Rumor - Valve Developing Next-Gen Console

[shadowDOESrock]

With Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft all gearing up to release or unveil next-gen consoles within the next three years, and Apple rumored to be releasing the iPad 3 before 2012 is up, it seems like the market will be oversaturated with new tech for the foreseeable future. Only a crazy person, or a crazy developer, could possibly think that throwing their name into the console ring could garner anything besides groans and confused laughter. Thankfully, there are quite a few of these "personalities" that exist in the video game industry.

Among those developers is Valve, who if the rumors are true, may actually be developing a next-gen console to compete with the PS4, Wii U, and Durango. Rumors had surfaced previously that suggested Valve was working on such a project, but nothing much came of them, and most figured it was yet another Valve tease.

However, according to The Verge, this Valve console is no myth, and it actually carries quite a few features/qualities that would make it a true competitor. Rather than being a dedicating gaming console of sorts, this Valve device would essentially be a PC-esque console capable of running Steam, Origin, or any comparable digital distribution service.

The Valve console would set itself apart not just by offering PC games, but also by not charging developers or publishers a licensing fee and allowing multiple companies to manufacture the machine. Put in simpler terms, this would be a cross between OnLive, a home PC, and an open source console. And, for just a little more added flourish, the console would feature a bracelet capable of reading biometric data – a feature explored by Nintendo, but one that never saw the light of day.

But, as any good Valve fan knows, the developer/publisher is a lot of talk and has a ton of rumors surrounding them at any given moment, making this rumor seem extremely unlikely. However, also according to The Verge, Valve is believed to have shown this console off at CES, and is looking to either GDC or E3 2012 to make an official unveiling.

It seems extremely far fetched, Valve making a Steam-powered console and it potentially releasing this year, nevertheless it's something that caught our eye. The possibilities for launch titles alone (Half Life 3 anyone?) are enough to get the heart racing, let alone knowing that another intriguing, and probably expensive, piece of tech is on the horizon.

What would you like to see out of a Valve console? Do you think it is smart of them to be entering the console war at a time like this?

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New Patents by Valve


Source: Gamerant

[Tanassy]

Oh god... it sounds good, but... I already have a good PC. not for me, but certainly "Enough" to get more people into PC gaming. The bad thing? They'll start making PC games just like Console games, fuck that, we already have enough shitty ports to consol-ify our platform!

[jkid101094]

I honestly couldn't be any less excited. I'm not a fan of Steam and Valve having a console so open means a lot of publishers I love might make the cost effective switch. I'm not looking forward to buying the WiiU solely for Nintendo games.

[Tanassy]

I honestly couldn't be any less unexcited. I'm not a fan of Steam and Valve having a console so open means a lot of publishers I love might make the cost effective switch. I'm not looking forward to buying the WiiU solely for Nintendo games.

You mean MORE unexcited, right?

[Super Sonic Boom]

*trying to name the new possible console*

The Valve Box
The Valve Station
The Valvecast (OH HELL NO)
Valve 12

This could take a while...

[Elija2]

*trying to name the new possible console*

The Valve Box
The Valve Station
The Valvecast (OH HELL NO)
Valve 12

This could take a while...

VALVE U

[jkid101094]

You mean MORE unexcited, right?

You know what I meant so there's no point in correcting me. I had two sentences in my head while writing that. =P

*trying to name the new possible console*

The Valve Box
The Valve Station
The Valvecast (OH HELL NO)
Valve 12

This could take a while...

I like "The Verge". I forgot where I heard that but "Valve Verge" has a ring to it.

[Tanassy]

Probably just some random name related to plumbing.

[TheGameNinja]

Gabecube, Companion Cube, The Orange Box

[Tanassy]

Companion Cube

FUND IT.

[Hakudamashi]

And thus PC ports will be just as shitty as console ports
Thanks guys, thanks alot

[shadowDOESrock]

The smart people at Valve Software are on a hiring spree for talent that one doesn't normally see from a software developer. The creators of Half-Life, Team Fortress and Portal are currently seeking an economist and a psychologist, for example, to better understand how people use their products.

Valve is also on the hunt for hardware engineers, people that can design new hardware platforms and unexpected interfaces. It may ultimately lead to that rumored "Steam Box" but may also be part of Valve's "wearable computing" efforts.

In job listings on the official Valve web site, the company says it's looking for hardware developers to enhance its "great gameplay experiences."

"Join our highly motivated team that's doing hardware design, prototyping, testing, and production across a wide range of platforms," reads a job description for a hardware engineer. "We're not talking about me-too mice and gamepads here – help us invent whole new gaming experiences."

Potential Valve hardware engineers would "work with the hardware team to conceive, design, evaluate, and produce new types of input, output, and platform hardware."

The developer is rumored to be working on a PC spec that might be tailored toward living rooms and TV sets using Steam's already announced Big Picture Mode. A previous report indicates that the company is developing a biometric feedback powered game controller with swappable parts that may work with its rumored Steam Box.

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[Tanassy]

I heard that Valve finally lost their sanity and teamed up with Apple working on this thing. I can't find the source.. but nonetheless, if it's true, expect this thing to be either really good, or really bad (And overpriced)

[shadowDOESrock]

I heard that Valve finally lost their sanity and teamed up with Apple working on this thing. I can't find the source.. but nonetheless, if it's true, expect this thing to be either really good, or really bad (And overpriced)

A Apple / Valve Console?

Apples last try at consoles was a major fail.

If Valve really teamed up with Apple, then dear god, the hipsters will start to play video games 'cause it says Apple. D:

[Hakudamashi]

Think of the slavery...