Valve has unveiled its first look at its new gaming machines, including the Steamframe, a virtual reality headset that can handle VR and non-VR games. Apparently, Steam Frame is also being used as a way to bring Android games directly to Steam users.
According to The Verge, Valve will help and encourage developers to bring Android apps to Steam. As part of the initiative, Valve will release a Steam Frame Developer Kit for developers who already use Android APKs for apps and VR headsets on Android phones.
“From the user’s point of view, our preference is that they don’t even have to think about it,” explains Valve engineer Jeremy Sellen. “They just have their titles on Steam, they download them and remove the game … They’re really VR developers who want to publish their VR content, and they’re offering mobile VR titles where they already know how to make those APKs. They’re now free to bring them to Steam, and they’ll just work on that device.”
This smooth transition from Android to Steam is possible because Steam uses the Arm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, which can run apps directly. This will allow Android games and VR apps to be easily accessed on the Steam framework.
In addition to the Steam Frame, Valve announced a Steam Machine that can bring PC games into a console-like room, as well as a new Steam controller. Valve has yet to reveal pricing for any of its new Steam hardware, but hardware engineer Yazan Aldehiyat told IGN that the Steam Machine will likely be priced to be a cheaper alternative to consoles.
“If you’re trying to build a PC that has similar features and similar performance, I think the Steam Machine is going to be a really competitive price for that and provide really good value.”
