PC gaming's future is no longer tied to Microsoft

First there was SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system whose open design aims to spur innovation. Then there were Steam Machines, a range of Valve-branded systems with SteamOS pre-installed that will provide a legitimate non-Windows alternative for PC gamers come 2014. Now, Valve has concluded its trio of announcements with a joystick-less Steam controller, a bizarre-looking (but admirably forward-thinking) input device that allows any Steam game to be played wirelessly from the comfort of your couch.

Taken at face value, these three announcements appear to be nothing more than an attempt by Valve to elbow its way into your living room, hoping its Steam Machines will earn a place alongside your set-top box or gaming consoles. That is, at least, part of the goal, especially considering PC sales continue to diminish each year. But I think there's a significantly more important conclusion to be derived from these announcements. By offering a free OS alternative, one that comes pre-installed on a wide variety of gaming rigs, Valve is attempting the unthinkable: to offer a PC gaming future that isn't inextricably bound to Microsoft.

Each of the three announcements plays its own part in Valve's end-game, and it's worth recapping what, exactly, those roles are. The most obvious starting point is SteamOS, Valve's Linux-based operating system. This, more than anything else, illustrates the ideological differences between Valve and Microsoft, the former emphasizing the value of open platforms, while the latter seems to be transitioning into a closed one. Valve is hedging its bets that major innovations--and therefore major $$$--will come primarily from its users, not from its developers. Remember: Counter-Strike, Portal, Dota 2, and a boatload of user-generated content for Team Fortress 2 have all played a part in Valve's continued success--and none of them were conceptualized in-house. Thus, SteamOS: a totally free alternative to Windows (making it an attractive choice for PC buyers and DIY builders alike) that encourages modding and experimentation.