Valve Says No Steam Machines Until 2015
Valve Software updated the Steam Universe discussion group on Tuesday with news that Steam Machines will hit the market in 2015, not 2014 as originally reported. The delay stems from the controller, which Valve's Eric Hope says has received a "ton" of feedback.
"We're now using wireless prototype controllers to conduct live playtests, with everyone from industry professionals to die-hard gamers to casual gamers," reads the update. "It's generating a ton of useful feedback, and it means we'll be able to make the controller a lot better. Of course, it's also keeping us pretty busy making all those improvements. Realistically, we're now looking at a release window of 2015, not 2014."
"Obviously we're just as eager as you are to get a Steam Machine in your hands," the update continues. "But our number one priority is making sure that when you do, you'll be getting the best gaming experience possible. We hope you'll be patient with us while we get there. Until then, we'll continue to post updates as we have more stories to share."
Hope doesn't mention the other 13 companies that are producing Steam Machines. As stated in previous reports, Steam Machines cannot ship until Valve gives the green light, as the controller is part of the Steam Machine requirement. What's possible is that the hardware partners will release their solutions anyway without the controller and Steam Machine stamp of approval.
Steam Machines will come in all shapes and sizes, but the "preferred" form factor seems to be the console-like design as seen with iBuyPower's prototype. This model sports an AMD CPU, a discrete GPU, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and a 500 GB hard drive. Prices for Steam Machines will begin at $499 and soar up to $5,999.

I tend to agree with you. I'd like to see them release the system without their controller and let the sellers bundle whichever controller they want with it. Then when their controller is ready, they can release it for some good PR.
Doesn't matter if they have to wait a year or two after PS4/XB1 launch, specially if Steam Boxes can outperform consoles, cause console generations tend to last long.
As someone who actually runs an AMD based Linux PC I can honestly say the drivers are trash.
One set of drivers does 3d half decent, one set does video half decent and one set does 2d pretty good. Not one set of AMD drivers, be it proprietary, experimental or open source manage to do 2d, 3d and video acceleration worth a damn all together.
I'm seriously considering dumping my AMD laptop for Intel just because AMD driver support is so damn piss poor and Nvidia can be just as finicky depending on the card's architecture.
AMD and Nvidia a BOTH need to put out some good drivers before we can consider a Linux based OS as a gaming alternative.
I'm not a hater, I love Ubuntu on my laptop. I've just come to realize AMD's Linux support is currently terrible.
the problem is that current controllers and new consoles aren't good enough.
These consoles can't even run games at full 1080, let alone 60fps. While this might not be a problem now, it will become one when we start to move to 4k content. A game like Watch Dogs is going to look like crap being upscaled from 792p to 4k, and on top of that it's going to be running at 30fps. On top of that, current controllers are designed for platformers and shooters. What about strategy games? Why can't we play those on a controller too? I want to play Civilization on my TV with a controller. I think that'd be awesome. Best part is, they've already shown it can be done seemlessly with the steam controller.
If you don't want to give the steam controller a chance, then don't. No one is going to force you too, but if they get this controller design right, then expect Microsoft and Sony to follow, just like when Microsoft redesigned their original xbox controller, and then with the xbox 360 they went with something that was closer to Sony's design.
the problem is that current controllers and new consoles aren't good enough.
These consoles can't even run games at full 1080, let alone 60fps. While this might not be a problem now, it will become one when we start to move to 4k content. A game like Watch Dogs is going to look like crap being upscaled from 792p to 4k, and on top of that it's going to be running at 30fps. On top of that, current controllers are designed for platformers and shooters. What about strategy games? Why can't we play those on a controller too? I want to play Civilization on my TV with a controller. I think that'd be awesome. Best part is, they've already shown it can be done seemlessly with the steam controller.
If you don't want to give the steam controller a chance, then don't. No one is going to force you too, but if they get this controller design right, then expect Microsoft and Sony to follow, just like when Microsoft redesigned their original xbox controller, and then with the xbox 360 they went with something that was closer to Sony's design.
I understand what you are saying but just looking at the controller as a person with no prior knowledge of any tests that have been done with the controller it looks wonky. Than again anything new normally has that design because it's different than what we are used to. You are right 4k is coming an the current consoles can't hold up to that standard even if you merged 5 of the same console together 4k would still laugh at them. Though at the same time a game is a game an I've never been one to need the best graphics. If it plays well an I have fun than it served it's purpose. Than again I haven't experienced 4k in person or a game played in a higher resolution than 1080p so my opinion is not worth a dime. I'd like to see what a difference 4k will bring to the table when speaking of games in general but as it sits right now the price of any monitor or tv capable of 4k resolution is out of budget for about 80% of the population. Hopefully prices will start to fall to a middle-class family budget before too long. Recently saw an Acer monitor 4k going for $650 but I'd never buy an Acer product as all their laptops I've ever seen are complete rubbish.
The N-64 controller looked like some half baked aborted concept from a mad scientist and it turned out to be one of the most ingenious and well designed controllers I've ever used to this day.
I'm actually looking forward to trying one and seeing if its as revolutionary as they say it is.