[pseudosavant]

I think this put this all in perspective for me. If Microsoft came out with this exact hardware (with Windows but still open and you could load SteamOS on it), at this price point, people mock Microsoft to death about how this product is a joke.

[righthand]

It’s called the Xbox and the reason it wasn’t at this price point is that Microsoft has the capital power to subsidize the cost at risk of the Xbox division not being profitable. Valve doesn’t have such freedoms on hardware it seems.

[pseudosavant]

The XSX costs 43% less than the cheapest Steam Machine, even though it has twice the SSD and includes a controller. Microsoft isn't subsidizing it that far.

[righthand]

That’s a Nth generation device that has a built out hardware pipeline. I assure you that Microsoft still subsidizes the devices and has lowered the cost on later models through hardware supply chain build out agreements.

What are you trying to prove? That Microsoft has hardware pricing magic?

[bigyabai]

> with Windows but still open and you could load SteamOS on it

You're describing Every Computer Ever.

[IshKebab]

Every x86 PC ever. That's not true for ARM machines or Mac. Or the myriad of other closed platforms that are computers.

[pseudosavant]

As opposed to an Xbox, which doesn't do that. But the XSX also costs 43% less.

[bigyabai]

The Xbox is subsidized by the Xbox Live subscription service, Windows and Steam are not.

Mainstream console pricing is a bloodbath enabled only by perverse financial incentives.