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[Victor Omega]

There is an universe right now where Steam Mobile is THEE place to get all your gaming apps on mobile.

But we don't live in that universe.


I'm not a mobile gamer but it would seems going they either route would have made Valve and Steam not only a household name but s mobile one

 

[Irobot82]

There is an universe right now where Steam Mobile is THEE place to get all your gaming apps on mobile.

But we don't live in that universe.


I'm not a mobile gamer but it would seems going they either route would have made Valve and Steam not only a household name but s mobile one

I think this would require a lot of revenue to go to Android and Apple.

 

[ThatGamingDude]

I think this would require a lot of revenue to go to Android and Apple.

Exact reason why it wasn't done

/thread

 

[IntentionalPun]

There is an universe right now where Steam Mobile is THEE place to get all your gaming apps on mobile.

But we don't live in that universe.


I'm not a mobile gamer but it would seems going they either route would have made Valve and Steam not only a household name but s mobile one

iOS is too big in N America, and doesn't allow 3rd party stores..

On Android it's a side-loading thing, that isn't obvious to most users either..

So.. nah.

 

[Victor Omega]

Exact reason why it wasn't done

/thread

They could of had allowed for the user to download outside apple/ android, and even if, I feel the revenue in the long term could justify the cost in the beginning, especially if games were published by valve themselves.

 

[ColdAfternoon]

It can happen if Epic wins against Apple.

 

[Victor Omega]

But....we're still saying It could have been a better risk than steam machine.

 

[ThatGamingDude]

They could of had allowed for the user to download outside apple/ android, and even if, I feel the revenue in the long term could justify the cost in the beginning, especially if games were published by valve themselves.

Apple doesn't allow for sideloading of apps
Android it's obtuse for an average user to do it (Not to mention Google throws about 10 screens warning you the app is unsigned, potentially malicious, etc)

No, it would not justify it. Keeping your revenue completely within your own garden and control is the best method for your products

Giving away 30% is giving away 30% no matter what way you wanna cut it; long term, they would have just gotten that 30% instead of giving it to platform fees

-30% doesn't magically become -10% because it's long term

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

The power of hindsight. The App Store in terms of gaming was nowhere near the juggernaut (or as proven a commodity) in 2015 as it is in 2021. I'd arguably say 2013 because that's likely when Valve started planning and developing the various components for Steam machines.

As a concept I still think Steam machines could serve a purpose but if there's any company in the industry currently best suited at it, that would be Microsoft. In some ways they are doing a softer version of that approach with Series X, S, and bringing PC/mobile/tablet devices into the Xbox ecosystem (the latter options through streaming-only however).

I feel like their approach is a more refined and sensible spiritual successor to what Valve tried with Steam machines years back.

 

[PhaseJump]

There is a universe right now where OP MegaZoneEX's threads aren't THEE place that consistently begs the stupidest of questions, and explores the boundries between being naive or being retarded.

But we don't live in that universe.

 

[Skyfox]

Nvidia Geforce Now and a Razer Kishi. Sorted

 

[LordBlodgett]

There is a universe right now where OP MegaZoneEX's threads aren't THEE place that consistently begs the stupidest of questions, and explores the boundries between being naive or being retarded.

But we don't live in that universe.

That's harsh dude

 

[LordBlodgett]

The Steam machine was all about trying to make Linux viable for gaming. Unfortunately with mobile devices there isn't even a slightly viable 3rd outside of Android and IOS.

 

[LazyParrot]

There's no way that would have been profitable or even practicable considering the degree of control Apple and Google exert over their platforms.

 

[IntentionalPun]

They could of had allowed for the user to download outside apple/ android, and even if

Huh? lol

 

[Jagz]

Steam mobile = upcoming handheld PC's, like the GPD Win 3, Aya Neo, etc:

 

[Victor Omega]

There is a universe right now where OP MegaZoneEX's threads aren't THEE place that consistently begs the stupidest of questions, and explores the boundries between being naive or being retarded.


But we don't live in that universe.

*blush* my sensei told me there aren't any stupid questions, just stupid people who don't ask questions.

That's harsh dude

i have followers apparently

 

[PhaseJump]

That's harsh dude

Yes. This whole thread is predicated on the idea that Valve wasted money by investing in Steam Machines, and it was more risky for them than getting into a fight for mobile. It's dumb.

What huge risk was the Steam Machines gimmick to Valve? They didn't invest heavily into it in the first place, not heavily enough to have their own flagship hardware platform to lose money on. They opened up what they were doing already (risky stuff, that status quo) and gave PC OEMs an opportunity to grow PC gaming in a fringe direction that overlaps the console space.

 

[Kataploom]

I think this would require a lot of revenue to go to Android and Apple.

In the case of Apple, sure, but in the case of Google not necessarily if they avoid Google Play... Which doesn't go in line with mobile target anyway