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Epic Games chief Tim Sweeney claims 'Valve has held gaming back for years'
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has stated that Valve's Steam platform has hindered the gaming industry for years by enforcing its Steamworks framework. He argues that Valve's 30% revenue cut is excessive and that developers should have more freedom to distribute their games across different platforms and storefronts.
Tim Sweeney argues Steam has held gaming back, but Valve's tools tell a different story
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney claims Valve's Steamworks locks developers into a closed ecosystem, hindering cross-platform communication. While Valve's documentation indicates their Steam Datagram Relay service can be used across platforms if a game also launches on Steam, Sweeney and former Epic employee Kiaran Ritchie argue developers should pay for individual services rather than a 30% revenue cut. The discussion highlights ongoing rivalry and debate over digital distribution models.
Peter Molyneux speaks candidly about AI: 'We, as the industry, are pretending we're not using AI, but the reality is, it's almost impossible to code now without using AI'
Legendary developer Peter Molyneux believes the game industry is actively pretending not to use AI, despite it being nearly impossible to code without it. He notes that public perception of AI has been negatively impacted by early, flawed generative models, leading to platforms like Steam requiring developers to disclose AI usage. Molyneux argues that AI is a significant advancement for creativity, especially for smaller studios, and will become deeply integrated into middleware like Unity and Unreal Engine within a year.
'I drank from the chalice of blood': indie dev scrubs his game of AI-generated voice lines, having previously described the technology as 'anti-human and anti-art'
Indie developer Paolo Pedercini has removed AI-generated voice lines from his game Future? No Thanks! following backlash, despite previously defending their use for satirical purposes. Pedercini, who also used AI for code assistance, admitted to the use of generative AI in his game, which satirizes the technology itself. The controversy has led to Pedercini replacing the AI voices with those of human actors and offering refunds to players who feel betrayed.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Oct. 23: Epic Games Halloween Sale
This weekend's PC gaming deals feature a variety of Halloween sales from major digital storefronts including the Epic Games Store, Steam, Green Man Gaming, GOG.com, and Fanatical. Discounts are available on numerous titles, with special bundles and free games also highlighted across platforms like Amazon Luna.
PAX West 2026 - Lazy River: Zombie Survival that Makes a Splash
Lazy River is a 4-player co-op first-person zombie survival game set in a waterpark, offering a creative twist on the genre. Players scavenge, craft, and build a raft to survive waves of zombies and robots, utilizing unique water-based weaponry and park equipment. The game aims to stand out with its fun and unconventional setting, providing a frantic and entertaining experience.
Epic wants to pay you $50,000 to vibe code an AI slop game
Epic Games is hosting the 2026 AI MegaJam, challenging participants to create games using AI tools with Unreal Engine or UEFN. The event offers cash prizes and grants, including up to $50,000 for standout projects, aiming to encourage AI integration in game development. However, the initiative faces significant backlash from developers and the gaming community due to ongoing concerns about AI's impact on the industry.
The AI state of play: AI laws and game development
Game studios face increasing legal complexities surrounding the use of generative AI in development. Key concerns include intellectual property infringement risks from LLMs, data privacy issues with AI tools, and evolving copyright laws across different jurisdictions. Regulations like the EU AI Act also mandate labeling for AI-generated content resembling real people or events, requiring studios to implement robust compliance policies and human oversight.
Dev Behind Russian Roulette Drinking Game Cancels Steam Demo Plans Following AI Copycat Concerns
The developer of the anime game Drunken Goddess Reflux has canceled its Steam demo due to concerns about AI copycats. This decision reflects growing anxieties within the game development community regarding artificial intelligence.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Oct. 9: The Triple-I Initiative Showcase
This article rounds up various PC game deals available over the weekend, including discounts on Steam, Humble Store, and other digital storefronts. It highlights free games, bundle offers, and specific title sales, with a focus on titles featured in the recent Triple-I Initiative Showcase.
Warhammer Survivors Is Launching Mere Days Before GTA 6, And I Respect The Audacity
Warhammer Survivors is set to launch on November 10 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices, with a demo available now on Steam. The game adopts the 'Survivors-like' formula, featuring intense combat against Tyranid enemies, weapon evolution, and a large roster of characters and weapons. Its release date is notably close to Grand Theft Auto 6, a bold move that the article respects.
You Can Grab Sonic X Shadow Generations Cheaper Than Steam’s Fall Sale, But You Gotta Go Fast
Sonic X Shadow Generations is available for a lower price on Fanatical than during Steam's Fall Sale, offering a significant discount on the recently released title. The game combines the classic Sonic Generations experience with a new campaign focused on Shadow the Hedgehog, featuring new abilities and a parallel storyline.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Sept. 25: GOG.com Autumn Sale
This weekend's PC gaming deals include GOG.com's Autumn Sale featuring DRM-free titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. Other notable sales are happening on Steam, the Ubisoft Store, and the Epic Games Store, with discounts on a wide variety of games across multiple platforms.
Checkpoint’s Queer Game of the Month: September 2026 – Locktale
Locktale, a cipher-based puzzle game developed by Mina Pecheux, is highlighted as September's Queer Game of the Month. The game features a hidden story about two women and uses a tiered hint system to make its ciphers accessible. Pecheux discusses her approach to queer representation, aiming to normalize LGBTQ+ relationships within game narratives.
Take to the skies and shoot your mates in the face with a shotgun in Fish & Ships
A trailer for the co-op airship game Fish & Ships was revealed during the PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct 2026. The game features fish piloting an airship, engaging in aerial combat with shotguns and throwable boxes, and navigating hazardous environments. Players can wishlist the title on Steam, though a release date has not yet been announced.
Steam is shoveling RPGs at people right now, and I think it's the perfect time to get Divinity: Original Sin for…
Larian Studios' Divinity: Original Sin is currently on sale for its lowest price ever at 90% off on Steam, making the Enhanced Edition $3.99 and the Collector's Edition $6.99. This significant discount is part of ongoing Steam sales and Larian's promotional efforts. The article also touches on the development of the upcoming Divinity reboot, with insights from Larian's technical animation director and CEO.
WARDOGS Launches to Big Sales & Early Problems
WARDOGS, a team-based FPS, has achieved significant commercial success since its Early Access launch on Steam, selling over two million copies in under five days. However, the game has been plagued by server capacity issues, login queues, and connection errors, leading to negative player reviews. Developer Bulkhead, led by CEO Joe Brammer, is actively addressing these problems while also facing scrutiny regarding their development practices and workload.
The adult game crackdown is "ridiculous for our art form", say Hellraiser devs, but they think they'll survive thanks to that Clive Barker association
Developers of Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival express frustration over the ongoing crackdown on adult games, calling it 'ridiculous for our art form.' They believe the established IP status of Hellraiser provides some protection against bans on platforms like Steam, though they acknowledge the chilling effect on developers of original IPs. The game will launch on Steam on October 8 but faces challenges with age classification in territories like Germany and Japan.
Twitch faces a class action lawsuit over using streamers' content to train Amazon's AI
Twitch and its parent company Amazon are facing a proposed class action lawsuit from streamer Warren Pandiscia, who alleges his content was used to train generative AI models without consent or payment. This follows Twitch's recent announcement of AI training features, which have been met with community backlash due to their opt-out rather than opt-in nature. Separately, an analyst suggests that Epic Games Store's efforts to compete with Steam may be too late, despite ongoing improvements to its storefront and the continued success of Fortnite.
Weekend PC Download Deals for Aug. 21: The Humble Store Summer Sale continues
This article rounds up various PC game deals available from multiple digital storefronts, including Humble Store, Battle.net, GamesPlanet, Ubisoft Store, Green Man Gaming, Epic Games Store, Amazon Luna, Fanatical, Gamebillet, GOG.com, and Steam. Notable sales include Humble Store's Summer Sale, Battle.net's August Game Deals, and Ubisoft's Gamescom sale, featuring discounts on a wide range of titles.
