack and still use an ATX board. Or possibly hide it away elsewhere - with how little uses an optical drive now, there's not a ton of need to have the machine readily accessible.


There are also a decent number of JRPGs arriving on Steam these days. PC still isn't going to be the premiere platform for 'em, but the selection is growing. Possibly an interesting angle for having a PC under your TV too is that, at this point, both the Xbox One and PS4 can stream to it. Might be a way to leverage the consoles in the house without displacing people.

[Snatch1414]

For me it's a console of your choice plus a decent running PC, but probably for unorthodox reasons. I actually want the console for the big AAA titles that may NOT run on my PC. This way I have something simple and easy that will just play the damn game with no fuss. This way I don't feel compelled to upgrade the PC every year or two, which really isn't of interest to me, but I still have access to the vast majority of games on PC which will still run just fine on what I have.

[Tanooki]

Unless you must have Uncharted, GoW or all the other Sony first party stuff or the few things MS has that didn't hit computers I'd avoid the consoles as they're fairly boring compared to last time around.

I'd get a portable but works on a TV type device of some sort either Windows based or Android microconsole based like the Nvidia Shield tablet (or console itself.) They're better choices, you can do far more with them, costs less, and you can use whatever controller you want too like you brought up.

I own a PS4 and I love the thing when a game comes along worth it, but otherwise it's a bluray amazon video/netflix box which I can easily do on my tablet as it is with the mini hdmi to hdmi jack I have. I wouldn't get the Steam machine, just another DRM wall making sure all your games are leases you don't own -- at least the disc media on PS4/One you do, and same goes with Windows and Android stuff as well.

[fastbilly1]

I figured it would become cost prohibitive pretty fast going the custom route. I'll have to investigate.

It really depends on what you want to play and at what resolution/settings. If you can find a case you like, parts suggestions can be made. For this kind of build, the case is the the hardest part to pick.