Steam Machine Stumbles: Why Valve is Holding Back on Next-Gen Display Tech

Valve's Steam Machine hardware, announced last month, has been found to list support for HDMI 2.0 output, rather than the updated HDMI 2.1 standard introduced in 2017. According to Valve, the hardware itself actually supports HDMI 2.1, but the company is struggling to offer full support for that standard due to Linux drivers that are still a work-in-progress on the software side. The issue stems from the HDMI Forum's decision to block any open source implementation of HDMI 2.1, citing licensing requirements. AMD engineer Alex Deucher explained at the time that an open source HDMI 2.1 implementation is not possible without running afoul of the HDMI Forum's requirements. This has caused significant headaches for Valve, which is doing its best to work around the limitation. Valve's Steam Machine hardware is based on the open source AMD drivers used by SteamOS, which cannot fully implement certain features specific to the updated output standard. The company is working to find a solution, but for now, it appears that full support for HDMI 2.1 will not be available. The HDMI Forum's decision to block open source implementations of HDMI 2.1 has been a point of contention in the tech industry. Some argue that the licensing requirements are overly restrictive and stifle innovation, while others see them as necessary to ensure that the HDMI standard is maintained and improved. In a statement, Valve acknowledged the challenge posed by the HDMI Forum's decision. "We're doing our best to work around the limitation and provide the best possible experience for our users," a company spokesperson said. "However, we cannot provide full support for HDMI 2.1 at this time." The lack of HDMI 2.1 support on Steam Machine hardware may be a disappointment for some gamers, who are eager to take advantage of the higher-bandwidth capabilities of the updated standard. However, Valve is committed to providing the best possible experience for its users, even if it means working within the limitations imposed by the HDMI Forum. As the situation continues to evolve, Valve will likely continue to work on finding a solution to the HDMI 2.1 issue. In the meantime, users can expect to see the company doing its best to provide the best possible experience, even if it means not fully supporting the latest HDMI standard.