Xbox head Phil Spencer welcomes Valve’s Steam Machine, says competition drives gaming forward

Black Steam Machine PC with beige backdrop.

Valve surprised the industry with the announcement of the Steam Machine, a new console that has generated widespread attention. Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft Gaming, publicly congratulated Valve and expressed support for the device.

“Gaming moves forward when players and developers have more ways to play and create, especially across open platforms,” Spencer wrote on Twitter. “Expanding access across PC, console, and handheld devices reflects a future built on choice, core values that have guided Xbox’s vision from the start.”

He added that Microsoft — one of Steam’s largest publishers — welcomes additional choices for players and developers.

Josh Stein, Xbox’s senior social media manager, reacted to the Steam Machine reveal with amusement. He posted a tweet referencing rumored 2019 Series S designs and quipped, “All hail the cube,” attaching an image that, he noted, bears a striking resemblance to Valve’s console.

The Steam Machine concept stretches back roughly a decade; this latest model is positioned as a more powerful, home-focused counterpart to the Steam Deck, with design and usability touches that echo features found on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Valve has not announced pricing or a release date, leaving publishers, developers, and players time to absorb the news. We will share updates as further details become available.

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Source: gamesradar.com

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