Best of TechCentral — November 2025

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   Valve’s Linux console takes aim at Microsoft’s gaming empire

   Valve announced a new living-room console, controller, and VR headset running SteamOS (Linux-based) for early 2026, with pricing yet to be revealed. The Steam Machine aims to bring PC gaming to TVs with no Windows licensing costs, leveraging Proton compatibility improvements from Steam Deck. Success depends on competitive pricing against Sony's PS5 and Microsoft's Xbox, potentially disrupting the console market by offering Steam library access and Linux's open ecosystem advantages. The move could weaken Windows' dominance in gaming and establish Linux as a viable platform for mainstream console gaming.

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   Affinity for Linux? Canva’s next big move could reshape the desktop software market

   Canva is seriously considering porting its Affinity creative software suite to Linux, which could be transformative for desktop Linux adoption. Currently, professional designers are locked into Windows and macOS due to Adobe's Creative Cloud dominance. Affinity, recently made free by Canva, is the only full-scale commercial alternative to Adobe. This potential move comes as Linux gaming has matured through Valve's Steam Deck, and dissatisfaction with Windows grows due to intrusive telemetry and AI features. A Linux port would enable designers, photographers, and content creators to run fully Linux-based workflows, potentially triggering wider desktop Linux adoption and challenging Adobe's market position.

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   China’s DeepSeek warns of social upheaval from AI

   DeepSeek's senior researcher Chen Deli made a rare public appearance at China's World Internet Conference, expressing concerns about AI's long-term societal impact. While optimistic about the technology itself, Chen warned that AI could threaten widespread job displacement within 5-10 years and create massive social challenges in 10-20 years. DeepSeek gained global attention in January for releasing a low-cost AI model that outperformed leading US models. The company recently upgraded its V3 model in September and has become central to China's efforts to build a domestic AI ecosystem, with Chinese chip makers like Cambricon and Huawei developing hardware compatible with DeepSeek's models.

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