In the same year that Valve is planning a console-like PC with Steam Machine, Microsoft has announced Xbox Project Helix, a PC-like console, as its next-generation gaming system. These two facts roll around my skull like glass marbles as I reread comments from Valve boss Gabe Newell, who, in 2011, accurately summed up the trajectory of consoles: they're just going to become more like PCs.
For generations of x86 and AMD-consolidated architecture, this has been basically true on a hardware level. Newell touched on this trend as well, saying (to PC Gamer many years ago), "It wouldn't be possible to move this quickly if it weren't for the existence of an open internet client and an open hardware client like we have. It's why all the consoles are using PC graphics hardware now."
