The question was not directed at me but since I am in the same boat, I will answer it nonetheless: I just want to buy a piece of hardware that I know I can play the games on that come out the next five to seven years; when I want to play a game, I just want to turn said piece of hardware on using my controller, select said game with my controller and get going. No workarounds to get things to run, no driver updates, no fiddling with settings. Just easy and simple plug and play (minus "this game needs an update"). That is what a console provides to me- peace of mind and ease of use. I also like the concept of physical media, but have come to terms with that that is gone no matter what. 

But what has been mentioned here and what I found when now looking a little bit into it, I am 99% sure now that my next "console" will be some sort of gaming pc, and to not support Microsoft, it will be some Steam OS/ Linux solution. I would obviously prefer an out the box ready device (a Steam console), but a dockable handheld (Steamdeck) or the custom built solution from the cyber dopamine video (which is more hassle than a lazy guy like me wants) will have to do. 

But I have been gaming on console and purposefully NOT on pc for 30 years now, my semi-old mind needs some time to adjust to the thought. That is why I am not ready yet.   

Windows Central also saying the cuts were designed to help Microsoft fund the $80 billion AI infrastructure investment.

I would legit probably buy a Steam console if it was powerful.

I can say that that is what a SteamOS powered device can offer. The millage to play the newest games will vary with the hardware power, of course. But the only things going against SteamOS really are Gamepass and the few competitive online multiplayer games with kernel level anticheat that don't support Linux.

I also can't switch to PC without losing my 1000+ hours on The Elder Scrolls Online too, Lol.

Btw here is my current PC

• Intel Core i5-10600K CPU, 6 Cores / 12 Threads, 4.1 - 4.8GHz
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB Graphics Card
• 32GB DDR4 2666MHz Memory (2 x 16GB Sticks)
• 500GB Samsung 970 EVO PLUS M.2 PCIe Solid State Drive
• Seagate 2TB BarraCuda 7200RPM Hard Disk

This was my first ever winging it on a PC Builder site, Lmao.

I made the switch to PC gaming over the last few years as I upgraded my outdated PC over the course of two years. I am glad I did as I am able to play games via PC Game Pass, Steam, etc. Being able to play PlayStation games with an Xbox controller has been nice as I personally prefer that controller layout. I never liked the left thumbstick placement on the PS controller.

Yes, messing with settings can take a little time. I have a 144hz 1440p monitor, however, I tend to cap my games at 60fps as I prefer a stable framerate versus an uncapped one. I am able to play 99% of games at max or near max settings. With an AMD GPU it really comes down to how well raytracing runs. 

Here are my PC specs:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900X - 12-Core 3.7 GHz
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT Hellhound
• Motherboard: ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming X570-Plus
• RAM: 32GB (2x16GB) - G.SKILL Trident Z Neo DDR4 3600
• 2TB NVME SSD
• 2 monitors - Main is 27" 1440p 144hz Gigabyte - 2nd is 23" 1080p Acer
• Keyboard: Logitech G910
• Mouse: Razer Deathadder V2

I bought the CPU, MOBO, SSD and RAM at the same time, and purchased the GPU the following year once prices came down.

And they wait until the day after all the lay offs, to announce it.
That seems like a "yeah we know its bad, but hey, look at this flower! isn't it pretty?".  
It comes across as a distraction tactic or something.

Whats crazy is that windows is so bloated, that even translating code, with the overhead that brings, can work out better than running on windows sometimes. There are videos of people testing games on SteamOS (linux based) and where they out perform native windows runs.

I've been tempted to try switching out, often enough, but linux just seems too much of a hassle. 
If Steam get their OS right, and ease of use.... I'm all there for it.

????

It's Sony's IP, Sony's Publishing, Sony is the one who choose when to announce it, Lol.

Other than the GPU, that's already better than a Series X lol. If you just put an RX 9060 XT 16gb in their you'd have above PS5 Pro performance and if you sold your 1660 Super it'd probably only cost you £250 to upgrade to that lol. Then if you installed Bazzite OS on it you'd have a powerful "steam console". OFC that's all mute if you don't want to install an OS, change the GPU yourself or you need game pass support. But you basically have everything you need for a great "steam console" already.

Xbox didn't have any say?
That's tactless of Playstation then.