I don't think the convergence to x86/ARM is really lack of innovation, it's more recognizing that being on a separate architecture doesn't really help you. The innovation is now in form factor (e.g. the Switch), peripherals (e.g. VR or alt controllers) or software (e.g. streaming). Now, having an x86 just means your base platform is cheap and you don't need a lot of custom work, although these platforms still get integration attention. Also makes ports much simpler.

The PS3 is actually a great example of the industry learning this lesson. The Cell architecture was really hard to leverage. It took years for any games/engines to use the Cell SPUs right.

As for Linux though, PS3 Linux was effectively just PowerPC Linux which was already fully supported years before in every major server distro. The Cell PPUs (main, boot cores) were pretty much off the shelf PowerPC. Similar to the Wii/WiiU.

Source: work in semiconductors, the Cell was one of my first platforms out of school.

I disagree. I would love to turn my ps5 into a steam machine. There are barely any ps5 exclusives anyways (that might change). However, this hack only works with launch ps5s without updates. So basically unicorns.

........huh. I wonder if I would be happier with this. I barely use my PS5, but I've bought one game (Bloodborne).

Who knows on what firmware it is.

Have you looked at a dockingstation and a controller? You can connect the steamdeck to your TV!

You can already buy motherboards with the PS5's APU already installed onto it. Makes for a good budget gaming rig.

My kids keep taking my Steam Deck and PC for gaming, so I'm building them their own machine. This is for indie and emulated games. I'm bidding on broken laptops on eBay to extract the motherboard to use as a standalone lounge PC like this video shows. Given today's hardware prices, this has been a great bargain.

I've gotten the mobo extracted and working well with Bazzite outside the case. Just waiting for my parts to arrive mod the cooling and make a case for it. It's like my own DIY Gabe Cube.

It's been great fun and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a cheap option. Don't think I would even be able to buy 16GB of DDR5 ram in the price I've gotten this whole laptop (with soldered ram included).

Just wait for the new Steam Machine?

I bought the steam deck docking station and plugged that into my tv. I'm using a generic bluetooth controller to game from the couch.

That works fine. I've even used it in that setup to stream a game from my PC through the steam link or whatever that was called again.

That's a cheaper option, unless you're missing compute power or support on the steam deck.

only console that isnt just a PC with gate keeping is the Switch. Which is just basically a fancy tablet with gatekeeping.

Didn't ps5 just get hacked at the bios or kernel level iirc allowing it to have a custom OS installed

They don't make money on the hardware, but on the games sold.

Selling unlocked console would put them at risk of getting cannibalized by Steam.