# History of video games/Platforms/Steam Machines
## History
### Development

By early 2012 substantiated rumors of Steam Machines were being published on major gaming websites.
In 2013 Valve was publicly working with Xi3 to create a small computer called Piston. Also in 2013 was the announcement of SteamOS. In December of 2013 300 beta units were sent to testers.

### Launch

Steam Machines were delivered to those who had preordered them on October 16th, 2015. General retail availability followed on November 10th, 2015.
By June 2016, less than 500,000 steam machines had sold.

### Legacy

In 2018 Valve deemphasized steam machines on it's store, though they could still be purchased at that time.
Following silence on Steam Machines, Valve continued development of SteamOS till at least 2019.
The Steam Controller would result in a court case which started lasted from 2015 to 2021 and ultimately cost Valve a $4 million dollar fine for patent Infringement.
The Steam Machines were followed by the Steam Deck portable console, which also ran on Steam OS.

## Technology

Steam machines came in a number of different hardware configurations by multiple manufacturers, and ran the Linux based SteamOS.
At launch depending on the model, systems could use an AMD or Intel CPU paired with either an AMD or NVIDIA dedicated GPU or an Intel integrated GPU.
At launch, systems from manufacturers could have from as little as four gigabytes of RAM to as much as 32 gigabytes of RAM.
Storage at launch was either based on using only hard drives, a small SSD used with a larger hard drive, or an SSD only.

## Games

Steam Machines could directly run games on Steam that supported Linux.

## Gallery
### Prototypes

* Xi3 Modular Computer at CES 2011.
* Steam controllers at the Valve Office.
* Gigabyte Steam Machine and prototype controller in 2014.

### CyberPower Syber Steam Machine I

* Legacy IO
* The console with panel removed

### Zotac NEN SN970

* The IO on this steam machine is closer to a typical console of the generation.
* The machine with cover removed. Hard Drive and RAM are placed in accessible locations.
* Motherboard and heatsinks.
* The Zotac NEN SN970 sports a 64 gigabyte m.2 boot SSD.
* Eight gigabytes of DDR3 RAM is installed, with an extra slot for future upgrades.
* The Intel Wireless module.
* The dual 2.4 and 5 gigahertz antenna.

### Accessories

* Steam Controller
* Steam Link

## References

* ↑ Topolsky, Joshua (2 March 2012). "Exclusive: Valve said to be working on 'Steam Box' gaming console with partners, could announce at GDC". The Verge. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ "Hands-on with Xi3's 'Piston' modular PC at CES, a kind of 'Steambox'". Engadget. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ "Valve Announces Steam OS". Kotaku. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ Peckham, Matt (11 December 2013). "Hey 300 Steam Machine Beta Winners, Valve's Shipping Your Systems on Friday". Time. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ "Steam Machine Beta Units Shipping in December - IGN". Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* 1 2 Crecente, Brian (4 June 2015). "The first official Steam Machines hit Oct. 16, on store shelves Nov. 10". Polygon. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ "First Three Steam Machines Released, Prices and Specs Detailed". GameSpot. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ Orland, Kyle (2 June 2016). "Seven months later, Valve's Steam Machines look dead in the water". Ars Technica. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ Statt, Nick (2 April 2018). "Valve quietly hides Steam Machine section from its game store after years of neglect". The Verge. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* 1 2 Brown, Fraser (2 April 2018). "Valve gets rid of the Steam Machine section". PC Gamer. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ Wilde, Tyler (2 April 2018). "What happened to Steam Machines?". PC Gamer. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ Miller, Chris (28 March 2020). "SteamOS Isn't Dead, Just Sidelined; Valve Has Plans To Go Back To Their Linux-Based OS | Happy Gamer". HappyGamer. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ Carpenter, Nicole (3 February 2021). "Valve fined $4M in Steam Controller patent infringement lawsuit" (in en). Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2021/2/3/22264213/valve-steam-controller-lawsuit-scuf-4-million.
* ↑ Walker, Alex. "Valve Fined $4 Million Over Steam Controller Patent Infringement" (in en-us). Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/valve-fined-4-million-over-steam-controller-patent-inf-1846185262.
* ↑ Ackerman, Dan. "Steam Machines and SteamOS: Everything you need to know". CNET. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* 1 2 3 4 "Steam Machines: First impressions, The Specs, Prices, and Release Dates". GameSpot. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
* ↑ Buckley, Sean. "Alienware Steam Machine review: A gaming PC for your living room". Engadget. Retrieved 30 November 2020.