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Epic Games’ Tim Sweeney is at it again, says Steam’s AI disclosure requirement is ‘irresponsible’
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has criticized Valve's AI disclosure requirement for Steam, calling it 'irresponsible.' Sweeney believes that it is not Valve's role to ensure the success of games submitted to their platform.
After mysteriously vanishing from the game, Dota 2's Axe has been 'replaced' by a fake
Dota 2's hero Axe mysteriously disappeared from the game and was replaced by a placeholder, only to return with a new 'Axe?' designation and a mechanical, clockwork design. This change, along with new ability icons and a hammer replacing his axe, is speculated to be part of an upcoming 'Dark Carnival' in-game event, possibly related to the character Ringmaster. Valve has since fixed crashes associated with the new hero.
Valve says Steam Machine won't have 'as long of a timeframe' as Steam Deck, and new models are 'just…
Valve engineers discussed the product strategy for the Steam Machine, indicating it will not have as long of a product lifecycle as the Steam Deck. Unlike the Steam Deck, which requires a fixed performance target for developers, the Steam Machine is more akin to a gaming PC with a variable performance gradient. Valve is observing the evolving PC hardware market and new game demands before committing to a new Steam Machine iteration.
Morning Interviews
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney discussed the future of gaming, artificial intelligence, and the competitive landscape with Valve. He stated that no single company is likely to achieve an absolute monopoly in the industry.
"We have our own list of features that we wanted to add": Valve say the Steam Machine's update support will be similar to the Steam Deck's
Valve hardware designer Lawrence Yang stated that the Steam Machine will receive software support and feature updates comparable to the Steam Deck. Valve plans to continuously ship updates and improvements, incorporating user feedback and their own internal feature wishlist, similar to how the Steam Deck evolved post-launch with new features and performance enhancements.
Online retailers are stating that PS5 GTA 6 codes can only be played in the country they're bought
Online retailers in the UK and Ireland are displaying warnings that PlayStation 5 codes for Grand Theft Auto 6 can only be redeemed in the country where they were purchased, citing account registration requirements. This contradicts standard EU law which prohibits geo-blocking across European Economic Area borders for digital products, though some European retailers have different disclaimers. Similar warnings were initially present for Xbox Series X/S but have since been removed as those codes are typically region-free.
The RAM crisis comes for Apple: Mac and iPad prices jacked up by hundreds as company says 'We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly'
Apple has significantly increased the prices of its Mac and iPad lines due to a rapid and substantial rise in component costs. The company stated that it has never experienced such a swift and large increase in component prices before. While iPhones are currently unaffected, CEO Tim Cook indicated that price hikes for all products might become unavoidable if the situation persists.
Epic Games boss calls Steam AI disclosures "really irresponsible of Valve" as they make it "much, much, much harder for a game developer to have a chance of success"
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has criticized Valve's decision to require developers to disclose the use of generative AI in games on Steam, calling it "irresponsible." Sweeney argues that these disclosures create a negative stigma, making it significantly harder for smaller developers to succeed. He believes AI tools are crucial for developers to remain competitive and that such tags discourage innovation.
Valve wasn't sure it was gonna have any Steam Machines to sell at the start of 2026: 'Things looked really…
Valve engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Pierre-Loup Griffais discussed the challenges in producing Steam Machines, particularly due to the RAM crisis impacting component costs and availability. At the beginning of the year, Valve was uncertain if they would have any units to sell, but they have since managed to secure a sizable amount for launch, though day-one demand is expected to exceed supply.
Steam Machine sold out already in some regions ahead of release
The Steam Machine has already sold out in Hong Kong, Japan, and Taiwan ahead of its official release date. Valve is using a lottery system in some regions like the US and UK to prevent scalping, a strategy implemented after the Steam Controller's rapid sell-out. All four configurations of the Steam Machine are unavailable in the affected Asian markets, with prices noted as being higher than in the US.
Tencent, Xbox, Game Angels, Ansible and Flick to speak on Game Republic New Horizons investor stage
The Game Republic New Horizons conference will feature speakers from Tencent, Xbox, The Game Angels, Ansible, and Flick Games on its investor stage. The event, co-hosted by Games London, aims to connect game studios with investors and funders. Separately, Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra discussed the ongoing global chip shortage, predicting gradual improvement in 2028 due to increased demand from data centers powering AI.
Micron says chip shortage will "improve gradually" in 2028
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra stated that the global RAM and NAND chip shortage, exacerbated by AI demand, is expected to persist through 2027 and gradually improve in 2028. He admitted that the company has no visibility on when supply will meet demand, citing long fab construction times, worker shortages, and regulatory hurdles. This shortage is driving up component costs, impacting hardware markets and console prices, with companies like Valve facing higher costs for their Steam Machine.
There's a surprising amount of major games you can't play on Valve's Steam Machine - here are eight of the biggest, and why
Valve's Steam Machine, despite its potential, faces significant limitations due to its SteamOS (a Linux variant) not supporting many popular games. This is primarily caused by anti-cheat software, which is incompatible with Linux, rendering titles like Destiny 2, Fortnite, Battlefield 6, Apex Legends, GTA Online, EA Sports FC 24, and modern Call of Duty games unplayable. While installing Windows is an option, it defeats the purpose of the console-like device.
Now we know how much GTA 6 costs, but can you remember what these other games cost at launch? Take our price tag quiz!
Rockstar Games has confirmed Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch at $70, with an Ultimate Edition costing $100. This article tests readers' knowledge of the launch prices of various other games, including the original Grand Theft Auto, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Collector's Edition, and The Orange Box.
Tim Sweeney on the future of games, AI, and whether Valve will ever join forces with Epic: 'It's now clear that nobody's going to end up with an absolute monopoly'
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney discusses the future of gaming, emphasizing interoperability and AI integration in Unreal Engine 6 to foster "Team Open." He addresses concerns about AI's creative impact and criticizes Valve's stance on AI disclosures, advocating for tools that improve developer efficiency and player experience across platforms. Sweeney also touches on the challenges of AAA development and the importance of economic interoperability for games like Fortnite.
$949 Steam Deck OLED is just the expensive beginning – MSI marketing lead warns there's "much room for another price hike" in handheld consoles
MSI product marketing lead Andy Chu predicts further price increases for handheld gaming consoles, citing the expensive Steam Deck OLED and the new MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ as examples. He suggests the market has room for more price hikes, while hardware editors advocate for purchasing refurbished or open-box units to combat inflation.
'Above $1,000 Is the Floor': Analysts Predict PS6 Price, and It's Not Good
Industry analysts predict that the PlayStation 6 could launch at a price point exceeding $1,000 due to ongoing component shortages and market trends. While some believe Sony will maintain a price below $999 for marketing reasons, others foresee a significant increase, potentially delaying the console's release until 2028.
Valve Releases SteamOS So Anyone Can Make A Steam Machine Now
Valve has released SteamOS 3.8, making its Linux-based operating system available for all hardware configurations, allowing users to convert their existing PCs into Steam Machines. While discrete AMD GPU support is available now, Nvidia support is still in development. The Steam Machine hardware is set to go on sale on June 30.
Morning Tech Bits
SpaceX's upcoming Initial Public Offering is reportedly causing issues for retail investors. Separately, the article questions the high price point of the Steam Machine, suggesting Valve faced challenges with RAM manufacturers.
I've been trying to get my Steam Link to work for ten years, but I've fixed it just in time to save me spending £1000 on a Steam Machine
After a decade of troubleshooting, the author finally got Valve's Steam Link to work reliably by disabling the Fraps benchmarking tool. This success allows for PC gaming on a big screen without the expense of a Steam Machine, offering a viable alternative for users with existing desktop PCs.
