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Steam Machines And Controllers Headed To Beta Participants December 13
Valve is in the process of notifying the 300 Steam Machines beta participants that they’ll be receiving their hardware in just a few days. The hardware is set for shipping this Friday, December 13.
The beta participants will be identified by a unique badge. They can expect a selection of games that run natively on SteamOS to appear in their libraries, also.
The beta participants are limited to United State residents because of regulatory concerns. This will not affect sales of the hardware in 2014.
Additionally, SteamOS will be available in an early form when the prototype hardware is shipped later this week. Valve recommends that if you aren’t proficient in Linux that you wait until 2014 to take it for a test drive.
Valve’s in-home streaming beta is set to begin soon. The company is promising more information on Steam Machines at CES on January 6.
[Source: Valve]
Our Take
I’m extremely interested to hear how average users respond to the Steam Machines and, especially, the controller. Valve’s beta means that we’ll probably see some changes from prototype to final, but the early hardware will be a good way to take the temperature on the products.
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