Steam Machines News: First Dozen Companies Rumored to be Making Console

The Steam Machines program is one of the biggest news stories for 2014 as Valve is allowing different PC and console manufacturers to create different machines that carry the Steam OS and the Steam platform itself so that there can be many different Steam Machines available by the end of the year. This means that the console landscape is about to change dramatically, and now the first dozen rumored Steam Machines architechts have been leaked by Engadget.

So far, only two companies, iBuyPower and Digital Storm, have confirmed they are making Steam Machines. However, the new report states that several other companies will soon reveal their own Steam Machines or announce they will be making their own versions of the console. Alienware, Falcon Northwest, CyberPowerPC, Origin PC, Gigabyte, Materiel.net, Webhallen, Alternate, Next, Zotac, and Scan Computers all reportedly have Steam Machines in the works. The companies are expected to have their prototypes at CES 2014. Along with these other Steam Machines, the previously revealed iBuyPower Steam Machine is also expected to be on display at CES 2014.

Other companies could very well introduce their own Steam Machines as well. With so many different manufacturers and tech firms at the show, it would not be surprising to see other big name companies take a shot at making a Steam Machine. One notable exception to the Steam Machine program is Valve itself, who will not be making their own version of a Steam Machine, though they do have a prototype available for manufacturers if they want to see what Valve considers the ideal Steam Machine.

CES 2014 is currently the most likely setting for receiving further updates about different Steam Machines. So far, it is assumed that the consoles will use Steam OS, the Linux-based operating system designed specifically for the machines, as well as the new Steam Controllers Valve has also announced. Steam Machines will also be able to play existing Steam games, so users can import their profile and games into the new console from the PC. After that, it is up to each Steam Machine maker to decide what they want to put into the new consoles. Due to the highly customizable aspect of the Steam Machines program, it is hard to lock down a price for the machines. Hopefully CES 2014 will begin to show users an expected price range for Steam Machines.