The Vergecast Valve made Microsoft's dream console
213 snips
Nov 14, 2025 
Joanna Stern, a senior columnist at The Wall Street Journal known for her insights on consumer tech and AI, joins the hosts to discuss the resurgence of Valve in the gaming console arena. They dive into Joanna's testing of the Neo humanoid robot, evaluating its kitchen capabilities and the current limits of robotics. The conversation also touches on the changing landscape of smart home technology and the challenges of AI, provoking thoughts on whether its future will mirror the transformative nature of the App Store.
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Steam Machine As Console-Grade PC
- Valve's Steam Machine is a compact, console-like PC that runs SteamOS and can play Windows games via translation layers.
- Its specs sit around PS5 Pro territory and aim to deliver console convenience with PC performance under a TV.
Linux Enables A Leaner Gaming Stack
- Valve leaned into Linux and custom SteamOS to strip away Windows bloat for gaming-focused devices.
- That approach lets Valve optimize performance and user experience in ways Microsoft hasn't with Windows-based consoles.
Controller Customization Meets Community Profiles
- The new Steam controller mixes a familiar gamepad feel with large touchpads, gyro aiming, and cloud-shared community profiles.
- Those profiles let users play non-controller PC games on a gamepad with recommended mappings that download automatically.
