Redakcja Choose TV
The gaming market is currently undergoing significant change. Microsoft is steering Windows towards services based on artificial intelligence, and Sony has signalled a move away from physical releases of new games. At the same time, Valve is steadily developing SteamOS and its own ecosystem of devices. More and more experts believe the company could capitalise on the current situation to gain a much larger market share. That does not mean the road to success will be easy. Industry experts point to both SteamOS's strengths and the obstacles that still constrain the platform's growth.
SteamOS is developing faster and arriving on more devices
Experts say Valve's greatest asset remains the extensive Steam ecosystem and its vast game library. SteamOS is no longer limited solely to the Steam Deck and Steam Machines. The system has gained support for more devices using AMD, Intel and ARM processors. As a result, it can run on gaming laptops from Lenovo, ASUS and MSI. Experts emphasise that SteamOS offers better battery life, a more convenient interface and faster wake-up times than Windows 11. An important component is also Proton, which enables many Windows games to run. According to experts, Valve should continue to pursue a strategy of making SteamOS available on a variety of devices rather than restricting it to its own hardware. Features such as cloud saves, friends lists and the ability to seamlessly move a game library between devices are also becoming increasingly important. Some analysts believe that this model of development best meets contemporary gamers' expectations. Valve also has an advantage stemming from Steam's substantial revenues, which can be allocated to further service development. Experts uniformly stress that SteamOS has already become a very serious player in the portable gaming market.
Windows and consoles still have the edge in several important areas
Despite the growing popularity of SteamOS, experts also point to its biggest limitations. One of the main problems remains the lack of full compatibility with some anti-cheat systems used in online games. Some popular titles that rely on anti-cheat mechanisms still do not run correctly under Linux and Proton. SteamOS also offers less support for specialised peripherals, such as certain VR headsets, video capture cards and external GPUs. Another challenge is the high price of Steam Machines, which is noticeably higher than that of the PlayStation 5 or the Xbox Series X. Experts note that consoles still have the advantage when it comes to exclusive games and ease of use. In their view, SteamOS has the best chance of becoming the default system for devices intended solely for gaming, whereas Windows will remain the best choice for computers also used for work. They also stress that stronger competition between platforms will benefit both players and game developers. A greater number of alternatives limits the dominance of individual companies and forces manufacturers to offer better services. That is why the development of SteamOS could matter for the whole industry, even if it does not dominate the market. Time will tell whether Valve will be able to capitalise on the current situation and further strengthen its position.
Experts agree that SteamOS has the potential to become one of the most important platforms for gamers. Valve has a strong ecosystem and is developing the operating system for additional devices, but it still needs to address issues related to compatibility, hardware cost and competition from Windows and consoles.
source: techradar
