Valve might be making Steam a little more accessible with some dedicated hardware.

Ars Technica claims that Gabe Newell’s company is developing a machine similar to the Nintendo Switch, using Linux. The site claims it based on „multiple sources familiar with the matter.” The hardware might be called either SteamPal or Neptune, but we suspect the latter name is the internal codename for the project. It is reportedly coming with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and an airplane mode.

According to a tweet by Pavel Djundik, the developer of SteamDB, Valve’s latest update to the Steam client beta included text for SteamPal and a SteamPal Games list. „This update also added a ‘quick access menu’ and a ‘power menu. Is Valve making a handheld Steam console?”, he added.

But back to Ars Technica’s report, the Linux-based system would come with a touchscreen and built-in gamepad controls (so it would have proper buttons like a Nintendo Switch), and with the USB Type C port, you could hook it up to TVs to play games on a bigger display (likely without a dock). And it might launch by the end of the year.

Valve has had a few steps into the hardware market: think of the Steam Controller, Steam Machines (pre-built PCs that were announced in 2013, launched in 2015, and died in 2018, respectively), or the two VR headsets, namely the HTC Vive and the Steam Index. If the SteamPal rumour is true, it would be close to Steam Machines, but here, they would provide more gameplay opportunities, based on what your Steam library has.

Two weeks ago, we wrote about how Newell visited a school. „He got a question that said, „Will Steam be putting any games on consoles, or will it just say on PC?” Aside from calling Valve Steam, it’s a reasonable question. So, what did Newell respond with? „You will… uh… get a better idea of that by the end of this year.”” So.. is THIS what he was talking about?!

Source: Gamesindustry