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Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Valve.
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Valve just killed the Steam Machine Companion Cube
Valve has halted production of Dbrand's "Companion Cube" case for the Steam Machine, which was designed to make the console resemble the Weighted Companion Cube from the Portal games. Dbrand was denied a retroactive license by Valve, forcing them to refund thousands of orders and cease development. The company acknowledged fault for proceeding without initial licensing approval.
Company that made a Steam Machine wrap based on Valve intellectual property without asking forced to take it down
Dbrand has been forced to cancel its 'Companion Cube' wrap for the Steam Machine after failing to obtain a license from Valve. The company admitted to building the product without permission and will issue full refunds to pre-order customers. This incident follows a similar controversy in 2021 where Dbrand was compelled to remove custom PlayStation 5 faceplates due to intellectual property concerns with Sony.
Is SteamOS ready to replace Windows? I installed it so you don’t have to
This article explores whether SteamOS is a viable replacement for Windows in PC gaming. Despite its potential for a console-like experience, the author found that SteamOS is still in beta for most systems and requires significant technical expertise to install and troubleshoot, particularly concerning driver support and networking issues. While it may appeal to DIY enthusiasts, it is not yet ready for the average gamer.
Games Inbox: Will the PS6 really cost £1,000?
Readers discuss concerns about the potential high price of the PlayStation 6, with some predicting it could exceed £1,000. The discussion touches on the rising costs of game development, the shift towards digital-only releases, and whether next-generation consoles offer enough compelling new features to justify such an expense.
Companion Cube case for Steam Machine is canceled by Valve after Dbrand bafflingly forgot to get permission to make the…
Dbrand has canceled its Companion Cube case for the Steam Machine after Valve, the owner of the intellectual property, requested its removal. Dbrand admitted to not seeking permission before production, leading to the product's withdrawal and refunds for customers. This incident follows a previous cease-and-desist from Sony regarding Dbrand's 'Darkplates' for the PlayStation 5.
Steam Machine Companion Cube case cancelled because Dbrand didn't ask Valve for permission to make it: 'We’re going to regret that decision for a very long time'
Dbrand has cancelled its Companion Cube case for the Steam Machine after Valve's legal team informed them they did not have a license for the intellectual property. Despite significant investment and sales success, Dbrand was forced to remove all traces of the product due to the unauthorized use of Valve's intellectual property.
Valve dropped that Steam Machine Companion Cube case down the legal incinerator after its makers neglected to get their permission
Dbrand has ceased sales of its unofficial "Companion Cube" case for the Steam Machine after Valve, the owner of the intellectual property, issued a takedown notice. Dbrand admitted to not seeking permission from Valve before developing and selling the Portal-themed accessory, which had become their second-most popular product launch. Valve reportedly declined Dbrand's appeal to properly license the product.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth hits a new concurrent player record on Steam 12 years after it was released
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth has achieved a new concurrent player record on Steam, with nearly 131,000 players, surpassing its previous peak from 2021. This surge is attributed to a significant 90% discount during the Steam Summer Sale. The game, along with its expansions like Repentance and Repentance+, continues to be a popular roguelike, currently ranking as the 10th biggest game on Steam.
The Steam Machine is overpriced yet it's sold out already in Japan — but be careful about buying a cheap…
Valve's Steam Machine has reportedly sold out in Japan, with reservations being resold for up to $3,000 on eBay in the US. The article warns consumers against purchasing cheap clones from Asia due to potential component discrepancies and security risks, advising local purchases or DIY builds instead.
People are putting their Steam Machine reservations on eBay, and one has already been sold with a $235 markup
Players are listing their Steam Machine reservation spots on eBay for markups, with some already sold at a profit. Despite Valve's efforts to prevent scalping through a queue system, individuals are selling email confirmations as proof of their place in line. One 512GB model with a controller sold for a $235 markup, while others are listed with significantly higher price increases.
SK Hynix, Samsung and Micron sued over allegations of "concerted anticompetitive behaviour" in DRAM market
Chip manufacturers SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron are facing a class action lawsuit alleging concerted anticompetitive behavior in the DRAM market. Lawyers claim the companies coordinated to cut consumer DRAM supply and pivot to high-bandwidth memory for data centers, leading to significant price increases. This alleged behavior follows a history of DRAM price-fixing conspiracies between the same companies.
Amid Steam Machine performance scrutiny, Valve removes '4K at 60FPS' claim
Valve has quietly removed claims that the Steam Machine is capable of 4K gaming at 60 frames per second from its product page. The company updated the specification to "Up to 4K gaming with FSR 4.1" from the previous "4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR." This change comes as the hardware's performance capabilities are under scrutiny following its launch.
Steam Machine reservations are already being resold on Ebay for up to $2900
Valve's Steam Machine is experiencing scalping, with reservations being resold on eBay for up to $2900, significantly higher than the device's official price. This follows a similar trend seen with the Steam Controller, though the higher cost of the Steam Machine makes these resold prices less accessible to consumers. Valve's upcoming VR headset, the Steam Frame, faces uncertainty regarding demand due to existing competition.
Steam Week in Review: Steam sales are the best time to hoard dozens of forgotten '90s PC gaming oddities
The Steam Summer Sale offers deep discounts on major titles, but also presents an opportunity to explore forgotten '90s PC gaming oddities. The article highlights obscure FMV racers, cyberpunk adventures, and rail shooters, suggesting that even browsing trailers and screenshots can be a fascinating dive into video game history. It also notes the ongoing popularity of games like Cyberpunk 2077 and PUBG: Battlegrounds during the sale period.
PS6 will cost Sony £750 just for the raw materials says insider
An insider estimates the raw materials for the PlayStation 6 could cost around $960 (£730), significantly increasing the potential retail price. This surge is attributed to rising memory and hard drive costs, driven by demand for AI data centers, impacting all hardware manufacturers. Sony and Microsoft may face difficult decisions regarding console pricing and profitability.
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Web port wizards have successfully created browser-playable versions of Valve's classic games Half-Life 2 and Portal. These versions leverage the Source engine and are accessible directly through web browsers, bringing these iconic titles to a new platform.
12 years on, roguelike royalty The Binding of Isaac is suddenly bigger than ever
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth has reached new player count highs on Steam, surpassing 100,000 concurrent users for the first time. This surge in popularity is attributed to a significant 90% discount during the Steam Summer Sale, making the game and its complete package exceptionally good value.
Oh no, that's Lenovo saying they think these RAM prices will be the new normal and may never go back to how they were
Lenovo suggests that current high DRAM and NAND prices may become the new normal, potentially extending beyond 2030. Despite increased production capacity, the company believes prices will not return to previous levels. This trend has already impacted the industry, leading to the shutdown of the game preservation site Myrient and contributing to the high cost of Valve's Steam Machines.
Valve Engineers Keen on Steam Machine Price Drop But Warn Not to Expect It “Anytime Soon”
Valve engineers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Yazan Aldehayyat have expressed a desire to lower the price of the Steam Machine, but caution that it is unlikely to happen soon due to current hardware and storage costs. They acknowledge that the high price point is counterproductive to the device's goal of reaching a wider audience. Reservations for the first batch have ended, with shipments beginning on June 29th.
On Steam Machine, Valve engineers say "the cheaper the better," but a price drop is unlikely "any time…
Valve engineers acknowledge that while they prefer lower prices for the Steam Machine, a price drop is unlikely in the near future due to ongoing high hardware component costs, particularly memory. Despite the entry-level model costing $1049, Valve believes it offers value as an enabler for gaming experiences.
