this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2025
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Can everyone please stop claiming and speculating that Valve's new hardware will be loss leaders? If you watch LTT and Gamers Nexus's first videos on the announcement, they actually spoke with Valve's engineers. And the Valve representatives already said that the new hardware WILL NOT BE LOSS LEADERS.

There isn't even evidence that the Steam Deck was a loss leader. All GabeN said was that the lowest cost launch model was priced "painfully", which doesn't necessarily mean it was sold at a loss, it could easily have been sold at a very tight margin.

And no, low margins does not meet the definition of a loss leader. A loss leader is a product sold below cost, in that every unit sold actually costs the seller money.

I get the desire to speculate on new hardware. It's fun and it helps pass the time until we hear more info from Valve. But there's limits to what is reasonable. Valve has already stated that the new hardware won't be loss leaders, so hoping and/or claiming they are isn't reasonable.

Sorry for the rant, but all of the comments that seem to have only skimmed headlines are quickly getting to me

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[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 50 points 1 day ago (21 children)

It can't be a loss leader.

The steam machine is, hardware-wise, just a regular Mini-PC. Valve even lets you put whatever OS you want on there. So if this was a loss leader, that would mean that non-gamers and even small businesses would buy these, would install Windows on them and use them as office PCs, with Steam probably not even installed on the PC.

With the Steam Deck, the form factor made it impractical or at least really weird to use them as office PCs. The steam machine doesn't have that issue.

[–] Stefan_S_from_H@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 day ago (11 children)

Was it confirmed that you can install Windows? The video said software, I don’t remember that you could install any operating system. It comes with an Arch Linux.

[–] Stefan_S_from_H@discuss.tchncs.de 19 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I found an answer on the Steam Machine page: Yes, Steam Machine is optimized for gaming, but it's still your PC. Install your own apps, or even another operating system. Who are we to tell you how to use your computer?

[–] qaz@lemmy.world 2 points 19 hours ago (3 children)

They said that you can change it if you want, but did they say they will provide Windows drivers for their semi-custom Ryzen chip?

I just realized that “another operating system” can mean so many things that aren't Windows.

We need to be patient and wait until some crazy people defile their Steam Machine for Internet points.

[–] Goodeye8@piefed.social 3 points 19 hours ago

I'm pretty sure that is up to AMD and not Valve.

[–] rbos@lemmy.ca 1 points 12 hours ago

It'd be interesting seeing Microsoft in a position where the vendor isn't automatically making their drivers for them. It's a massive advantage they have.

[–] Revan343@lemmy.ca 1 points 13 hours ago

It'd be really funny if it's designed specifically not to meet Windows 11's arbitrary requirements. You can install Linux though! :D

[–] Joelk111@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

Hearing that is so refreshing. Microsoft/Google would never put something like that on their website because you are the product.

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