@millie_boop steam ran a line of licensed "steam machines" in the mid 2010's that were just small form factor pc's with off the shelf parts. they were unpopular and had middling specs. they also had a roku-like device that let you stream your dektop steam library to it called the steam link. but wifi standards weren't very good yet so that also flopped.

steamos and steam hardware basically spent the last decade in various beta forms before the steam deck came out and they finally nailed both. now that they're good at it people are excited for the new gabecubes.