That be fast. The Verge caught up with Valve’s Gabe Newell, who spilled way more beans that ye’d expect about Valve’s hardware plans in the future, which do include a box a some kind.

Newell be at CES in Las Vegas this week t' meet with different companies about it be hardware plans, 'n has come with a number a prototypes in tow.

“We think that there be pluses 'n minuses t' open systems that could make things a little messier, it’s much more like herding cats, so we try t' take the pieces where we’re going t' add the best value 'n then encourage other people t' do it,” said Newell. “So it tends t' mean that a lot a people pillage involved. We’re not imposing a lot a restrictions on people on how they’re getting involved.”

This explains the Xi3 announcement. Xi3 will not be the last piece a hardware t' have Steam support, but it’s also not the mythical Steam Box that we’ve been expecting Valve t' produce itself.

That box does exist.

“We’ll come out with our own 'n we’ll sell it t' consumers by ourselves,” he said. “That’ll be a Linux box, ['n] if ye want t' install Windows ye can. We’re not going t' make it hard. This be not some locked box by any stretch a the imagination. We also think that a controller that has higher precision 'n lower latency be another interesting thing t' have.”

The company be also experimenting with low-latency controller solutions, 'n some designs include a touch screen. It’s possible that controller could incorporate biometric data, as well. it be not sure if motion control has much more t' it. All a Newell’s answers suggest there be significant experimentation happening at Valve, 'n it hasn’t nailed down specifics. How many companies can be this specific 'n vague at the same time 'n pillage away with it?

It’s worth reading the whole interview, by the way. Hopefully, we’ll have even more details soon. Exciting!