Valve has announced the hardware platform, dubbed Steam Machines, for its upcoming SteamOS Linux-based gaming operating system. The company is running a promotion to ship 300 prototypes of its own Steam Machine design to users, while multiple third-party manufacturers have lined up to sell their own Steam Machines in 2014.
If you’re interested in participating in the beta test, you’ll need to complete an “Eligibility Quest” on Steam. The requirements are:
1. Join the Steam Universe community group
2. Agree to the Steam Hardware Beta Terms and Conditions
3. Make 10 Steam friends (if you haven’t already)
4. Create a public Steam Community profile (if you haven’t already)
5. Play a game using a gamepad in Big Picture mode
You have until October 25th to complete the requirements, which can be done in any order. Finishing the quest will grant you a badge and put you in the running for the hardware test.
Valve says the box it is building is designed to provide users with maximum control over their hardware. SteamOS devices from third-party manufacturers will prioritize other factors, including size, price and quietness. Details about the SteamOS prototype, such as size and specs, are still lacking, but Valve promised to reveal them soon.
The SteamOS hardware test is the second in a set of three announcements that Valve has planned for this week. The company announced SteamOS on Monday, outing the much-anticipated gaming platform as a free Linux-based operating system designed for TVs. The final Steam announcement will arrive on Friday.
Image credit: Valve
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