Assuming we know this, which we dont.
There are
41 crossplay titles for Linux steam available right now, and there are no details about the Steambox yet released, and steam for linux is still in beta.
What was the last gaming hardware launch that had 40+ titles available?
What would be the difficulty in getting OSX titles working on Linux?
I'd be very surprised if the Steambox launches with a library of less than 100-150 games, and these are actual 'full fat' games, not cut the rope type minigames at 99c a pop.
Again, what incentive does a PC gamer have to get this then?
What incentive does an Xbox Live member have to get this?
A Playstation player?
What reason is there for them to suddenly want to switch to a Steambox? It NEEDs a reason for people to want it over what they already have. And limited BC with games many PC users already own wont be enough for success.
As discussed in multiple topics about this;
- A SteamOS would likely be a free distro. You can dualboot your existing PC and get the full Steambox experience. As you're dualbooting,
you lose nothing as an existing PC user.
- For people unable or unwilling to PC build themselves, or even unwilling to go parts shopping at a choose your own builder, they can just buy a Steambox and
shit just works.
- Valve have already spoken about wanting to keep their Steambox open. You don't think the publishers with their own DD stores aren't going to support this where they get 100% revenue from every sale, versus other platforms where they are paying a middleman (which now includes MS with the Windows 8 marketplace)?