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New York sues Valve over loot box-driven gambling
New York has filed a lawsuit against Valve, alleging the company illegally promotes gambling through video games popular with children and teenagers. The suit targets Valve's loot box ecosystem, which the state's attorney general equates to unregulated gambling, citing games like Counter-Strike 2, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2. The lawsuit aims to halt Valve's alleged illegal conduct and protect New York residents from the harms of gambling addiction.
Happy four years to the Steam Deck - still the top PC gaming handheld
Four years after its original LCD release, the Steam Deck has significantly impacted handheld PC gaming and Linux adoption. Valve's continued work on SteamOS and Proton has made over 25,000 titles playable, with future hardware like the Steam Frame VR headset and Steam Controller 2 on the horizon. The article also touches on current stock issues for the Steam Deck OLED due to AI hardware demand.
Lutris v0.5.21 and v0.5.22 arrive with Valve's Sniper runtime support and new game runners
Lutris, an open-source game manager for Linux, has released versions 0.5.21 and 0.5.22. These updates introduce support for Valve's Sniper runtime, new game runners for PS4 and Xenia, and various bug fixes and improvements, including updated Dolphin-emu runner and collapsible sidebar sections.
Valve's new Deadlock shooter nearly as popular on Steam as Overwatch, despite being invite-only and far from finished
Valve's unreleased hero shooter, Deadlock, has seen a significant surge in player numbers on Steam, reaching a peak of 125,000 concurrent players after a recent update. This surge places it close to the player count of Overwatch, despite Deadlock being invite-only and lacking an official release date. The game blends hero shooter and MOBA elements, drawing comparisons to Valve's own Team Fortress 2 and Dota 2.
Fate of console pricing uncertain after Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs
The US Supreme Court has ruled against tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, potentially impacting video game hardware pricing. Companies like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo had previously raised prices due to these tariffs, with manufacturing largely based in China. However, ongoing shortages of RAM and hard drives driven by AI data center demand, exacerbated by a deal between OpenAI and Samsung, continue to pose challenges to hardware availability and pricing.
"It needs to cooperate fairly, and it's clearly not." Why Valve is facing a £656m day in the UK courts
A UK court has allowed a class-action lawsuit against Valve to proceed, alleging the company violates competition law through its 30% revenue share on Steam and price parity requirements. Digital safety campaigner Vicki Shotbolt is leading the case, seeking up to £656 million in damages for UK consumers. The lawsuit argues that Valve's practices harm consumers by inflating game prices and limiting developer pricing flexibility.
A decade of gaming hardware stagnation? That might not be a bad thing | Opinion
Component shortages driven by AI data center demand are impacting gaming hardware, potentially leading to stagnation in console and PC upgrades for years. While frustrating, this pause might be welcome for consumers experiencing diminishing returns on hardware advancements and facing price hikes. The industry faces a future with potentially unchanged mainstream gaming hardware specifications by the end of the decade, with consumers likely less bothered by a lack of upgrades than by increased prices.
The best SSDs for the Steam Deck
This guide reviews and recommends the best M.2 2230 SSDs for the Steam Deck, evaluating performance, thermals, and value. It highlights top picks like the Corsair MP600 Mini for overall performance and the Crucial P310 for exceptional value, while also discussing compatibility and installation.
Godot veteran laments 'AI slop,' Highguard's mystery investor, and a big doc for Big Hops - Patch Notes #41
This week's gaming news highlights concerns over generative AI's impact on hardware availability and the influx of low-quality submissions to open-source projects like Godot. Unity claims its AI can now generate full casual games from prompts, while a documentary explores the six-year development of the indie platformer Big Hops. Other news includes Hasbro shutting down its Atomic Arcade studio, Tencent's secret funding of Highguard, a banned Call of Duty ad, ByteDance potentially selling Moonton, and Valve warning of Steam Deck OLED stock issues due to RAM shortages.
"Creativity is the key": how PC hardware's smaller manufacturers are navigating the RAM shortage disaster
Smaller PC hardware manufacturers are navigating the current RAM shortage by using less memory in their products or leveraging their unique market position. Companies like Commodore International with the C64 Ultimate and Panic with the Playdate are less affected due to lower RAM requirements, while Framework utilizes a modular approach and direct supplier contact to manage component sourcing. Despite these strategies, some firms like the Pi Foundation have had to increase prices, and the overall outlook suggests the shortage, driven by AI demand, could persist for several more years.
The Best Steam Deck Games To Play In 2026
This guide highlights the best games available for the Steam Deck, catering to a wide range of genres from AAA titles to indie gems. It focuses on games that are 'Deck Verified' by Valve and offer an excellent portable experience, with regular updates to reflect the growing library of compatible titles.
Valve warns of Steam Deck OLED stock issues due to RAM shortage
Valve has warned that the Steam Deck OLED may experience intermittent stock issues in some regions due to memory and storage shortages, exacerbated by demand from AI datacenters. The company also noted that the Steam Deck LCD 256GB model is no longer in production. Other companies like Sony and Nintendo could also face hardware availability challenges.
Steam Deck OLED stock affected by component shortages
Valve has confirmed that the Steam Deck OLED may experience intermittent unavailability in some regions due to ongoing RAM and storage shortages. This global component crisis is also affecting Sony's potential PlayStation 6 release timeline and may lead Nintendo to increase the price of the Nintendo Switch 2.
Epic insists it gave Horses studio "context" following decision to ban controversial horror game
Epic Games has disputed claims made by developer Santa Ragione regarding the ban of their horror game 'Horses' from the Epic Games Store. Epic insists it provided context on policy violations, specifically regarding 'Inappropriate Content' and 'Hateful or Abusive Content', which resulted in an 'Adults Only' rating, a category not permitted on their store. Santa Ragione claims Epic made incorrect statements and failed to provide necessary documentation for an appeal.
15 Funniest Games to Play in 2026: From Scripted Wit to Physics Chaos
This article explores the funniest games available in 2026, categorizing them by their comedic approach, from scripted wit to physics-based chaos. It highlights titles like Aperture Desk Job for its Valve-style humor, Helldivers 2 for emergent multiplayer comedy, and West of Loathing for its exceptionally funny writing. The piece also touches on the importance of mindful gaming habits to prevent burnout.
When Is The Next Steam Sale? Dates For 2026 Summer Sale And More Fests Revealed
Valve has announced the dates for its major Steam sales and promotional events throughout 2026. The Steam Summer Sale 2026 is scheduled from June 25 to July 9, followed by various themed fests and the Steam Autumn and Winter Sales later in the year.
The Best Two-Player Co-Op Games To Strengthen (Or Test) Your Friendships
This article highlights the best two-player cooperative games designed for deep collaboration and communication. It features titles like It Takes Two, Portal 2, and A Way Out, emphasizing games where teamwork is essential for progression and enjoyment.
The Best Co-Op Games To Play Right Now
This guide highlights the best co-op games available now, featuring a wide range of genres and platforms. It emphasizes the unique social enjoyment and replayability that cooperative gameplay offers, distinguishing itself from single-player experiences by focusing on current, widely accessible titles rather than an all-time ranking.
Best VR headset 2026
This guide reviews the best virtual reality headsets available, with the Meta Quest 3 being the top overall choice for its balance of features and price. Other recommended headsets include the Pico 4 as a non-Meta alternative, the Meta Quest 3S for budget-conscious buyers, and the Pimax Crystal for superior image quality. The article also covers factors like resolution, refresh rate, and ease of setup to help users choose the right VR headset for their needs.
The best FPS games 2026: genre-defining shooters
This article lists and describes the best First-Person Shooter (FPS) games available on PC, highlighting their unique features and impact on the genre. It covers a range of titles from classics like Half-Life 2 and Quake to modern hits such as Valorant and Doom: The Dark Ages, also touching on upcoming releases.
