Minimal Hype
Valve have never been excessive in hyping their own products, with most of the anticipation being bred by loyal groups of fans (and believe me, there are a lot of them). This is honestly quite refreshing in comparison to the sensationalist speeches delivered by Sony and Microsoft at their console reveals, but this kind of heavy hype-mongering is what gets consoles into living rooms. Without this blunt marketing strategy, it’s unlikely the Steam Box will get enough hype to compete directly with the Xbox One, PS4 and Wii U.
Cultural Perceptions of Linux
Gabe Newell has said he is interested in supporting more Steam games through Linux on account of Microsoft’s closed policies with the Windows 8 operating system. That the Steam Box would compete with a Microsoft product also makes it unlikely that MS would license Windows software out to the Steam Box. Valve’s console will run on Linux accordingly and, whilst those with experience know the merits of the system, there is a strong cultural perception that Linux is an obtuse operating system ill fit for the average consumer. This is, of course, a misconception, but it is one that may turn people off the idea of the Steam Box without giving it a fair shot.
Multiple Hardware Configurations
Gabe Newell has discussed multiple hardware configurations for the Steam Box, each one different enough to cause a certain degree of confusion amongst buyers. Describing good, better and best tiers, the price for these could range from anywhere between $200 for a system that functions as little more than a box to stream TV and movies and a hefty game smashing monster worth over $1000. This kind of hardware variation may confuse and alienate potential buyers.
Unofficial Competitors
The recent unveiling of Xi3’s Piston saw everyone hailing it as the first official Steam Box. That was, until Valve distanced themselves from the product and we realised it actually wasn’t an official product at all. With this in mind, anyone could manufacture a decent gaming PC with Linux and Steam pre-installed and call it a Steam Box. This kind of competition could cause problems for Valve’s official product.
