Infinity Ward: MW3, Steam & More News

Remember that hand-sized PC named Piston crafted by Xi3 which was once believed to be Valve’s Steam Box? Call of Duty: Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward has shared a picture of it (via CVG), accompanied by the caption: “What’s this? (phone for scale reference).” The name of the company, Infinity Ward, is imprinted on the side of the Piston PC. Beneath it appears to be the even smaller Xi3 Z3ro Pro Computer.

Here is the evidence. Infinity Ward has not said anything else. It turned out that Piston is not Valve’s Steam Box but one of the numerous Steam-associated PCs under development. The fact that Infinity Ward possesses one with its name on the side implies that whatever Infinity Ward is creating – presumably Modern Warfare 4 – will be optimized for it.

Xi3’s computers are constructed differently from regular PCs. The Piston’s tiny form factor stems from a unique architecture that divides the PC into three sections, each of which can be replaced and upgraded with newer Xi3-made components as they are released.

Perhaps there will even be a Modern Warfare 4 Piston bundle available for sale this autumn, when the as yet unannounced new Call of Duty game is presumably going to be launched. Regardless of the specifics of the partnership, it is a demonstration of intent by Infinity Ward – one of the world’s most successful developers – that it is taking Xi3’s computers seriously.

The Xi3 website does not have any additional information about Piston. However, the product page for the X7A Modula computer – the PC that Piston is designed to resemble – contains detailed and relevant data.

Valve’s actual Steam Box has not yet been revealed. Gabe Newell stated that it will be a Linux box and that Valve will sell it directly to consumers. Maybe it will even come with a peculiar – perhaps brilliant – controller featuring biometric sensors. Or perhaps it will come with clippings of Gabe Newell’s beard.