Valve unveils details on the Source 2 engine, Steam Link, and Steam Machines, though no word on Half-Life 3.
Fresh Take:
Valve's latest graphics engine, Source 2, is going free for all developers as the first Steam Machines hit the market this November. This long-awaited engine, which hasn't seen the light since the original Source powered Half-Life 2 back in 2004, could potentially breath new life into some of your favorite games.
Despite Valve's silence on new games using the Source 2 engine, rumors of Left 4 Dead 3 and an upgrade for Dota 2 have been circulating for quite a while. Valve's Jay Stelly hinted at the engine's versatility, stating, "Source 2 is designed for both professional developers and gamers themselves to participate in the creation and development of their favorite games."
At the ongoing GDC event in San Francisco, Valve also unveiled the Steam Link, a device allowing you to stream games from any PC at 1080p and 60Hz. It's similar to Sony's PlayStationTV. The Steam Link will be available this November for $49.99, accompanied by the Steam Controller at the same price.
Steam Machines, Valve's contenders in the PC hardware market, are set to release this November, with Alienware and Falcon Northwest leading the charge. However, there's currently no word on European release dates or prices.
Lastly, Valve announced their Lighthouse technology, a 'room scale tracking system' intended to provide precise tracking for VR devices like the Vive VR headset. Sony's Project Morpheus achieves a similar feat using tracking LEDs. Valve's press release also mentioned a 'VR input device', but no visuals have been shared at GDC just yet.
Stay tuned for more updates on Valve's next moves in the gaming world! Remember to follow us on Twitter and leave your thoughts below.
- The long-awaited graphics engine, Source 2, which powered Half-Life 2 back in 2004, is designed to allow both professional developers and gamers to participate in the creation and development of their favorite games, misspoke Jay Stelly at the GDC event.
- Valve's Lighthouse technology, a room scale tracking system, aims to provide precise tracking for VR devices like the Vive VR headset, especially while competing with Sony's Project Morpheus that achieves a similar feat using tracking LEDs.
- Though there's no word on European release dates or prices for Steam Machines, Alienware and Falcon Northwest are leading the charge in Valve's PC hardware market entry this November.
- In the realm of technology, data-and-cloud-computing and gadgets like the Steam Link allowing 1080p streaming at 60Hz, and the upcoming VR input device, are poised to reshape the gaming landscape, as we eagerly await more updates from Valve.
