Popular gaming hardware content creator, ETA PRIME, yesterday teased that his ASUS ROG Ally preview unit was seemingly running Valve's Steam Deck operating system - the short YouTube video provided a glimpse of basic UI functionality as well as in-game performance (Forza Horizon 5). He promised that a full video was incoming, thus providing a full explanation of his modification process and a more in-depth exploration of more games running on the formerly Windows 11-based example. ETA PRIME has delivered on his earlier pledge - the first look/early impressions video was released only a few hours ago (at the time of writing). He reveals that his test platform ROG Ally is not running on Valve's Steam OS.

He has resorted to installing a gaming-focused Linux distro called Chimera OS - he notes that the similar HoloISO platform was not booting up on his handheld unit. On-board audio is reported to be non-functional - the Ally is connected to an external USB-C hub that outputs sound via the in-built 3.5 mm jack. Wi-Fi performance is reported to be inconsistent, ETA PRIME says that he has to reset the system in order to re-establish online connectivity. He was largely impressed with the Ally's gaming performance in a Linux-based environment, but prefers the Steam Deck's power efficiency. He will look into lowering the Ally's TDP, but there is no sure-fire way of making optimizations within the Chimera OS test build.

The Steam Deck is a hit with enthusiasts who require a gaming fix on the move, and Valve has observed its handheld getting revamped heavily by the modification community - but a new adaptation takes the pint-sized PC onto the real battlefield. The GamingOnLinux site yesterday picked up on emerging details from the Ukraine frontline - TDF Media group has shared photos and videos of an automated gun turret system dubbed "Saber" that can be operated remotely. The Steam Deck has somehow become the preferred control method - its on-screen UI, trackpads, analog sticks and button layout factor into the gun turret's operation. A reader has informed me that Valve's hardware is not officially available for sale in the region, so the military must be sourcing units from a grey/dark market source.

Sergey Mohov, lead gameplay designer at Remedy Entertainment, reposted some of TDF Media's photos on his Twitter account earlier this week, and added that "this automatic turret is the best use of Steam Deck I've seen so far." The Territorial Defense Force organization has described the turret (translated) thusly: "Saber is a Ukrainian automated remote-controlled gun turret designed for stationary installation on static objects or moving vehicles. The Saber system's co-ordination is done via a remote control, camera and monitor - which allows combat from up to 500 m from the rig, while preserving the operator's life. This combat platform can be installed in a stationary (capacity) at checkpoints, border and other zones - it is even able to defeat low-flying enemy drones. The platform is flexible enough to accommodate any light anti-infantry or anti-tank weapon weapon - a good example being a Kalashnikov machine gun."

AYANEO have recently announced the Air Plus handheld gaming console featuring the new Mendocino processor from AMD with an expected retail price of 289 USD. The Mendocino processor features the same Zen 2 and RDNA 2 cores found in the Steam Deck however the exact configuration and performance figures are currently unknown with rumors suggested that the processor will only include 2 Compute Units. The AYANEO Air Plus can run the Linux-based AYA Neo OS, Windows, or Steam OS and features a 6" 1080p display in addition to a M.2 2280 expansion slot. The console will retail for 289 USD undercutting the Steam Deck by 60 USD while a limited early run of units will be available for 200 USD later this year.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG GR6 ultra-compact desktop, a console-inspired 2.5-liter PC with supreme gaming performance. GR6 is powered by a 5th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics for Full HD gaming. It features 8GB of DDR3L memory (upgradable to 16GB), and hard disk or solid state drives (SSD). GR6 also has built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi and comes pre-installed with Windows 8.1. GR6 features a matte-black finish, Mayan-inspired detailing, and a pulsing ROG logo. It is ideal for gaming in the living room or bedroom, and is portable enough to take to LAN parties.

There are very few instances where one product category can leap frog over to another and make a profound impact. Today, iBUYPOWER, makes one such leap. Introducing the iBUYPOWER SBX Entertainment System, an ultra-simplified system designed to do one thing: entertain. Melding together the simplicity of a traditional game console, but harnessing power usually available to only high-end desktop PCs, iBUYPOWER is able to usher in both performance and content unheard of in the living room space.

Designed in Los Angeles, iBUYPOWER labored to create a highly tuned and optimized system that would deliver a sustainable 60 frames-per second gaming experience at true high-definition resolutions. Powered by a high-performance AMD multi-core processor paired with the latest Radeon HD graphics technology from AMD, customers will be able to jump a full generation ahead of the latest game consoles.

COUGAR will be launching a new line of products tailored to the eSports gaming peripherals market at the COMPUTEX 2014 trade show in Taiwan at the Nangang Exhibition Hall, Booth #J0624, June 3rd through the 7th. In addition to this, there will be new power supply and case products announced as well. 2014 was a year of innovation at COUGAR. At Computex, with the launch of many new products, COUGAR will be showing products that reflect an accumulation of more technological experience, which has grown more sophisticated and more mature in quality. COUGAR is launching series of gaming eSports products and aims to be one of the top brands of eSports gaming product going forward.

For the next generation of upcoming power supplies, COUGAR will be launching a digital and budget bronze power supply. The power supply will no longer just be a cold metal box. The digital features of the PSU will allow for the interaction between users and the product. Gamers will instantly be able to monitor power data in real time such as efficiency, output status of consumption, voltage and electric current as well as the temperature of each PC component.

Linux fans could soon cross the biggest checkbox on their lists, which reads "can it run Crysis?" Game developer Crytek is poised to reveal a variant of CryEngine 3 with native support for Linux, at GDC 2014, slated for next week. The move should pave the way for Linux (catalyzed by Steam OS) ports of games such as Crysis 3 and Nexuiz. It remains to be seen how its publisher EA handles the development.

While Nexuiz developer IllFonic won't have problems distributing their game over Steam, perhaps even with SteamPlay support, Crytek has to deal with EA. Crysis 3 is distributed over EA's Origin platform, and the publisher has no concrete plans for an Origin client for Linux. So what's the big hurry in porting CryEngine 3 to Linux? Perhaps Crytek's other, non-gaming clients hold the answer. CryEngine 3 powers "serious games," military combat simulators, civil aviation simulators, etc. Of these, the military would want to run simulators on open-source operating systems (so it could scrutinize the code). It could hence help Crytek to have a Linux version of CryEngine 3.

ZOTAC International, a global innovator and manufacturer of graphics cards, mainboards and mini-PCs, today previews the upcoming ZBOX Steam Machine mini-PC with Steam OS at The Consumer Electronics Show 2014 in Las Vegas, Nev. The ZOTAC ZBOX Steam Machine is engineered from the ground up for breathtaking gaming performance in a compact mini-PC form factor that's a fraction the size of traditional mini-ITX based gaming systems.

"ZOTAC is pleased to work with Valve Software to create the ZBOX Steam Machine. Valve's SteamOS is a game-changer to the PC gaming market that enables us to deliver a game console experience that's superior to the latest next-generation console," said Carsten Berger, senior director, ZOTAC International. "Gamers can expect the latest Intel Core processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics processor in the upcoming ZOTAC ZBOX Steam Machine for stunning visuals and world-class features."

There are very few instances where one product category can leap frog over to another and make a profound impact. Today, iBUYPOWER, together with Valve, is making one such leap. Introducing the iBUYPOWER SBX Steam machine, an ultra-simplified system designed to do one thing: entertain. Melding together the simplicity of a traditional game console, but harnessing power usually available to only high-end desktop PCs, iBUYPOWER is able to usher in both performance and content unheard of in the living room space.

Designed in Los Angeles, iBUYPOWER labored to create a highly tuned and optimized system that would deliver a sustainable 60 frames-per second gaming experience at true high-definition resolutions. Powered by multi-core processors in both AMD and Intel flavors and paired with the latest in graphics technology from AMD, customers will be able to jump a full generation ahead of the latest game consoles.

MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system builder offering custom desktops, notebooks, and workstations is announcing their Steambox solution with the new SPARK as the perfect performance small form factor PC solution for gamers and PC enthusiasts alike. It boasts top tier hardware such as AMD A8 and AMD Radeon R9 graphics with plenty of storage in its thin and streamline design.

Size Matters
MAINGEAR's SPARK steambox PC offers a small and powerful small form factor that weighs less than one pound and is smaller than a DVD case. With a small footprint of just 4.5" width x 4.23" Depth and 2.34" in Height, the SPARK is the smallest gaming PC solution MAINGEAR has ever offered. With this tiny size, this PC is extremely versatile and can easily be placed in a multimedia environment such as a living room without taking a large amount of space or brought to a LAN party for easy travel and setup.

Digital Storm today unveiled Bolt II, a small form factor (SFF) and hybrid Steam Machine gaming PC at CES 2014. Bolt II, the first liquid cooled Steam Machine and will feature with both Steam OS and Windows allowing gamers to play any PC game from the comfort of their couch.

Digital Storm's second generation SFF system features a refined look, increased accessibility and advanced thermal design. With double the cooling power of its closest competitor, Bolt II differentiates itself from other SFF and Steam Machine systems by focusing on delivering the best graphics possible and refusing to compromise on performance.

CyberPower Inc., a global manufacturer of custom gaming PCs, promises your living room will never be the same in 2014 when it debuts its stylish Steam Machine series at CES.

Powered by Valve Corporation's Steam OS, the CYBERPOWERPC Steam Machine will feature full desktop PC performance in an advance stylish form. The revolutionary Steam OS will give you full control over your Steam game library straight from your living room. All Steam Machines will run the latest version of Steam OS, an open source Linux-based operating system developed specifically for gaming and other entertainment. The new systems will be capable of running hundreds of games currently in the Steam catalog, as well as upcoming titles from other developers.

Two weeks after iBuyPower announced that it is building a Steam Machine another custom PC maker has revealed plans to release a gaming solution running Valve's Steam OS. Fremont-based Digital Storm is the latest Steam OS recruit and its plan is to unveil a Steam Machine next month at CES 2014.

Digital Storm's first Steam Machine is supposed to start at $1,469 (iBuyPower's offering has a base price tag of $499) and it will feature a liquid cooled Intel processor, an NVIDIA graphics card (up to a GeForce GTX Titan), and up to a 700 W power supply. As an option, Digital Storm will turn the Steam Machine into a dual-boot solution, loaded both with Steam OS and Microsoft Windows. More info coming at CES.

Next year PC maker iBuyPower is planning to embrace Valve's Steam OS and release its own Steam Machine. Seen below in prototype form, iBuyPower's upcoming Steam OS-running 'console' looks a bit like a PlayStation 4, design-wise, and packs an AMD processor (likely an APU) and AMD Radeon R9 270 graphics card (in contrast, Valve's own Steam Box prototypes have Intel CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs), and a 500 GB hard drive.

The iBuyPower Steam Machine also has a glossy white chassis with a customizable light bar, and is set to cost $499 (as much as an Xbox One). The Steam Controller wasn't mentioned but it's likely at least one will be bundled.

People looking forward to the big "Steambox" announcement were met by an anticlimax. Valve announced its own operating system for PC gamers, which turns any PC into a "Steambox." Simply named Steam OS, the operating system is a highly modified Debian Linux stripped to bare, with all its non-essentials tossed out, and proprietary multimedia CODECs added, along with fonts, runtime environments, and in-built drivers for popular GPU, sound card, and gaming-peripheral brands. In essence, there's everything in the operating system for PC gamers, and then some.

Steam diversified from distributing PC games to non-gaming PC software, and Valve plans to take that further by doing groundwork for its very own living room content-delivery platform to compete with the likes of Xbox One. Since Steam OS can be deployed onto x86-based PCs as tiny as an Intel NUC, it stands more than a half chance. Its baby-steps are taken with In-home Streaming, a feature that lets you stream content off a PC or Mac in your house. You can share games in your account with others in your family, and close friends, using the recently-announced Family Sharing feature. You get content-blocking features and restricted-accounts. You also get media-player software that lets you organize and play back music and videos in most open- and proprietary formats. You should be able to install popular web-browsers like Google Chrome. Steam OS is competitively priced against Windows 8.1 and OS X 10.9, at $0. Did we tell you that some of its icons look like companion cubes? Just kidding.