Alienware has clarified that the Alienware Steam Machine will be upgradable, but it will not be easy to do.
Frank Azor, Alienware General Manager, has released a statement shedding more light on his previous statement that the company’s Steam Machine will be locked down.
Originally, speaking to TrustedReviews at CES 2014, Azor said Alienware “will be updating our Steam Machines every year”, before adding that “there will be no customisation options, you can’t really update it.”
On hearing this, consumers were outraged that a gaming PC in the living room would be locked in just like the Xbox One and PS4.
However, Azor has now issued a statement suggesting it will be possible, but it won’t be easy.
“Enabling customers the opportunity to upgrade components has been a core tenet for Alienware since the company was founded, and that remains true today,” said Azor. “The Alienware Steam Machine, announced at CES, is designed to deliver a great gaming experience in the living room and we will enable customers to upgrade components.”
It seems the limited upgrading options are due to the Alienware Steam Machine’s design, which will be considerably smaller than the Xbox One and PS4.
“Considering we’ve purposefully designed the Alienware Steam Machine to be smaller than the latest generation consoles, upgrading the internal components will not be as easy as compared to other platforms, such as the Alienware X51, but we will not prevent a customer from upgrading.”
When the Steam Machine was announced, the company also revealed it would launch a Steam Machine version of the Alienware X51 desktop PC simultaneously in “late 2014.”
Azor advises that this would be the better option for those looking to customise and upgrade their Steam Machines in the future.
“If a customer is interested in modding and upgrading their rig on a regular basis, then we recommend the Alienware X51. Enabling easy upgradeability was a critical design requirement for the X51. It includes features such as single screw access to all internal components, and easy-to-remove ODD, HDD, graphics etc.”
“We feel we have multiple options for customers based on their individual needs. If a gamer wants more freedom to upgrade, we have the X51. If they would prefer a smaller, more console-like system, we will offer the Alienware Steam Machine.”
Read more: Steam Machine specs and prices – everything you need to know before you buy
Via: Eurogamer