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Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Valve.
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Weekend PC Download Deals for June 26: Steam Summer Sale and friends
Multiple PC gaming storefronts, including Steam, GOG.com, and Epic Games Store, are hosting major summer sales with thousands of deals. Notable discounts are available on titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Some platforms also offer free titles or additional discounts for subscribers.
Steam Machine preorder emails are in the wild, and it finally feels real: Valve is actually gonna release this thing in…
Valve has begun sending out preorder reservation emails for the Steam Machine, notifying customers who were selected through a randomized lottery system. Those selected have three days to complete their purchase, with cancellations potentially opening spots for others in the queue. The company implemented the lottery to limit resellers, though inflated preorder access listings have already appeared on sites like eBay.
Steam Machine Preorders Are About To Begin, So Of Course They’re Already On eBay
Despite the Steam Machine not yet being released, preorders and reservations are already appearing for sale on eBay at significantly marked-up prices, some doubling the original cost. This practice mirrors similar situations with other in-demand hardware like the PlayStation 5 and Steam Deck, with listings fetching prices between $1050 and $3200.
Steam Machine Preorder Emails Are Super Confusing
Valve has begun sending out confusing preorder emails for the Steam Machine, which launches on June 29. These emails notify customers whether they are in the 'queue' to purchase within three days or on a 'waitlist' for future supply. The Steam Machine is described as a living room PC with prices ranging from $1050 to $1430.
Dota 2's Dark Carnival has begun, with a huge story chapter and five automaton hero personas
Valve has launched the Dota 2 Dark Carnival event, featuring a new story campaign titled 'Midnight Run' with Legion Commander and Hoodwink. The event introduces new hero personas, cosmetic items, and a progression system tied to in-game actions. The Dark Carnival is rolling out in stages, with new content becoming available over the next four weeks.
Business and Finance
A retailer has warned of potential stock shortages for Grand Theft Auto consoles. The article also questions the continued presence of Russian propaganda on the Steam platform, highlighting business and industry concerns.
Switch 2 is the second fastest-selling console in US history, as PlayStation records its worst May in decades - and Xbox its worst May ever
The Nintendo Switch has become the second fastest-selling console in US history, while the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S recorded their worst May sales figures ever. This downturn is attributed to significant price increases across all platforms, driven by ongoing component shortages exacerbated by AI data center demand. The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 may offer a temporary boost, but concerns remain about console affordability and stock availability.
I've spent 5 hours diving into the Steam Summer Sale with our features editor, and these are the 11 best games on…
The Steam Summer Sale is live, featuring significant discounts on a variety of games. This guide highlights 11 top picks, including Resident Evil Requiem, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with many titles reaching their lowest prices to date.
Valve can afford a niche, pricey hardware launch; Sony and Microsoft can’t
The article analyzes the impact of rising hardware component prices on the video game industry, particularly for console manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft. While Valve's Steam Machine can find a niche despite its high price, Sony and Microsoft face greater risks if their next-generation consoles are priced out of the mass market due to these ongoing supply chain and pricing issues.
'Stim Machine' is an alternative build outgunning the Steam Machine with a more powerful GPU, all at the same price — but there are notable compromises
A French retailer, LDLC, has created a PC called the 'Stim Machine' that offers a more powerful RX 9060 XT GPU than Valve's Steam Machine at the same price point. While it boasts superior frame rates and upgrade potential, the Stim Machine is significantly larger, lacks some of Valve's user-friendly features like instant sleep/wake and HDMI CEC, and requires manual SteamOS installation.
10 great games to grab during the Steam Summer Sale 2026
The Steam Summer Sale 2026 offers significant discounts on a variety of PC games until July 9th. Notable deals include Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth at 60% off, Dave the Diver at 50% off, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt at 90% off. The sale features a mix of genres and includes titles like Blasphemous 2, Robocop: Rogue City, and Hotline Miami.
How to Build a Crosshair That Fits Your Aim Style - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
This guide explains how to customize your Counter-Strike 2 crosshair to suit your individual playstyle, rather than simply copying professional player settings. It emphasizes visual compatibility, size, and the difference between static and dynamic crosshairs, advising players to find what works best through practice and trial and error.
The Steam Machine knock-offs begin as Stim Machine attempts to offer a more powerful machine at the same price and shape
French retailer LDLC has launched the 'Stim Machine,' a PC designed to compete with Valve's Steam Machine. Priced identically to the base Steam Machine, the Stim Machine features more powerful components, including an AMD Ryzen 5 8400F CPU and an AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT GPU, offering a significant performance advantage. However, it lacks the Steam Machine's console-like TV integration features, such as CEC support.
Backrooms director Kane Parsons has visited Valve, and the chances of a Portal movie happening just shot up
Backrooms director Kane Parsons visited Valve headquarters, fueling speculation about a potential Portal movie. Parsons has previously cited the Portal series as a major inspiration for his work, including his directorial debut. The visit has intensified fan discussions and hopes for an official film adaptation.
Grand Theft Auto 6 demand may be so high it will "likely outstrip supply" this holiday season, a video game retailer warns
A video game retailer warns that demand for Grand Theft Auto 6, launching November 19, will likely outstrip supply for consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S this holiday season. Ongoing hardware component shortages, exacerbated by the generative AI boom, are limiting the availability of units needed to meet the anticipated surge in interest.
Epic's Sweeney claims Steam AI labels are "really irresponsible of Valve"
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney criticized Valve's decision to label games on Steam that use AI, calling it "irresponsible" and detrimental to developers. Sweeney argued that AI tools enhance productivity and that the focus should be on the game's overall quality rather than the tools used to create assets.
Steam Summer Sale
The annual Steam Summer Sale has begun, featuring discounts on thousands of games, DLC, and bundles. The sale will run until July 9th, with opportunities to acquire free items as well.
Issues and Activism
Valve has removed a 4K 60FPS claim from a Steam page following negative reviews. The company's action addresses user concerns about the accuracy of marketing information presented on its platform.
Steam Machine – Everything You Need to Know Before You Purchase
Valve's Steam Machine is launching with high price points, ranging from $1,049 for a 512GB model to $1,428 for a 2TB version with a controller, due to increased RAM and storage costs. Performance is comparable to the PlayStation 5, targeting 1080p or 1440p for demanding games, with potential for future improvements like FSR 4 support.
As Steam Machine and Xbox are latest to fall to the RAMpocalpyse, Micron CEO says RAM shortages won't ease until…
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra predicts that global RAM shortages, exacerbated by AI demand and economic factors, will persist until at least 2028, leading to continued price hikes for gaming hardware. This situation has already caused price increases for platforms like Steam Machine, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5, with future consoles like the PlayStation 6 and Xbox Project Helix expected to be significantly more expensive.
