Valve joins in the micro console race, Steam Link coming November

While Nvidia's new micro console Shield entry leans heavily on Valve's gaming line-up, the software company turned hardware-spec producer is also getting in on the act. Its own micro console, the Shield Link is currently just a dull render (like most of Valve's hardware, many would say), and is basically a streaming device for your PC games. Specs are to be determined, but the low cost device will retail for only $49.99.

Valve says the device will launch in November, and claims that Steam Link is designed to take advantage of the PC horsepower you already have in your home, with In-Home Streaming. If you have a gaming PC and a fast home network, Steam Link may be the right choice for your living room.

Valve is also hard at work on its VR kit (which HTC showed off at a recent mobile event), but its micro PC Steam Machine project seems to have stalled with no hardware in sight, but launch is promised for later this year. Alienware's Alpha is about as close as we've got.