The second of Valve’s big three announcements for this week has turned up to be a confusing one. It appears that they aren’t actually producing their own console, but instead working with manufacturers to bring a variety of different machines to the market. Who these manufacturers are, and what these new consoles will do is still up in the air. All we know is that they will run SteamOS and… we’ll that’s about it.
More importantly, Valve is opening applications to participate in a closed Beta programme to test a series of prototype SteamOS machines. Candidates will have to complete the Eligibility Quest in order to qualify for the selection process. Those who succeed will receive a console free of charge. There are only 300 slots open, and the quest must be completed before 25 October 2013.
Things are getting more interesting as Valve appears bent on completely changing how the console market works, while dragging PC gamers out of their lairs and into the living room.
[Source: Steam]
