3 ways the new Steam Machine could be a huge win for Linux

Steam Machine could be a huge win for Linux">

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Valve has finally given us the details for the Steam Machine. Hip, hip, huzzah! This new gaming console will play all your favorite Steam games and will feel more like a console.

If you're curious, here are the pricing tiers:

As far as the specs are concerned, it looks something like this:

The Steam Machine will ship to consumers starting June 29, and you can sign up for the list now on the official site . Do note, according to the Steam Machine page, "Join the list any time before June 25th at 10 a.m. PT. On that date, the list will be closed and randomized, and you will receive an email with your results shortly after." Another thing to keep in mind is that you cannot reserve a Steam Machine unless you've made a Steam purchase prior to April 27, 2026.

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If you don't qualify, purchases will be randomized, and you can most likely count on the Steam Machine selling out quickly for this first round.

First and foremost, Steam OS (which powers the Steam Machine) is a customized Linux distribution based on Arch . But this isn't just your typical gaming console. Because Steam OS is based on Linux, users will get a full-blown, KDE Plasma-gorgeous Linux desktop to use. In other words, if it winds up as popular as I believe it will be, the Steam Machine could flood the market with more Linux computers.

Many of the users who'll purchase a Steam Machine will probably have never touched Linux before. After using their Steam Machine, that immediately changes, and Linux will have found its way into the home and hearts of many more consumers.

It's not that those consumers have never used a device powered by Linux. They have, they just don't know it. With the Steam Machine, those users will finally know and understand what Linux is all about, and not just by way of the Steam Client running on Linux . The Steam Machine will remove much of the mystery surrounding Linux until it becomes a known commodity to a vast number of people.

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Consider this: If one million Steam Machines sell to those who've never used Linux, that's one million more Linux users. That happens almost overnight, which is unheard of for an open-source operating system.