I do think there is a space in between. If instead of buying a new $800 PS5 Pro, you could just buy the "Pro" component for $349 which is user friendly and slots in, I think that would go a long way in making the box appealing to an enthusiast console market whilst also way more approachable than a PC. It can start at a lower entry point but have more flexibility. PS5 Pro has show there is interest in a premium (up to date home console experience) and if it was made more affordable I think it'd be even greater.

An important thing about console is having fixed elements for accessibility but that doesn't mean there can't be room for modification. Unlike a PC with 1000s of different parts+combos, many of which will literally not work or not be compatible with X/Y experience you could have a streamlined version where every 3 Years a different GPU component is released. 

In my mind the question is whether you can do this without sacrificing too much a consoles efficiency and form factor. 

MS' userfriendly approach to SSD upgrades reflects well on what the intention would be. 



Essentially the N64 CD but for a more ready market and games built out the box to take advantage of more powerful components. 

I don't think you understand how console gaming works.

As an example, do you understand why #stutterstruggle only effects PC games and not console games?

It's because when the game build is complied, it's is complied for a fixed spec machine so no shadders need to be complied after the build.

You can't do that on PC because every PC has a different spec.  You are suggesting a box with changable parts which will also create gaming machines that the games will not know the spec of before it's build is complied.

What you are suggesting is by definition not a console.

Steam Box already tried this as failed.
https://www.polygon.com/a/pc-buying-guide/steam-box

People weren't interested (not enough to make it viable anyway).


Consoles 'work' because they have 'set in stone' hardware specs which allows better optimization so lesser (cheaper) hardware can deliver a smooth experience that is not that far behind PC games required much better hardware.

Consoles 'work' because they deliver a lot more bang for buck in performance (and less hassle) compared to PC.

Any upgradable console will start out a lot more expensive compared to a dedicated console (like PS6) for the same perceived performance. Plus you'll be looking for performance profiles and compatibility like on Steam Deck vs Switch.

Steam Deck sales are at:
February 2025:Estimated to have sold between 3.7 and 4 million units, according to International Data Corporation

That's very niche compared to Switch (150 million), still below PSVR1 numbers even (5 million after that was 3 years on the market)

Steam Deck 2 will still happen, but it won't be any contest against Switch 2.

A Steam XBox will sell some units too but the power of Steam is that it runs on everything, which is what MS is after with their XBox eco system.

The power of Steam is that it already runs on the devices you have, your laptop in particular. The most popular GPUs are the ..60 variants, the budget cards. Laptop GPUs. 45% are still on Windows 10, so running on 3+ year old hardware at least. Also 16GB and 2.3 to 2.7 ghz 6 core CPUs 1080p are the norm.

The market for high end upgradeable boxes is already building their own boxes for much less than a 'Steam XBox' can be.

And thus sales will be limited as well as the effort to put into making it the ultimate experience.

I think you did not exactly get what i mean. A little box like the Steam Box is not nearly big enough to give space for this. I mean a console thats a bit bigger than the XSX and the PS5 (original) and has colored parts to change. No confusion here. People who already get "confused" with 2DS/3DS or even PS5/ PS6 or Xbox Series and Xbox One are clearly not the target group. Yes it would have a lower installed base but it could run Steam, it could get all the PC games some people want but a bit of intelligence would be required for this, otherwise you wouodn't deserve it. Sorry but thats the truth. Changing parts should be less complicated than with the PC (the Series X's form would be a good base only bigger!). You just pull out the part you want to change, like a cardridge if you want and thats it! Many PC components are not so different. You somehow get what i want to say?👍

This would absolutely destroy their sales potential or any profit they would make simply because why would you buy a $1000 Xbox to play the same games that will come out on Steam or another platform.

Making it a cheaper affordable system with adequate amount of graphic and processing power with the ability to play b/c will be a better idea.

Considering Xbox got their arse kicked trying to compete with PS5, making a hybrid to compete directly with Nintendo would be a fool's errand.

There's no way they could stand up to the combined weight of Pokémon, Mario, Animal Crossing, Zelda, Splatoon, etc when their games will be playable on Switch 2/PS5/PC anyway.

If all they offer is the ability to play third party games on the go, then Steam Deck's 4 million sales in 3 years would like a word. 

Series S shows this is not the case

I wouldn't compare steamdeck to Switch, it's not like they play the same games or have the same branding behind them.

And I think there is room for a streamlined upgrade route, again there obviously interest based in scalable hardware based on what we're seeing in the console space with Series S, X, PS5 & PS5 Pro etc. 

It shouldn't be looked as literally a PC with hundreds of different components options and potential drivers etc but instead a singular box engineered to have potential for several modular upgrades throughout the course of a decade.

I think it's just a matter of timing, just the same way that the N64DD failed in the 90s but something like the PS4 Pro succeeded. 

Just the same way that PS5 Pro doesn't suddenly inherit Stutter, Upgrades should still be able to run the "base console" profile. Maybe not what Killer7 meant but changeable parts does not mean hundreds of components made by different manufacturers, it can be a very streamlined select few upgrade routes across a decade all built with compatibility and console experience in mind.

How can shadders for game be complied for hardware that hasn't even been created yet? 

This is not how console games work!  This is a PC because it's flexiable hardware