Valve, the company behind the popular Steam gaming platform, appears to be making a bold move to challenge the dominance of Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox in the living room gaming market. According to recent reports, Valve is preparing a range of SteamOS hardware, including a wireless VR headset codenamed Deckard, a pair of trackable wands codenamed Roy, a Steam Controller 2 gamepad codenamed Ibex, and a living room console codenamed Fremont.

The report suggests that Valve is planning to open up its SteamOS operating system to other manufacturers, allowing them to create "Powered by SteamOS" devices that can tap into the vast library of Windows games on Steam. This move could potentially disrupt the gaming industry, as it would enable PC manufacturers to create handheld gaming devices that can seamlessly play Windows games without relying on Microsoft or subjecting users to the limitations of Windows.

The Steam Deck, released earlier this year, has already demonstrated the potential of Valve's SteamOS operating system to provide a seamless gaming experience on a portable device. With the Steam Deck, Valve has shown that it can deliver a massive library of games on a handheld device, which could be a major weakness for Sony, Microsoft, and Meta. These companies have struggled to provide a similar experience on their own handheld devices, and Valve's move could further erode their market share.

Valve's plan to open up SteamOS to other manufacturers could also lead to the creation of a new ecosystem of SteamOS hardware, including VR headsets, gamepads, and living room consoles. This would allow PC manufacturers to create devices that can play a vast library of Windows games, without relying on Microsoft or subjecting users to the limitations of Windows. The report suggests that Valve is already testing many Steam games, including VR games, on Arm chips, which could potentially offer better battery life and lower weight for portable devices.

Valve's move is not without risk, however. The company has a history of ambitious projects that have not always panned out, and some industry executives have expressed concerns about whether Valve can truly support manufacturers in creating SteamOS devices. However, with the success of the Steam Deck and the growing popularity of Steam, Valve may have finally found a way to make its vision of a Steam-powered gaming ecosystem a reality.

It's worth noting that Valve has been working on its SteamOS operating system for over a decade, and the company has made significant progress in recent years. With the Steam Deck, Valve has demonstrated its ability to deliver a seamless gaming experience on a portable device, and the company's move to open up SteamOS to other manufacturers could be a major game-changer for the gaming industry.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Valve's ambitious plan unfolds. Will the company be able to successfully challenge the dominance of Sony, Microsoft, and Meta, or will its efforts fall short? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain - Valve's move is a bold one, and it could have major implications for the future of gaming.