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J.K. Simmons hasn't played Baldur's Gate 3 or any of his games, but he loves Portal 2: 'I could have done…
Actor J.K. Simmons, known for his roles in games like Portal 2 and Baldur's Gate 3, admits he doesn't play video games due to controller dexterity issues. Despite not playing, he holds Portal 2 in high regard for its humorous script and also reprised his role as Cave Johnson for the Steam Deck tie-in Aperture Desk Job.
How do you feel about AI videogame music?
This opinion piece discusses the increasing integration of generative AI in game development, particularly concerning video game music. The author expresses strong opposition to AI-generated music, arguing it diminishes human creativity and composer intent. The article questions whether players would notice or care about AI music and highlights concerns about AI flooding platforms like Spotify and YouTube.
Videogame villains who sing at you are the best
This article discusses the trend of villains singing in video games, highlighting examples from various titles like Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Hades II, and Baldur's Gate 3. It argues that unexpected musical numbers from antagonists can be more engaging than traditional monologues, making them memorable and impactful.
MMO Business Roundup: GTA 6’s union meeting, EA’s Saudi sale, and Steam’s wishlist updates
Rockstar Games' union reported a positive first meeting with management regarding negotiations for worker protections like no crunch and pay transparency. Separately, the European Union Commission cleared Electronic Arts' $55 billion sale to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, making the deal more likely to finalize. Steam has also updated its wishlist functionality to include categories and improved search.
Buffs, Nerfs, and Bugs
IO Interactive has removed Denuvo DRM from 007: First Blood. Valve's latest Proton update addresses a game-breaking bug in Diablo IV on Linux systems.
Amazon games boss hopes Steam Machine and consoles "pushing well over $1,000" will drive more people to cloud…
Amazon games general manager Jeffrey Gattis believes rising console and PC hardware costs will drive more players towards cloud gaming services like Amazon Luna. He notes that while cloud gaming was once a solution in search of a problem, the increasing price of dedicated hardware makes it a more attractive option for the vast number of gamers who cannot afford expensive consoles or PCs.
Hideo Kojima isn't planning to blast off to space yet because he doesn't want to rush to his "ultimate dream," so he'll "keep on making games" for now
Hideo Kojima stated that while he still dreams of going to space and making movies, he intends to continue making video games for the foreseeable future. He believes that achieving smaller goals along the way is more fulfilling than immediately reaching one's ultimate dream. Kojima Productions is his current development studio.
PlayStation is risking a $7.2 billion used games market by ending disc production, analysts say: "Brick and mortar…
Analysts predict that PlayStation's move away from physical discs by 2028 could significantly shrink the $7.2 billion used games market. Experts suggest this shift to digital-only will reduce overall game purchasing opportunities, impacting both new and resale markets, and potentially forcing consumers into digital alternatives without choice.
Steam adds wishlist categories and cross-region gifting
Valve has updated Steam with new wishlist categories for better organization and improved gifting features, including cross-region gifting. Users can now create custom categories for their wishlists, customize notification settings, and share specific filtered views. Gifting has been enhanced to automatically calculate regional pricing at checkout, and the guest checkout process now supports purchasing games and gifts.
Dev baffled as Valve pauses their Steam release to painstakingly review "dozens of untextured polygons depicting…
The indie game Future? No Thanks! has been delayed on Steam due to Valve's content review process, which is examining its depiction of nudity. Developer Molleindustria expressed frustration, noting that the mild nudity and the game's demo had previously passed review. The release is now pending the completion of Valve's assessment.
Valve launches two big Steam updates, and one of them arrives at a perfect time
Valve has released two significant updates for its Steam platform, enhancing the gifting and wishlist features. Users can now gift games directly via email and through guest checkout, with cross-region gifting also supported. Wishlists have been improved with categories, a 'Demo Available' highlight, and the ability to share filtered views, arriving at an opportune time given the busy release schedule for PC games.
Steam's latest update finally brings order to the chaos of your wishlist, and might even nudge people into buying you some new games
Valve has released a significant update for Steam, introducing enhanced customization options for wishlists, including custom categories and tailored notifications. The update also improves Steam gifting features, allowing for easier digital gift card and game purchases, including guest checkout and email gifting, with improved cross-region gifting functionality.
Indie open worlder Future? No Thanks! gets last minute delay after Steam content mods allegedly demand a "watch the sex scene" button
The indie game Future? No Thanks! has been delayed on Steam due to content moderation issues regarding its depiction of nudity and sex scenes. Developer Molleindustria claims Valve's review process has taken over three weeks, exceeding the typical seven business days, and required a special build with a "watch the sex scene" button for reviewers.
Steam wishlists and gifting games just got a whole lot more useful
Valve has significantly enhanced Steam's wishlist and gifting features. Users can now create customizable categories for wishlisted games, improving organization and filtering. Gifting has also been streamlined with guest checkout for non-account holders and email gifting options, including cross-region gifting.
Steam Debuts New Gifting Features and Functionality, Expands Guest Checkouts
Valve has introduced new gifting features to Steam, enhancing its digital storefront. These updates include a guest checkout option for users without a Steam account, the ability to gift games across different regions, and expanded wishlist functionality. These changes aim to make the process of gifting digital games and hardware more seamless for users and their friends.
Steam adds handy gifting and wishlist updates
Steam has introduced new features allowing users to gift games without requiring the recipient to have a Steam account. Additionally, players can now organize their wishlists into custom categories, enhancing library management.
Steam wishlists are getting categories, making it even easier to organise all those games you'll definitely buy next sale
Valve is introducing categories to Steam wishlists, allowing users to better organize their desired games. Additionally, the platform is enhancing its gifting features, including a guest checkout option for any game and cross-region gifting, making it easier for users to purchase games for friends and family.
Valve just made two big changes to Steam: Wishlists are smarter, and it's easier to gift games while telling your…
Valve has implemented significant updates to Steam, enhancing its wishlist functionality with custom categories and improved notifications, alongside streamlining the game gifting process. Users can now create and share specific wishlist categories, and gifting is simplified with guest checkout and the removal of the need for friends to be connected on Steam.
Indie game gets last minute Steam delay while Valve reviews its 'dozens of untextured polygons depicting ass and…
The indie political satire game Future? No Thanks! has been delayed on Steam due to an extended review process by Valve concerning its depiction of nudity. Developer Molleindustria, also known as Paolo Pedercini, stated the game's launch was pushed back from July 22nd as Valve assesses the content, which consists of 'dozens of untextured polygons depicting ass and boobs.' This delay highlights ongoing ambiguities in Steam's content moderation policies, particularly regarding adult content.
New estimate suggests Valve's Steam Deck sales have decreased by 82%, and the reason shouldn't be a surprise
Valve's Steam Deck has reportedly seen an 82% decrease in unit sales, attributed to price increases for both LCD and OLED models. Analysis suggests a 72% revenue contraction and a 54% price hike have significantly reduced demand, pushing the device down in Steam's top seller rankings. The discontinuation of the LCD model and ongoing RAM shortages for OLED variants further impact availability and value proposition compared to more powerful alternatives.
