Ayaneo next handheld is going to use SteamOS
Ayaneo has unveiled the Next Lite, a budget-oriented handheld that comes pre-installed with SteamOS, in a first for the company.
https://ayaneo.com/article/806
Here is from their website which also says "AYANEO NEXT LITE comes pre-installed with the SteamOS gaming system for the first time".
Also says, "subscriptions open at 9:30 PM 1/11/2014 EST" (emphasis mine)
That's really good.
I am very interested in the success of this device. I have, use, and love my Steam Deck, but my biggest hopes for this form factor in the future is it using generational CPU improvements to create a more diverse set of devices, rather than just chasing higher performance.
I don't actually play many games on my Deck that toe the line on its performance limits, I prefer to play 2D and lighter 3D games on it, while leaving the "spectacle" games for a more powerful system outputting to a much larger display at a higher resolution. I would love long-term to have a more smaller, lightweight device for portable PC gaming, and I hope that increased diversity in the market, running Linux-based systems (even if it's all just SteamOS) will help drive towards that. I think that the pipedreams of running x86 games on Linux on ARM on a really power-efficient device, even as unrealistic as they are, are far more likely to occur if there's a healthy market of Linux based systems, than they would on Windows handhelds given the state of Windows on ARM, and on these devices in general.
Doubt the price and support would be any helpful over Steam Decks
If Valve is working with Ayaneo to get SteamOS shipped on these devices, then I imagine Valve would have some level of involvement on at least the software support side, even for things specific to the device. If Ayaneo is just like shipping by using one of the existing 3rd party SteamOS installers and not working with Valve at all, then yeah I expect things to be not as smooth sailing as the Deck.
I don't understand why Valve would allow this. Wouldn't this be a direct competitor to the Steam Deck, even if it at a lower price point?
Valve made the steam deck to encourage other device makers to follow suite.
They're trying to bootstrap a new market segment. They don't actually want to be a hardware company. They want to sell games. Lots, and lots of games.
They're providing all they can to help other manufacturers come onboard, so they can sell games, and make wads of sweet cash.
They never hid it. They were clear about it from the start.
The deck is a proof of concept for the industry to follow.
They don't actually want to be a hardware company. They want to sell games. Lots, and lots of games.
They're providing all they can to help other manufacturers come onboard, so they can sell games, and make wads of sweet cash.
That's genius!
@Gork @mrMADAFAKA The deck and all these handhelds just drive game sales on Steam, which is where Valve makes all it's money... Competition between handhelds doesn't bother them!
And that’s Valve's ultimate motive, to have as many handhelds(and PCs) to use SteamOS and distance themselves from Windows Microsoft.
