The concept of a Steam Box has been interesting from the beginning. Harness the power of a PC, include the expandability and upgradability, but keep the system simple and secure.

Unfortunately, that dream is slightly farther away at this point. Valve used their Steam Community page to post an update on the Steam Machine status:

"We've been getting emails from the Steam community asking us how our in-development Steam Machines are coming along. It's great that you're excited about it, and we know you appreciate it when we keep you in the loop on stuff like this, so we wanted to give you all a quick update.

We’re now using wireless prototype controllers to conduct live playtests, with everyone from industry professionals to die-hard gamers to casual gamers. It's generating a ton of useful feedback, and it means we'll be able to make the controller a lot better. Of course, it's also keeping us pretty busy making all those improvements. Realistically, we're now looking at a release window of 2015, not 2014.

Obviously we're just as eager as you are to get a Steam Machine in your hands. But our number one priority is making sure that when you do, you'll be getting the best gaming experience possible. We hope you'll be patient with us while we get there. Until then, we’ll continue to post updates as we have more stories to share."

The controllers are unlike anything seen on any previous console, so it’s not surprising they are generating a lot of feedback.

E3 is just around the corner, so hopefully there will be a more comprehensive update at that time.

Source: Valve via ArsTechnica

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  • RaistlinZ - Tuesday, May 27, 2014 - link

    Better they delay it then release a "beta" product at full retail price.
  • Alexey291 - Thursday, May 29, 2014 - link

    Pretty much this yes.
  • Alexvrb - Friday, May 30, 2014 - link

    It's Steam, people will be happy if they can manage to avoid pre-alpha status when it's launched late at three times originally anticipated pricing.
  • Mondozai - Tuesday, May 27, 2014 - link

    Valve time.

    And not that I complain. The industry is slowly starting to re-learn the lessons of the past: if you rush stuff, games or not, the result tend to be pretty crappy. Cue BF4.

    The biggest questions on SM's are still the same old ones: control input and Linux support for games. And given more time, these things will be better.
  • Margalus - Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - link

    Linux support doesn't fit into the equation because Steam Machines run SteamOS, not windows and not linux
  • BobSwi - Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - link

    SteamOS is a Debian/Linux flavor
    http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteamOS
  • syxbit - Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - link

    errrr.......... You do realize that SteamOS is Linux right?
    It's Debian 7 with some added/updated packages
  • Mondozai - Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - link

    Margalus, where are you now? You're awfully quiet, boy :D
  • Margalus - Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - link

    If SteamOS is Debian/Linux then my point is still valid, Linux support doesn't matter because it is what it is. Do you honestly believe that they are going to make a system that doesn't have Linux support if it is based on Linux?
  • Guspaz - Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - link

    You've got it backwards. Mondozai is saying that not many games support Linux. Since SteamOS is just a Linux distro, that means not many games support SteamOS.

    Linux support in games is indeed critical to the success of steam machines...

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