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I've tested the Steam machine—and at this price, I don't think it makes much sense
The Steam Machine, Valve's living room PC, is a well-designed device but suffers from a high price tag and underpowered performance for its cost. Despite its sleek form factor and quiet operation, its RDNA 3 GPU struggles with demanding games, requiring significant compromises in settings and upscaling to achieve playable frame rates, making it an expensive curio rather than a mass-market gaming device.
Valve finally announces the price of Steam Machine and a sort of release date, but the console-like PC might cost more than you're expecting
Valve has announced pricing and initial shipping dates for the Steam Machine, a living room PC. The console-like device will be offered in four configurations, with prices ranging from $1,049 for the 512GB model to $1,349 for the 2TB version. Shipping is set to begin after June 29th, with a reservation system in place.
21 years ago, Valve passed on a chill game pitched as "the opposite" of GTA San Andreas, Journey creator says: "We only publish games with guns, our players like to shoot"
In 2005, Valve rejected a game pitch called 'Cloud,' which was designed to be the opposite of violent titles like Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Jenova Chen, co-founder of Thatgamecompany, revealed that Valve stated they 'only publish games with guns.' Despite the rejection, Cloud was eventually released for free, and Thatgamecompany has since found success with peaceful games like Journey.
Rumor Mill
A rumor suggests Valve may be taunting dataminers regarding Half-Life 3 by including a hidden Source 2 string. This comes as development is reportedly ramping up following a delay in the Steam Machine's release.
It's easy to find a great gamepad that's cheaper than the Steam Controller - here are my top picks under $100 based on hands-on testing with each one
This article recommends several PC game controllers that are cheaper than the Steam Controller, all priced under $100. The author highlights features like back buttons and advanced thumbstick technology, suggesting these alternatives offer comparable or better value for most players. Prime Day deals are also mentioned as an opportunity for further savings.
Steam Week in Review: spammy, AI-generated capsule art is a pox, and it makes browsing Steam less fun
The proliferation of AI-generated capsule art on Steam is diminishing the browsing experience, making it harder to discover genuine indie gems. This trend creates a disconnect between appealing art and actual game quality, potentially leading to wasted time and a less enjoyable user experience for curious players.
Steam Machine Pricing Revealed, Starts at $1049 for 512 GB
Valve has revealed the pricing for the Steam Machine, with the 512 GB version starting at $1049 and the 2 TB version at $1349. A reservation queue has opened, utilizing a random selection process to avoid bot interference and ensure fair distribution, with purchases beginning on June 29th.
The Stream Team: Hawthorne, SpiritVale, Caved In, Trine 6, and more Steam Next Fest multiplayer demos
Massively OP's MJ Guthrie will be showcasing various multiplayer game demos from Steam Next Fest, including Hawthorne, SpiritVale, Caved In, and Trine 6. Hawthorne is notably developed by former employees of Bethesda, BioWare, and Naughty Dog. The stream will focus on multiplayer and MMORPG titles, with a mention of interest in single-player games like Chonky Cat and Where We Used to Play.
Control Issues
A new web application has been developed that allows users to control the Valve Steam Controller's drift using its rumble motors. This tool effectively turns the gamepad into a remote-controlled device.
I spent an entire day with a fan-mod of North Korea's homegrown operating system, and I'm sorry to say…
An attempt to install and run a fan-modded version of North Korea's RedStar OS 3.5 on a PC proved largely unsuccessful. Despite improvements over the base 2011 version, the modified OS still suffered from installation issues, graphical glitches, and an inability to run modern applications or games, highlighting the significant gap between the OS and contemporary computing standards.
Valve calls out Dota 2 dataminers desperate for Dark Carnival news: "Why are you guys reading our variable names?"
Valve has responded to Dota 2 dataminers speculating about a new event called 'Dark Carnival' by humorously renaming a variable in the game's code to 'Why are you guys reading our variable names'. This follows months of rumors and in-game hints, including a 'Sense of Foreboding' modifier, suggesting a new large-scale event is in development, potentially involving the character Ringmaster.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 19: GOG.com Summer Sale
This weekend's PC gaming deals include GOG.com's Summer Sale featuring discounts on titles like Hollow Knight Silksong and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Steam and Epic Games Store also have various sales, with free games available on Epic Games Store and Amazon Luna. Humble Bundle offers several game bundles for different price tiers.
Shack Chat: What is your favorite video game comeback?
Shacknews staff members discuss their favorite video game comebacks, highlighting titles like Overwatch 2, Guilty Gear Xrd, F-Zero 99, Destiny 2, Half-Life: Alyx, and No Man's Sky. The discussion also touches on Nintendo's successful transition from the Wii U to the Nintendo Switch as a significant comeback for the company.
The new Epic Games Launcher might not suck so much thanks to 'ground-up' rebuild with 5–6.5x improved performance—still a long way to catch up with Steam
Epic Games is rebuilding its PC launcher from the ground up, promising significant performance improvements including a 5-6.5x faster startup time. The redesign aims to enhance user experience with features like personalized recommendations, improved browsing, and detailed product pages, drawing comparisons to Valve's Steam platform.
Steam Summer Sale Next Week
Valve has announced that the annual Steam Summer Sale will commence on June 25th. This event provides a yearly opportunity for PC gamers to expand their game libraries. An official trailer has been released to accompany the announcement.
Steam Controller Reservations Now Backed Into 2027
Valve's Steam Controller is experiencing significant demand, leading to reservation fulfillment dates extending into 2027. New orders placed today are estimated to arrive in 2027, with existing reservations being placed into delivery timeframes spanning up to September 2026, December 2026, or 2027. Valve is also delaying information on other Steam Hardware like the Steam Machine and Steam Frame due to economic pressures on computer components.
Steam Controller demand is so high Valve is changing reservation estimates, and some customers won't get theirs until 2027
Valve has adjusted reservation estimates for the Steam Controller due to overwhelming demand, with some customers now facing delivery windows in 2027. The company stated that production cannot keep up with current demand, and new orders placed today are unlikely to be fulfilled this year. The Steam Controller, priced at $99, aims to emulate the Steam Deck experience on PC and provide a comfortable alternative to mouse and keyboard for sofa gaming.
Valve seems to have a Steam Controller backlog on its hands, so you'll want to grab the Steam Machine bundle to…
Valve has acknowledged a significant backlog for its Steam Controller, with new reservation estimates ranging from September 2026 to 2027. The company is implementing a reservation queue system to manage demand, which has exceeded expectations since the controller's launch. The Steam Machine will be available separately, and other PC controllers can be used with the device.
Steam Controller reservation hopefuls hit by fresh disappointment with Valve's latest hardware update
Valve has announced significant delays for Steam Controller reservations, pushing estimated order windows to September 2026, December 2026, or sometime in 2027 due to demand exceeding expectations. The company stated that they have no plans to stop production but want to manage customer expectations regarding delivery times for the popular PC hardware.
Are you prepared to wait until 2027 for a Steam Controller?
Valve has announced that some Steam Controller orders may not be fulfilled until next year. This indicates potential shipping delays for the hardware, impacting customers who have placed orders.