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Valve: SteamOS isn't a Windows killer

Valve: SteamOS isn't a Windows killer

Valve's SteamOS operating system isn't designed to be a competitor to Windows. 

That's according to one of the company's developers, Pierre-Loup Griffais, who told French publication Frandroid that the aim with this tech is to have software compatiable with a variety of different hardware. This news comes hot on the heels of Lenovo announcing its Legion Go S, which is the first third-party hardware to use SteamOS. 

"I don't think the goal is to have a certain market share, or to push users away from Windows," Griffais said. 

"If a user has a good experience on Windows, there's no problem. I think it's interesting to develop a system that has different goals and priorities, and if it becomes a good alternative for a typical desktop user, that's great. It gives them choice. But it's not a goal in itself to convert users who already have a good experience."

Valve also isn't looking to revive its Steam Machine concept on the back of the success of the Steam Deck hardware. 

"Right now, we're focused on handhelds," Griffais continued. 

"But as our work expands our ability to work on other platforms and have a good experience in different form factors... We've already done a lot to make these consoles connectable to screens, connectable to a controller… We're not there yet to give priority to a Steam Machine. But in collaboration or internally, it's an open door to the future."


PCGamesInsider Contributing Editor

Alex Calvin is a freelance journalist who writes about the business of games. He started out at UK trade paper MCV in 2013 and left as deputy editor over three years later. In June 2017, he joined Steel Media as the editor for new site PCGamesInsider.biz. In October 2019 he left this full-time position at the company but still contributes to the site on a daily basis. He has also written for GamesIndustry.biz, VGC, Games London, The Observer/Guardian and Esquire UK.