Xi3, the company making the mysterious Valve-backed “Piston Console,” says that it will be revealing more information about the product this Tuesday.
In a brief update to the Xi3 site, the hardware makers say that “the wait is over,” and that they’ll have more info on the modular PC on Monday 9/30 at 11AM Mountain time (or Tuesday, October 1 at 3AM AEST). They also shared this image:
The Piston, a small, modular PC designed to be treated like a living-room gaming console, was first revealed in January. It runs a 3.2GHz CPU and 8 gigs of RAM, with a starting pre-order price of $US999. At the same time they announced the Piston, Xi3 announced that they’d received an investment for the hardware from Valve. Since then, it’s become a bit unclear just what role Valve played in the Piston’s development — the next day Valve distanced itself from Xi3, saying that the Piston was just one of multiple ‘Steam Box’ hardware prototypes.
Then in March, Xi3 said that Valve had specifically asked them to make the product. In a lengthy statement sent over at that time, Xi3 further confused things, particularly with this bit:
“For example, the assumption of many in the media has been that Piston is the ‘official’ Steam Box. We’ve never said that and neither has Valve. That hasn’t changed. But just because Valve may not ‘currently’ have any ‘involvement with any product of (ours)’ doesn’t mean that such involvement won’t exist in the future.”
They went on to explain that their vision was counter to Valve’s in some ways, including their feeling that Windows OS should be at the core of the machine, though it should be able to run any OS the user chose. Xi3 closed by saying, “What Valve does or doesn’t do with its Steam Box will be up to them. So Gabe, it’s up to you. The ball is in your court.”
Xi3’s announcement-announcement comes on the heels of Valve’s own announcement of ‘Steam Machines,’ a collection of TV set-top PCs made by different manufacturers that Valve hopes will change the way we play games in the living room. Steam Machines will run Valve’s also-just-announced Steam OS, as well use as their new haptic game controller, which they revealed today.
So, yeah, it’s an announcement of an announcement, and the timing could just be a coincidence. Whether or not the Piston will be considered an official part of Valve’s Steam Machines lineup remains to be seen, as does whether it will utilise Valve’s operating system or controller. But hey, the Piston has been an object of mystery for so long that it’ll be nice to finally learn more about it. Come Tuesday, we’ll see.
Comments
4 responses to “We’ll Learn More About The ‘Piston’ Living-Room PC On Tuesday”
$1000 is a bit rich for a mini PC that I’m guessing cannot be upgraded.
One of the major points to steambox was upgrading so I’m guessing it’s just an overpriced mini pc.
The whole concept of the PISTON Console was built upon the Xi3 Modular Computer framework, which uses 3 interconnected miniaturized boards to replace the standard single motherboard. So yes, PISTON is designed to be upgradeable.
I can’t see how there is a market for this. I mean, why not just make your own mini PC and plug it into your TV? Still won’t have the console exclusive games though……..
My biggest problem with this company is they have destroyed ability to affordable upgrade PCs for the sake of making them small. If you need tiny Point-of-Sale devices or shop front display machines… sure. But at consumer level I think it’s pointless.
you would have to be silly to buy a gaming PC where only the parts from this company would fit.
The only way this stuff can get any traction is if other hardware manufacturers make motherboards, and expansion cards in the same form factor… which they probably won’t because I believe it’s patented.
That and the fact they are stupidly overpriced.