Very recently, word began to circulate that Valve is working on its own portable gaming console called the SteamPal. While there has been no official confirmation or even acknowledgment of its existence from Valve, a new report from ArsTechnica states that the thing is indeed real and even shares some additional details about it.
For starters, the SteamPal (which apparently isn't the final name and will most likely be changed) is described as an all-in-one gaming PC, complete with gamepad controls and a touchscreen. As ArsTechnica best puts it, it's essentially Valve's take on the Nintendo Switch, which has become immensely popular for its status as a home console/handheld hybrid. What's more, it will run on Linux and use Intel or AMD chipsets.
Apparently, at least one prototype of the SteamPal is notably wider than the Switch in order to accommodate the gamepad buttons, triggers, a pair of joysticks, and a thumb-sized touchpad. And just like the Switch, there will be an option to dock the console and connect it to large monitors, giving players the option to use it on the move or at home. How exactly this will work is unknown.
ArsTechnica was also unable to find out how much Valve intends to sell the console for, other hardware aspects like battery size and storage capacity, and whether Valve plans on selling multiple SKUs. Similar Switch-like PC devices, such as the Aya, have been released with different versions with different specs, like battery life and power level. It would make sense for Valve to do something similar, but that remains unconfirmed.
The report points to comments from Valve's own Gabe Newell as evidence of the console's existence. Earlier this year, the Valve CEO stated that Steam games could release on console. While some may have assumed this meant that Steam games would receive ports for the likes of the PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch consoles, it seems what Newell meant was that Valve itself would be expanding into the console market with hardware of its own.
Considering Steam's massive library of games and the popularity of PC gaming, it makes a lot of sense for Valve to attempt something like this. Even conceptually, the SteamPal sounds like something that could appeal to those that have always struggled to get into PC gaming. Of course, it's far too early to tell how successful it could be, but what little details there are might be enough to grab peoples' interest.
Source: ArsTechnica