Summary
Overview
A nearly 5-hour WAN Show episode covering major tech announcements including Valve's Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset, and Steam Controller, plus a historic visit from Linus Torvalds to the LTT studio. The hosts also discuss Microsoft's Windows evolution, Ubisoft's financial troubles, memory price increases, AI adoption, and various product launches from LTT Store.
Valve's Major Hardware Announcements
Valve unveiled three major hardware products: the Steam Frame VR headset, Steam Machine console, and new Steam Controller. The Steam Frame is a standalone VR headset with innovative foveated streaming technology that impressed Linus with its wireless PC VR capabilities. The Steam Machine is a mini PC running SteamOS with performance roughly six times that of the Steam Deck. Both products represent Valve's commitment to building a hardware ecosystem, though pricing concerns and naming confusion around the Steam Controller were noted.
- Steam Frame features foveated streaming technology that dynamically adjusts bit rate based on eye tracking, making wireless VR indistinguishable from wired
- Steam Machine powered by AMD 6-core Zen 4 CPU and custom GPU, targeting 4K gaming with FSR upscaling
- New Steam Controller features TMR analog sticks, haptic trackpads, and supports up to 16 controllers on one machine
- Valve chose not to do custom silicon for Steam Machine, suggesting they may not expect it to be high volume or want to avoid interfering with the ecosystem
- Steam Frame uses AA batteries in controllers for quick swapping rather than integrated rechargeable batteries
" This was the hardware launch of, I mean, what's the last? I feel like this was our Apple Vision Pro... This is our, whoa, interesting. "
" I couldn't move my eyes fast enough... The time it takes for my eyes to move to a new spot and refocus is slower than the time it takes for them to track my pupils and reallocate their streaming bit rate budget "
LTT Store Product Launches and Partnerships
LTT Store announced major Black Friday promotions including buy more, save more deals up to 25% off apparel, and a holiday loot drop for purchases over $100. New products include an RGB sweater and RGB beanies in multiple sizes. The team also revealed they've begun sponsoring former employees' content creation efforts, with Alex Blonsky being the first announced partnership, signaling a new direction for supporting alumni.
- Buy more, save more promotion offers up to 25% off when stacking apparel items
- New RGB sweater is 100% cotton knit with multi-napped yarn flecks in navy
- RGB beanies available in black and gray in both regular and 'Linus lengths' for different head depths
- LTT sponsored Alex Blonsky's content, marking first public partnership with former employee
- Linus describes potential legacy as becoming a 'creator university' where people gain skills and move on successfully
" If that happens, but we get good value out of them while they're here... If they fly free? Why shouldn't we be happy about that? "
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