Valve
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Valve.
Latest coverage
Left 4 Dead 2 Dev Admits Valve Intentionally Leaked Its Own Trailer After the ESRB Blocked It from Release
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek revealed that Valve intentionally leaked the trailer for Left 4 Dead 2 after it was blocked from release by the ESRB. This admission sheds light on the game's early marketing strategy.
The ESRB wouldn't let Valve release the cinematic trailer for Left 4 Dead 2, so what did they do? They "leaked" it, obviously
Valve intentionally 'leaked' the cinematic trailer for Left 4 Dead 2 after the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) refused to approve its release due to concerns over profanity and violence. Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek revealed the anecdote, explaining that the ESRB's strictness on marketing materials led Valve to release the trailer themselves.
Left 4 Dead 2 writer says Valve intentionally 'leaked' its cinematic trailer to get around ESRB rules: 'I…
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek revealed that the cinematic trailer for Left 4 Dead 2 was intentionally 'leaked' by the company to bypass the ESRB's rules. Valve faced scrutiny over the game's violence and language, and the ESRB had stricter regulations for marketing materials than for the games themselves.
Steam Has Generated $15 Billion In Revenue So Far, And New Games Are A Big Part Of It
Steam has generated $15 billion in revenue so far in 2026, according to Rhys Elliot of Alinea Analytics. Top-selling games like Forza Horizon 6 and Crimson Desert contributed significantly, with new IPs making up 63% of the top 100 new games by gross revenue. Future releases like Phantom Blade Zero and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are expected to further boost Steam's earnings.
20 years later, Left 4 Dead 2 lead admits Valve's team leaked their own trailer because the ESRB blocked them from officially releasing it: "We can't get in trouble for that now"
Valve veteran Chet Faliszek admitted that the development team for Left 4 Dead 2 intentionally leaked the game's trailer because the ESRB had blocked its official release due to graphic content. This tactic allowed the trailer to be seen, though it led to some language being toned down in the final game.
Steam earned Valve $15 billion in revenue so far this year, with Crimson Desert alone topping $203 million according to…
Steam has generated $15 billion in gross revenue so far this year, with projections indicating it will exceed $20 billion by year's end. Crimson Desert emerged as the most successful new intellectual property on the platform, earning over $203 million. While no single game dominated, titles like Forza Horizon 6 and Resident Evil Requiem also performed strongly, contributing to Steam's significant revenue growth.
Valve experienced a massive 12TB leak
Valve has experienced a massive 12TB data leak, dubbed the 'teraleak', containing files from Steam titles between 2003 and 2013. The leak includes content for games like Team Fortress 2, Dota 2, Left 4 Dead, and early builds of Portal 2, as well as cancelled projects like F-STOP and an unused weapon from Half-Life 2: Episode 3. The data was reportedly accessed from a publicly accessible endpoint rather than through a hack, with Valve yet to issue an official statement.
Getting GTA Online players to move on to GTA 6 Online is going to be "a mess" for Rockstar, Valve veteran says
Valve veteran Chet Faliszek believes transitioning players from Grand Theft Auto Online to a potential Grand Theft Auto 6 Online will be a significant challenge for Rockstar Games. He questions how Rockstar will convince players to abandon a decade of investment and suggests that improved monetization will be a key, albeit potentially controversial, driver for the move. Faliszek also notes that Rockstar's strategy of delaying the online component at launch is a smart move to avoid initial backlash.
Nexus Mods is acquiring database and analytics site SteamDB
Nexus Mods, the company behind the popular PC modding portal, is acquiring SteamDB, a well-known database and analytics site for Valve's Steam platform. The acquisition aims to provide SteamDB with resources for long-term stability and development, while Nexus Mods sees potential in integrating SteamDB's data to improve modding tools and reliability.
SteamDB’s owner sells the site to popular mod repository Nexus Mods while admitting to burnout
SteamDB's founder, xPaw, has sold the popular PC gaming data site to Nexus Mods, a major repository for game mods. xPaw cited burnout and a changing internet landscape as reasons for the sale, expressing pride in the service he built but acknowledging the unsustainable workload. Nexus Mods has assured users that SteamDB's identity and functionality will remain unchanged, with plans to integrate it into their mod manager.
Nexus Mods, "the biggest modding platform in the world," has just acquired SteamDB: "We don't take the responsibility of becoming its next steward lightly"
Nexus Mods, a major platform for PC game modding, has acquired SteamDB, a popular fan-run database for Steam game information. The acquisition aims to provide SteamDB with the necessary resources and stability for its continued operation, addressing burnout experienced by its original creator, Pavel Djundik.
SteamDB changes hands to Nexus Mods, which means it 'needs to make money' now—but there won't be…
SteamDB, a popular site for tracking Steam game data and pricing, has been acquired by Nexus Mods. The site's founder, xPaw, cited burnout and a changing internet landscape as reasons for stepping down. Nexus Mods plans to monetize SteamDB to ensure its long-term viability, though they aim to avoid intrusive advertising and keep the core service free.
"The internet we once loved is gone": SteamDB founders announce the community-run database has been acquired by Nexus Mods' owners
Nexus Mods' owners, the company Chosen, have acquired the community-run backend database SteamDB from its founders. The original founders cited burnout and a desire for a suitable team to continue the project after 13 years. Nexus Mods plans to maintain SteamDB's identity while providing better infrastructure and funding, exploring monetization strategies beyond traditional ads.
30,000 games are either Steam Deck verified or at least 'playable' on Valve's handheld
Valve's Steam Deck now boasts 30,000 games that are either 'Verified' or 'Playable,' a significant increase since its launch. While 'Verified' titles run flawlessly, 'Playable' games may require minor adjustments. Some games, like For Honor, are being removed from Linux platforms, impacting Steam Deck availability.
The adult game crackdown is "ridiculous for our art form", say Hellraiser devs, but they think they'll survive thanks to that Clive Barker association
Developers of Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival express frustration over the ongoing crackdown on adult games, calling it 'ridiculous for our art form.' They believe the established IP status of Hellraiser provides some protection against bans on platforms like Steam, though they acknowledge the chilling effect on developers of original IPs. The game will launch on Steam on October 8 but faces challenges with age classification in territories like Germany and Japan.
Steam Deck hits 30,000 compatible games, according to SteamDB
The Steam Deck has surpassed 30,000 compatible games, with over 8,900 fully verified and an additional 21,000 marked as playable according to SteamDB. While most Windows titles run well via Valve's Proton compatibility layer, games with kernel-level anti-cheat like Black Ops 7 and Valorant remain unplayable.
No Half-Life 3 for the Steam Frame, so it looks like this six-year-old game might be the key launch offering instead
Valve is reportedly offering a free copy of Half-Life: Alyx to purchasers of its upcoming VR headset, the Steam Deck. This promotion mirrors a similar offer made when the Valve Index launched. Dataminer Brad Lynch discovered code strings indicating the promotion and noted recent updates to Half-Life: Alyx that may be optimizations for the new headset.
I Am Begging One Cool Billionaire To Take Up Double Fine’s Offer To Fund Brutal Legend 2
Double Fine is seeking $100 million in pledges to fund Brutal Legend 2 through a Kickstarter campaign, following its split from Microsoft. The studio is also running a two-week game jam called Amnesia Fortnight to prototype other game ideas, with some chosen by supporters for further development. The article notes that Double Fine recently underwent layoffs affecting 23 employees.
Linux manages to avoid the age verification apocalypse, but SteamOS isn't in the clear yet
California's Digital Age Assurance Act, set to take effect in 2027, will exempt open-source operating systems like Linux from mandatory age verification checks due to an amendment. However, Valve's SteamOS, which has proprietary elements, may still be subject to compliance, and users will likely still need to verify their age on Steam for certain games.
There's a new Deadlock mod that syncs your gameplay with your vibrator. You're welcome, I think
A new mod for Valve's Deadlock, named LoveLock, allows players to sync in-game actions like kills and deaths with Lovense sex toys. This mod, created by 'asteriaOW,' customizes vibration strength and duration based on gameplay events, and is available via GameBanana. Similar mods exist for other games like Ultrakill, Overwatch 2, and Counter-Strike.
