• chunkystyles@sopuli.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    7 months ago

    R&D is very expensive. I have no idea what the margins on these devices are, but I imagine it’s a tough market.

    • Patches
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      7 months ago

      Margins must be pretty good for everyone and their mother to pump one out.

      • sugar_in_your_tea
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        7 months ago

        Yup. It was more expensive for Valve because they have a custom chip. These other devices are using off-the-shelf chips, so it’s a lot cheaper.

        Look at the minipc market (e.g. minisforum), and then add a screen, battery, and build in a controller. It’s really not a complicated product for a company that already makes similar devices, especially since they can probably reuse parts in other products.

    • vanderbilt@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      7 months ago

      Valve can go into the negative selling Decks, something that their competitors can’t reasonably do because they will get money from Steam store sales made on the Deck. I for one went from buying 3-4 games a year to like a dozen because it’s been so convenient.