Anyone else think SteamOS will primarily compete with consoles, not Windows?

From what I can tell, nearly everyone seems to be in the mindset of SteamOS vs Windows. You can also see it in the media via articles with headlines like this: "Microsoft should be terrified of SteamOS".

Yet, as a former console-only gamer, the more obvious thing to me is that SteamOS will potentially kill the traditional set-top box console (PS5, Xbox).

For some more context, I'm a console gamer who went straight from PS5 + Switch to SteamOS gaming.

I currently a Steam Machine (5600x + 6700XT, Bazzite) hooked up to my living room TV, and it has completely replaced my PS5. I also own two PC handhelds, one loaded with official SteamOS, the other with Bazzite.

What I find so magical about the entire experience is that it's better than traditional consoles in virtually every way I can think of:

  • not locked down, so I can install old legacy games, GOG games, emulators, web browsers, basically whatever I want.
  • with Steam Cloud Saves, I can easily switch between my living room and SteamOS handheld.
    • It's magical to be able to play a big AAA game at Ultra 1440p on the TV, then seamlessly swap to my handheld for on-the-go
  • Steam has a far larger library of both legacy and new game titles than current gen consoles.
  • Steam is where basically all indie games are born, often times well before they get to consoles.
  • Steam Family Share is amazing for sharing games with family members
  • my Steam machine is upgradable, repairable, and completely open for me as a user since it's "just a PC". Freedom in terms of hardware.
  • I don't need to worry about less tech-literate friends or family not knowing how to use the device, SteamOS is naturally intuitive like a console
  • and more

While SteamOS vs Windows has pros and cons for each, in my opinion SteamOS vs consoles is very lopsided in terms of pros and cons, heavily in favor of SteamOS.

The only things I can think of in favor of traditional consoles are:

  • price for hardware, which would require Valve to step in with a low-margin device
  • anticheat games
  • exclusive games from the console maker

In my opinion, it should be console makers that "should be terrified of SteamOS". If Valve releases a decently priced set top box, I think it's very much possible for Valve to have a successful attempt at upending the traditional console market.

Or at least, it's basically completely killed traditional consoles for me for the indefinite future. And I suspect it might do the same for lots of other console gamers.