The Smach Zero, a portable Steam machine, has been given a Q4 2016 release date. Formerly known as the SteamBoy, pre-orders will begin on November this year at an early bird price of $299.
The device is the first handheld console to run on Valve's Steam OS, according to IGN. As such, it allows access to the vast Steam library while on the go.
Powering the handheld is an "AMD embedded G-Series SoC Steppe Eagle with Jaguar-based CPU and GCN-based Radeon graphics under the hood."
Other specs include 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Reportedly, the device doesn't support external memory expansion. It also features a 5-inch 720p HD touchscreen display, HDMI output and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. A Pro model adds 4G LTE.
When the Smach Zero release date arrives next year, the portable Steam machine will reportedly support more than 1,000 games, according to a promotional video from the company which you can watch below.
The device will also support PC games such as "Civilization V," "Dota2" and "Half Life 2," the company claimed according to IGN.
"The console's keys scheme is similar to the latest version of the official Steam Controller, with two touch pads, a control stick, 7 buttons on the front face and 6 in the rear," the website said.
If the device looks familiar, that's because it was known as the SteamBoy until recently. Franchise Herald reported the name change back in June but the reason behind it was never revealed.
"Of course the company Smach Zero more than likely ran into some early legal trouble (or sensed trouble on the horizon) with [SteamBoy], so it's been changed to SMACH Zero," Slash Gear speculated.
No exact Smach Zero release date has been given but the device will reportedly ship in Q4 2016. Pre-orders begin November 10 for the portable Steam machine for $299 in North America and €299 in Europe, according to PC Gamer.
