Steam Machine review finds a screen reader, but silent first-time setup
Published:
In short
Steam Machine has a built-in screen reader, magnification, and several vision settings. A hands-on review found that initial setup does not tell users how to activate the screen reader.
The screen reader can be turned on by pressing the Steam and Select buttons together. It does not start automatically during first-time setup, and the reviewer found no on-screen notice giving the shortcut. Setup also requires a gamepad or mouse and keyboard, as Valve’s own support guide confirms.
Once speech is active, users can adjust its volume, rate, pitch, and language. The review describes speech as clear even at a fast rate. SteamOS also provides magnification up to 300 percent, adjustable text and interface size, high contrast, color filters, and reduced motion.
These system features do not make every Steam game accessible. The review also says Windows accessibility programs that must run in the background are a poor fit for SteamOS Gaming Mode, which normally runs one program at a time. Players who depend on such tools may therefore need Windows on the machine or a different PC setup.
Sources: Access-Ability’s hands-on Steam Machine accessibility review and Valve’s Steam Machine feature and troubleshooting guide.