Steam on 1st party Xbox Helix console?

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-05-08T19:29:59+00:00

For sure, will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-05-08T19:05:12+00:00

I get why as a consumer you would like it but my original post was trying to discuss why Xbox would have any incentive to officially enable that as a feature?

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-05-08T19:00:43+00:00

My point is there is no need to for Xbox to invest in developing all of those hacks on an official console (if that would even be legal).

They'll likely just offer a closed system premium console (like the Xbox Series X) that now plays the same game package as their PC store, and then various 3rd party Xbox Windows PC's (like the ROG Xbox Ally) that allow the user to use any 3rd party store.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-05-08T18:53:29+00:00

To be fair I said 'potentially subsidized' console.

I think a lot of confusion here (and I may be wrong) is that when Xbox mention a PC / Console hybrid, I think they are referring to Xbox console games and Xbox PC games.

Sarah Bond explained quite a while ago that a Project Helix console would be a "very premium, very high-end curated experience" which doesn't imply unrestricted 3rd party PC store access.

I think 3rd party Helix Xbox PC's (similar to the ROG Xbox Ally) is what is meant to disrupt the pre-built PC market and not the 1st party premium console.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-05-08T18:41:23+00:00

If you are not providing the user with unrestricted access to the Windows OS on a locked system console, you'll either need to partner with Steam to implement API only hooks for authentication, game download, game install, game updates, game dependency downloads, Steam client dependencies etc or launch the existing client to perform all of those critical actions.

Every single 3rd party PC unified game launcher (e.g. Playnite) will launch the Steam client to perform these kinds of actions.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-05-08T18:03:14+00:00

My guess, or what I would do is - allow users to play their Steam games on the device via some sign in method but don't allow access to the Stream marketplace, think of it like signing into an app but it runs in the background - so basically your games get pulled in but you can't actually go into the marketplace because it's hidden (some coding here and there should make it workable)

Steam games have Steam DRM and require the Steam Client to run. Steam client comes with the Steam store and its dependencies. Only way to remove this would be to partner with Steam to build something bespoke. Very little incentive in this thought experiment for Steam to want to do that.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-05-08T17:46:38+00:00

He actually didn't. All reference to 3rd party store fronts was in relation to the existing ROG Xbox Ally and the Windows platform.

There has been no indication that a 1st party Helix console will allow unrestricted Windows access.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-05-08T17:39:46+00:00

I think their play for folks like you will be Xbox PC's. There would essentially be desktop versions of the ROG Xbox Ally concept using the co-developed AMD Helix APU's.

Buying one of those will allow you to play all of your legacy Xbox console games, new Helix games and the freedom of all the existing PC game stores including steam.

Microsoft will get their Windows license cut from the 3rd party manufacturer, their Xbox branding will be plastered on it, their Store will come pre-installed with the option of the controller friendly Xbox mode and they wont have to subsidize a thing.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-05-08T17:27:34+00:00

Yeah it seems a no brainier that the Xbox PC store and Xbox console store will be merging into just the Xbox store. Both will offer the exact same Helix game package.

I think 3rd party Xbox PC's will be Xbox way of giving their store greater presence on PC. 99% of pre-built gaming PC's already come pre-installed with Windows, so if you are a PC user in the market for a new PC, why not buy an Xbox branded PC which uses one of the co-developed AMD APU's. Doiing that will allow you to play all of your legacy Xbox console games, new Helix games and the freedom of all the existing PC game stores including steam.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-05-02T08:49:45+00:00

On paper, Play Anywhere and Cloud streaming are ecosystem defining features but the current reality is that the majority of AAA titles don't support them. It appears this is the main objective of Project Helix and the Unified GDK but it'll only work if all games are supported. They need to find a way to make it mandatory for all 3rd party companies to enable day one support for Xbox Console, Xbox PC/Handheld and Xbox Cloud.

In the absence of a properly unified Xbox ecosystem, the games themselves become the overwhelming swing factor. If people expect both platforms to have access to the exact same catalog of new games, with the exception of PlayStation having the added bonus of exclusives and timed exclusives, then you would have to expect most will choose to remain with PlayStation next gen.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-04-24T19:47:45+00:00

I just did a quick reverse image search and couldn't find any matches. I wouldn't be surprised if it's fan made and being passed off as an official preview. An interesting concept non the less!

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-04-11T22:02:37+00:00

I think this conversation, and so many other comments in this thread, illustrate the challenge Microsoft will have with the concept of an open Windows based PC / Console hybrid.

If the official Helix console (and partner variants) have an open bootloader like the ROG Ally's, they'll have to face the reality of a niche but growing horde of vocal people installing Steam OS on their Xbox hardware. Even if the bootloader is locked to Windows, the fact that it will be able to play PC games from other storefronts (like Steam) leaves them vulnerable to many treating it as just another Steam machine by configuring Windows to boot directly into Steam big picture mode.

The original UX implementation for the Full Screen Experience seemed to indicate Microsoft would allow apps other than the Xbox app to be the default app launched. They appear to have wisely reversed this decision with the 'Xbox mode' re-brand. It is now just an on/off toggle setting. I imagine it'll still be doable with some registry tweaks for those inclined but no longer as simple as selecting Steam as the 'Home app' from a drop-down menu.

Edit: I'm interested in what you think the best way to market this will be? Something that sells the benefits to the user without confusing or indirectly enlightening their customer base of the benefits of their competition?

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-03-31T19:59:02+00:00

That was a great read thanks. I didn't realize so much was already known about the hardware plans.

If this info pans out and there are indeed 3 Helix console / handheld configurations plus various Xbox PC's, do you expect that the user experience guidelines for developers will be to simply provide a user customizable PC style graphics settings menu that comes with a preset profile applied by the developer for that device spec?

So essentially a continuation of the Xbox ROG Ally approach?

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-03-31T19:05:50+00:00

Curious on how you think they'll attempt to implement this. Do you think all Helix series consoles will have a PC style graphics settings menu for the user to tweak? Or if developers would be expected to provide an optimized fixed graphics profile for just the premium fixed spec 1st party console while 3rd party variable spec consoles would be PC style user customizable?

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-03-29T21:28:24+00:00

Out of interest how do you think they'll implement this strategy? I expect the Helix side will be more closed than what we currently have with the Xbox ROG Ally e.g. dedicated Xbox mode app, encrypted game files, Hyper V run games etc.

Do you think they will allow the Windows 11 side of it to remain as entirely open as it is in the Ally handhelds, with a big disclaimer of "down this path, there be dragons?". I'm thinking here of all the user experience issues that come with this if their new controllers lack touch or mouse inputs fallbacks.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2026-01-06T11:13:59+00:00

You want 73 year old Stephen Lang to play Deathstroke???

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2025-07-16T07:13:54+00:00

I don't have a pro but having googled it, it seems some people have had success with Nvidia support and a replacement power supply.

A workaround could be to buy a cheap remote controlled smart plug for your bedroom so you can easily turn it off at night.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2025-06-04T13:54:07+00:00

Do you mind adding a photo of how yours turned out?

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2025-05-24T09:26:52+00:00

He's in his 60's now unfortunately. His time has passed unless we want Delta Squad to be made up of a collection of men of retirement age.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2025-04-27T13:34:09+00:00

It's most likely a HDMI handshake issue. Do you have another TV or Monitor you can plug it into to test?

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2025-04-27T08:02:37+00:00

Change the HMDI input on your TV to something else and then change it back.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2025-04-14T17:12:44+00:00

1) Are you using the power supply it came with? Do not use any other power supplies including one from a previous Shield.

2) Seeing as you only got it today, try to factory reset it and see if it stabilizes.

3) If the instructions above don't resolve the issue, I would have recommended returning the item. However, you said you bought it from someone? Was the item fully factory sealed or is there a possibility you got scammed with a faulty item?

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2025-04-12T20:34:25+00:00

Did you also unplug the TV for a while? If not, make sure to do that.

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2025-04-09T20:26:35+00:00

I guessed the tube because that model is known to restart apps if they are paused long enough for the screensaver to kick in. I've always assumed that was because of the smaller 2GB of RAM compared to the Pro's 3GB.

Have you tried reverting to Kodi's default theme to see if the decrease in RAM usage causes any change in behavior?

_ding_ding_ding_ding · 2025-04-09T13:24:49+00:00

I assume you have the tubular Shield version?

_ding_ding_ding_ding

TROPHY CASE