When you have deep roots in console development, stepping into the world of PC hardware can bring some unexpected critiques. Shuhei Yoshida, who once led SIE Worldwide Studios and oversaw PlayStation Indies, is now lending his sharp analytical skills to industry commentary on X. Recently, he took a few hours with the Steam Machine, and his verdict wasn’t overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
Yoshida’s initial take on performance was decidedly lukewarm. He noted that the 3D performance delivered by the system was simply “meh,” suggesting a stark contrast between expectation and reality. When asked about display settings, he jokingly wondered if he was reverting to PS4 days, recommending defaulting to 1080p rather than pushing maximum fidelity.
The experience wasn’t just limited to graphics. Yoshida found that the boot-up process proved to be a time-consuming affair, with games taking an unusually long time to load. While he acknowledged the user interface was straightforward and easy to navigate, these performance hiccups created some friction.
When comparing the Steam Machine’s capabilities to competitors, Yoshida pointed out that its RDNA 3 graphics hardware struggles particularly with ray tracing. In the end, when factoring in the price tag, the system didn’t offer a compelling package; he noted it performed significantly worse than even similarly priced mini PCs, such as the Atomman G1 Pro.
The financial aspect was another sticking point. Yoshida admitted that the machine’s price felt “unfriendly,” making it difficult to recommend to the general public unless the interest was purely for research purposes.
Beyond raw power, Yoshida also offered detailed feedback on peripherals. While he appreciated the concept of touchpads in a controller, he found them overly sensitive and difficult to manage—too “touchy” for comfortable use. Similarly, he felt the analog sticks lacked the precise feel he desired, lamenting the absence of built-in drift protection, a feature he noted was missing from the DualSense.
Despite these performance reservations, Yoshida found several elements of the SteamOS experience highly appealing. He praised the system’s interface, its ability to boot up seamlessly using just the controller, and the customizable face plate. The simple act of watching the boot-up videos also registered positively.
Ultimately, his conclusion was pragmatic: the device excels in form factor and quietness. Yoshida believes that the small size and lack of noise are major wins. For him, the Steam Machine’s true value lies in its simplicity—it allows him to enjoy Steam games directly on his living room television, which he considers sufficient reason to keep it.
Buy on Amazon
Credit: PC Gamer
