The Xi3 boss says they ”received an investment” from Valve and was ”asked to build a product specifically for Valve,” which is how the Xi3 Piston came to be known as the ‘unofficial Steam Box’.
Sullivan suggests that Valve may fan the flames of interest in Xi3 later. At CES, he was asked by ”Gabe Newell personally” that the Xi3 ”not disclose” additional info about the deal.
”Valve began some exploratory work with Xi3 last year,” said Valve’s Doug Lombardi, ”but currently has no involvement in any product of theirs.” This has led to quite a bit of confusion over what’s happening with Valve’s support of ‘third-party Steam Boxes’. The Xi3 Piston isn’t limited to just running Steam and Big Picture.
Xi3 Corporation founder, president and CEO Jason A. Sullivan issued the following statement:
”We reaffirm the fact that we received an investment from Valve Corporation (as we previously disclosed during the 2013 International CES trade show), and we did so with Valve’s written permission.”
“Second, we were asked to build a product specifically for Valve, and both companies showcased this product - the Piston Console - in their respective booths at CES 2013.”
“Then, during a meeting with Valve at CES, Gabe Newell personally asked me that we not disclose additional information about our relationship with Valve. We have honored that request and will continue to do so. That said, there are other items we need to cover.”
“For example, the assumption of many in the media has been that Piston is the ‘official’ Steam Box. We’ve never said that and neither has Valve. That hasn’t changed. But just because Valve may not ‘currently’ have any ‘involvement with any product of (ours)’ doesn’t mean that such involvement won’t exist in the future.”
“It’s also important to note that the Piston Console will allow gamers to access Steam regardless of what our relationship is or isn’t with Valve. Additionally, Piston will also support a raft of other internet-based gaming and entertainment platforms, which is more than what Valve apparently has planned for its official Steam Box. In this way, the Piston Console could be perceived as something more than just a Steam Box, which makes sense because at its core the Piston Console is a Modular Computer that can run any operating system or application designed to run on an x86-based 64-bit computer.”
“To be clear, the Piston Console will ship initially with a Windows operating system specifically because that’s where the vast bulk of game software and computer gamers are today. That said, the Piston Console can also run Linux (and other operating systems), which means it can support the Linux-version of Steam.”
“Contrary to Valve’s vision, Xi3 believes that the way to take this to market today is to do so with a Windows OS at the core, coupled with the ability to not just get to one platform/store for games, but to get access to all game stores/platforms. Studios should have the option to go through Steam if they choose or to go direct to the end-user if they so choose. That will be the difference between Piston and other Steam Boxes. You’ll be able to access Steam if you choose, but you’ll also be able to access other platforms as well-all through the Piston Console.”
“We have opened Piston Console pre-orders and have been amazed at the interest and amount of pre-orders we have received thus far. This just reaffirms to us our decision to open pre-orders, because we are seriously concerned we will not be able to meet the demand for Piston Consoles for the 2013 Holiday Season.”
“In closing, what Valve does or doesn’t do with its Steam Box will be up to them. So Gabe, it’s up to you. The ball is in your court.”
It seems Valve don’t want to be seen endorsing what will be a rival’s product too closely as their own Steam Box is expected to enter into prototyping within the next few months while Xi3 Piston is due this holiday.
