Valve
Valve business and news from across the web.
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Valve's Steam Machine launches in 2026: Everything we know so far
Valve has announced a new home console, the Steam Machine, set to launch in 2026 as a successor to the Steam Deck. The device will feature semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPUs and RDNA3 GPUs, 16GB of RAM, and options for 512GB or 2TB of storage, aiming for 4K 60FPS gameplay with FSR technology. While pricing is not yet confirmed, it is expected to be competitive with self-built PCs and potentially higher than current-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X due to component costs.
Valve speaks out about New York loot box lawsuit in rare attempt at damage control, saying ‘it would have been bad for users and other game developers’ to preempt situation
Valve has publicly addressed the lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General regarding loot boxes, describing them as gambling. The company stated that the AG's proposed changes to its business operations would have negatively impacted users and developers on Steam, affecting privacy and the ability to trade in-game items.
"Valve does not cooperate with gambling sites" - Counter-Strike publishers issue rare public defence of lootbox mechanics, following New York lawsuit
Valve has publicly defended its lootbox mechanics in Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2 against a lawsuit alleging illegal gambling. The company argues that these mechanics are not unique, do not provide in-game advantages, and that they have actively worked to combat gambling on their platform. Valve also stated they would comply with future legislation but disagreed with the proposed measures, believing they would harm users and developers.
Developer sues publisher after leaving Kickstarter backers waiting over two years for promised physical editions
Valve has responded to a lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General, disputing claims that loot boxes in Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2 constitute illegal gambling. The company stated it has been educating the NYAG about its virtual items since early 2023 and believes the transferability of digital items is a consumer right. Valve also addressed separate legal proceedings initiated by the Performing Right Society over alleged unlicensed use of music on Steam.
Valve comes out swinging against New York lawsuit with rare public statement: 'The type of deal that would satisfy the NYAG would have been bad for users and other game developers'
Valve has publicly responded to a lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General, defending its practices regarding in-game loot boxes and stating they do not constitute illegal gambling under state law. The company highlighted its efforts to combat fraud and theft related to virtual items and expressed concern that the AG's demands would negatively impact users and other developers.
Valve responds to NY Attorney General lawsuit: "We have serious concerns with the alterations the NYAG claims are necessary to make to our games"
Valve has responded to a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, disputing claims that loot boxes in Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2 unlawfully encourage minors to gamble. Valve stated it does not believe its virtual items violate gambling laws and expressed disappointment that the lawsuit proceeded despite their efforts to educate the NYAG. The company also addressed concerns about the transferability of digital items and invasive data collection proposed by the NYAG.
Valve defends loot boxes in response to New York's lawsuit
Valve has responded to a lawsuit filed by New York's attorney general accusing the company of promoting illegal gambling through loot boxes in games like Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2. Valve defended its use of mystery boxes, comparing them to physical trading cards and emphasizing that the items are purely cosmetic and transferable, arguing that removing transferability would harm consumers.
Valve says almost 6,000 games made over $100K on Steam last year
Valve revealed that 5,863 games generated over $100,000 in revenue on Steam in 2025, showing a significant increase from previous years. The company also shared data on the platform's massive data usage, with Steam users downloading 100 exabytes of games in 2025.
Valve faces a second lawsuit over game lockboxes as it argues that they’re exactly like trading card packs
Valve is facing a second lawsuit, this time a class action in Washington state, concerning its in-game lockbox monetization. The lawsuit alleges that these lockboxes are designed to mimic slot machines and employ psychological mechanisms similar to casinos. Valve has previously compared lockboxes to trading card packs in response to a similar lawsuit filed by the New York attorney general.
Microsoft spills the beans on its Xbox-PC hybrid at GDC while suggesting it's still years away
Microsoft revealed details about Project Helix, a future Xbox console codenamed to bridge the gap between console and PC gaming, at GDC. The hybrid system aims to play both Xbox console and PC games, with alpha versions expected to ship to developers in 2027, suggesting a potential release in 2028. The company emphasized the increasing importance of PC to the Xbox experience.
Valve says loot boxes are just like "Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, and Labubu" as it pushes back against New York lawsuit, claims it's being pressured to "collect more personal data" for "additional age verification"
Valve is pushing back against a lawsuit from the New York Attorney General's office that claims its loot boxes constitute gambling. The company argues that these "mystery boxes" are akin to collectible card games and has expressed concerns about demands for increased personal data collection for age verification. Valve states it will comply with any future legislation but intends to fight the current lawsuit.
Sony is more worried about Steam Machine than Xbox's Project Helix says dev
A former Bluepoint Games developer suggests Sony's reduced focus on PC ports is a strategic response to Valve's potential Steam Machine ecosystem, rather than competition from Microsoft's Project Helix. The argument posits that a successful Steam console offering PC library access with console simplicity could undermine traditional console market dominance.
Valve argues loot boxes "widely used, not just in video games but in the tangible world" as it expresses 'disappointment' over New York state lawsuit
Valve has responded to a lawsuit filed by New York State, which alleges that its loot box system constitutes illegal gambling. The company expressed disappointment, arguing that the transferability of digital items is beneficial to consumers and that their "mystery boxes" are comparable to tangible collectibles like baseball cards. Valve also highlighted its efforts to combat the misuse of game items on gambling sites and its concerns about the invasive data collection proposed by the state.
Valve clarifies what's required for a game to be Steam Machine and Steam Frame verified, but it just makes me worry…
Valve has clarified the verification requirements for games on its upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset. While Steam Deck verified games will automatically be compatible with Steam Machine, the latter has a performance target of 30 fps at 1080p. The Steam Frame has stricter requirements for stand-alone play, demanding 90 fps for VR titles and 30 fps at 720p for 2D games.
Garry's Mod creator expected to only "make about $30,000" on the sandbox game – but some 25 million copies later, it's one of Steam's most iconic smash hits
Garry Newman, creator of the sandbox game Garry's Mod, initially expected to make only around $30,000 from the title. However, the game has since sold approximately 25 million copies, becoming a significant hit. Newman also mentioned that the success of Garry's Mod and Rust is due to the team enjoying their work and the products they create.
Valve posted a statement on the New York lootbox lawsuit
Valve has issued a statement addressing the New York Attorney General's lawsuit concerning lootboxes in Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2. The company argues that these mystery boxes do not violate gambling laws and compares them to tangible collectible items like baseball or Pokemon cards. Valve also expressed concerns about the Attorney General's demands for increased personal data collection for age verification and the proposed removal of item transferability.
Steam Machine could be partly to blame for PlayStation's reported plans to step back from PC, Bluepoint dev suggests, and it'd be ironic if "Valve ultimately ended up winning the console war"
A Bluepoint Games developer suggests that the rise of the Steam Machine might be influencing Sony's reported decision to reduce PC ports of its single-player titles. This move is seen as ironic, as Valve's Steam Machine could potentially offer a superior experience by combining console simplicity with the breadth of PC gaming, leading to Valve potentially winning the console war.
Valve has shared new Steam Machine Verified guidance at GDC, but I've no idea why hitting Steam Deck performance levels is part of the requirements list
Valve has updated its Steam Machine Verified guidance, setting a performance target of 1080p 30fps, which mirrors the Steam Deck's requirements. This has raised questions given the new mini PC's advertised 4K 60fps capabilities and significantly higher potential performance compared to the handheld.
Valve says 5,863 titles earned over $100,000 on Steam in 2025
Valve reported that 5,863 games on Steam earned over $100,000 in 2025, a significant increase from approximately 3,000 in 2020. The company also highlighted record-breaking concurrent user numbers, with over 42 million peak concurrent users and 13.9 million in-game concurrent users. Valve emphasized its commitment to growing the opportunity for developers on Steam, citing improvements to Daily Deals that led to a 274 percent year-over-year increase in developer revenue from those promotions.
Dark Messiah modders given 'blank check' from Ubisoft to develop toolkit are now releasing a Community Edition…
Modders, with Ubisoft's support and a "blank check," are releasing a Community Edition of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic. Led by Dave Wiltos, the team is porting the Xbox 360 version, Dark Messiah Elements, to PC and developing an SDK that includes features like RTX support, co-op, and a dungeon generator.
