It is not as much of a failure as just a product released at the wrong time. Most of Steam Deck is basically what lessons Valve has learned with that experiment - Steam Input, Proton, Steam Link (?).

Now that the ecosystem is more mature, there is again some interest towards it. A lot of tech reivew youtubers are now making content on how to get Steam OS to run on X device (X = GPD Win, low profile gaming PC etc..). Honestly, It is good enough to meet most of my "non technical" friends' requirements for their "Home Theater" PC.

Emulate Windows that is the lesson.

They are using Linux to avoid paying the licences.

> They are using Linux to avoid paying the licences.

Windows already doesn't charge any license fees for screens less than 9" no?

It may have started out that way but I think with projects like DXVK, Gamescope etc.. it is also about controlling the whole software stack to provide a console like experience. Also allows them to do things without worrying about drivers from AMD or some random Windows update breaking their customization.

Another interesting thing maybe Valve's idea of reducing the friction. People used to purchase their games on steam even when pirated copies were easily available.

Now that there are more competitors to Steam (Windows Store, Epic, Uplay, Orign, Gog, etc...), Valve is creating their own vertical to make it easier for people to ignore those places when buying games.

Eg. I had the option of purchasing a DRM free copy of an old game on Gog vs. the same game on Steam Deck. On desktop, I'd have definitely gone with Gog. but on the deck, I actually went with Steam that day. Still baffles me.

On top of the sibling commenter's point (that timing is everything - a 2015 failure doesn't guarantee a 2023 failure), Steam Machine wasn't the same as what the gp is suggesting.

Steam Machine was a PC-like piece of hardware aimed at competing in the console market. The gp is suggesting a gamer-oriented piece of software aimed at competing in the consumer OS market. The latter is definitely not something Steam Machines tried and/or failed at.

Steam Machines had the option of running early versions of SteamOS, which Valve sorta pushed and most manufacturers ignored. SteamOS was pretty rough back then.