Not even speculation, just shitposting.
Valve has done a ton of work on expanding their level of access in the gaming sphere, from Proton to the new Fex, but they are a PC gaming company, period.
SteamDeck doesn’t run Android, it runs full Linux.
Other Linux phone variants are in such infancy I doubt Valve would want to take on such a project in it’s current state. Maybe 10 years down the line, if their hardware gambits pay off.
Even then, mobile devices is a whole different ball game of working with cellular service vendors to get support for you device. Currently Valve doesn’t have to work with any vendors other than traditional PC and game peripheral parts providers, they don’t have to cut deals with xFinity or other ISPs to get their products to connect to them. They are not having to make deals with AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Getting into the phone sphere is such a huge undertaking, and while it’s a fun thought, it’s such a far-off and unlikely move for Valve.
etchinghillside@reddthat.com 4 months ago
We’re in trouble if people are speculating on things posted in a shitpost section.
bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 4 months ago
The thing is that it’s not totally baseless. The Steam Frame is already halfway there. Most of its components are repurposed phone parts. They’re only missing a 5g modem. And a “Small Screen” interface for Steam.
Give them five to ten years and they might actually pull it off.
etchinghillside@reddthat.com 4 months ago
…. do they really want to go into that market?
Seems mobile gaming is more prominent in Asian countries and they kind of have their own phones.
bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 4 months ago
Yeah, that remains to be seen. But they already have one mobile product and with the Frame that will soon be one and a half. And they definitely know the shady business practices that dominate mobile gaming, though I hope they manage to get away from that.