Player Player: A Video Game Podcast · Player Player

All Aboard the Steam Train | Steam Machine Announcement & Game Awards Nominees

·1 hr 1 min·5 clips

One host calls Claire Obscure overrated, sparking a debate about its Game Awards dominance.

This episode of the Player Player Podcast, hosted by Joseph Hooper and co-host Arsene Lapa, analyzes the recent Game Awards nominations and Valve's surprise announcement of three new hardware products. The hosts, who regularly discuss video game culture, debate which titles deserve recognition and assess Valve's new ecosystem strategy. They begin by addressing their sponsor, Riverside, with a humorous, self-aware discussion about sponsorship ethics. The hosts express surprise at *Death Stranding* and *Kingdom Come Deliverance* appearing in the Game of the Year category, noting the perceived fading conversation around those titles. They unanimously predict *Clare Obscure* will dominate the awards, potentially winning nearly every category it's nominated for, including Game of the Year and Best Debut Indie Game. Joseph offers a "hot take," arguing *Clare Obscure* is slightly overrated despite being a fantastic game, citing issues like a lack of a mini-map and repetitive level design. The conversation covers categories like Best Action Game, where they predict *Hades 2* will win over *Battlefield 6*, and Best Art Direction, where *Death Stranding* is considered a potential victor. They critique the redundancy of the Best Game Direction category and the stagnant nature of the ongoing game awards, specifically naming *Helldivers 2*, *Final Fantasy XIV*, and *Fortnite* as perennial nominees. A significant portion discusses Valve's new hardware: the standalone VR headset "Steam Frame," a new "Steam Machine" living room PC, and a new controller. The Steam Frame is described as a wireless, standalone device running SteamOS, positioned as a direct competitor to the Meta Quest. The Steam Machine is characterized as a compact, console-like PC designed to bring a user's Steam library to the living room TV, completing a portable-and-home ecosystem with the Steam Deck. Arsene Lapa, the self-described "VR champion," is excited about the Steam Frame's wireless capability and standalone nature, while Joseph remains skeptical about VR's value proposition. Both hosts are highly interested in the Steam Machine, seeing it as the missing piece for seamlessly playing their extensive Steam libraries on a television. They speculate the Steam Machine's price point will be a critical factor for adoption, hoping it lands between $500 and $700. The episode briefly touches on rumors of a *Half-Life* announcement tied to the new hardware, with both hosts expressing tempered expectations and discussing the game's modern cultural relevance. The tone is casual, conversational, and opinionated, featuring friendly debate and insider jargon about the gaming industry. The style is analytical but relaxed, with hosts frequently interrupting each other to build on points or offer counter-opinions. Listeners deeply invested in the annual Game Awards discourse and PC gaming hardware enthusiasts, particularly those within the Steam ecosystem, would find this episode engaging. Casual listeners or those solely interested in console gaming news might find the detailed speculation on Steam hardware and indie game categories less compelling.

As heard by us

Steam hardware chatter, Half-Life 3 rumor fuel, and a neat reminder that hype still has to earn its keep.

Valve's Steam hardware announcement gives the conversation its hook, but the real draw is the familiar way gaming news turns into rumor fuel, then into Half-Life 3 chatter, then into a wider argument about what hype is worth.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want Valve chatter with actual opinions, not just announcement fumes.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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