Valve
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Evening Postmortems/Retrospectives
A retiring Valve programmer revealed that at least one of the studio's popular game modes was developed in secret to avoid pushback from colleagues. This information comes from a PC Gamer report detailing internal development practices at Valve.
I’m giving up on modern gaming and I know I’m not the only one - Reader’s Feature
A long-time gamer expresses disillusionment with the modern gaming industry, citing the shift from complete, creative experiences to live service models, microtransactions, and endless monetization. The author feels current trends alienate veteran players and that younger generations are indoctrinated into a system that prioritizes profit over artistic integrity. This sentiment leads the author to abandon modern gaming in favor of retro titles and physical media.
Retiring Valve programmer says 'at least one' of the studio's beloved game modes was made in secret to…
Retiring Valve programmer Christopher Green announced his second and final departure from the company, reflecting on his 16 years working on titles like Half-Life 2 and its Source engines. Green revealed that the popular Half-Life 2: Deathmatch game mode was developed semi-secretly by a single programmer who believed in the project.
'We're interested in having the whole PC catalog as our 'launch exclusive'': Valve talks exclusives and the advantages of an open platform
Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat stated that the company is more interested in having the entire PC catalog as a 'launch exclusive' rather than restricting games to specific hardware. Valve aims to grow the PC platform by maintaining an open spirit, allowing other manufacturers to innovate with devices like the Steam Machine and handhelds such as the Lenovo Legion Go.
Palworld 1.0 briefly overtook the king of Steam, Counter-Strike 2, and devs can't help but bask in the victory: "Let me enjoy this moment for just a little longer"
Following its 1.0 update, Palworld has seen a massive surge in players, briefly surpassing Counter-Strike 2 in concurrent players on Steam. Pocketpair's John Buckley shared his excitement for the achievement, with other industry figures like Will Powers from Pearl Abyss offering congratulations. CEO Takuro Mizobe also expressed gratitude to the fans for enjoying the game.
Amid FBI investigation into Steam malware, Florida man arrested and charged with stealing crypto currency as part of…
A Florida man, Zyaire Dontaevious Zamarion Wilkins, has been arrested and charged in connection with an FBI investigation into a Steam malware scheme that allegedly stole at least $220,000 in cryptocurrency. The malware was embedded in several games on Steam, which have since been removed. Wilkins faces up to 10 years in prison under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
Former PlayStation boss says Sony needs 'more games for more people' to justify a $1,000 PS6
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden believes Sony needs to innovate with game content to justify the projected $1,000 price tag for the PlayStation 6. He argues that focusing on a narrow range of popular titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 limits the industry's reach, and developers should create more diverse games to attract a wider audience.
Denshattack dev wakes up, rolls out of bed, finds out their game is one of the highest-rated releases of 2026, and…
The indie game Denshattack!, a colorful mashup of Tony Hawk and Jet Set Radio vibes, has achieved significant success just one day after its release. The game, which features players controlling a train through a Japanese cityscape, has received "Very Positive" reviews on Steam and is among the top 10 best-selling titles. Critics have also praised the game, with Metacritic showing an average score of 88, placing it among the year's best releases.
Retiring Valve employee replies to HLX question in AMA, unintentionally feeding HL3 fans hopium again
Valve software engineer Christopher Green's retirement AMA has fueled speculation about a potential 'HLX' project, possibly related to Half-Life 3. Green's non-committal response to a question about HLX has reignited hope among fans, despite no official confirmation from Valve. This follows previous rumors and speculation surrounding Valve's development cycles and potential unannounced projects.
Counter-Strike 2 for Console Gamers: What Xbox Players Need to Know
Counter-Strike 2, a major PC title, is not planned for a native console release on Xbox due to its design favoring keyboard and mouse input and historical issues with console ports. While direct play on Xbox is unavailable, players can access it via PC Game Pass on a Windows PC or through cloud streaming services like GeForce NOW using the Xbox's Edge browser, though the latter may introduce input lag unsuitable for competitive play.
Why I Bought the Lenovo Legion Go 2 (and Why It Was Worth Every Penny) – Geeky Sweetie
The author explains their decision to purchase the Lenovo Legion Go 2, a handheld gaming PC, despite its high price and the availability of cheaper alternatives. They emphasize that the device's detachable controllers and ergonomic design, which allow for more comfortable and flexible play sessions, make it the ideal device for their personal use, outweighing specifications and benchmarks.
Steam Deck OLED at $789: Should You Still Buy One in 2026?
Valve has significantly increased the prices of the Steam Deck OLED models, with the 512GB version now costing $789 and the 1TB version $949, reflecting global component cost challenges. This article explores whether the three-year-old handheld is still worth purchasing at these new flagship prices, considering alternatives like refurbished units, the used market, and competing devices, while also discussing the broader trend of rising prices in the handheld gaming market.
Redditor fashions a 'game cartridge' system for their Steam library out of cheap SATA SSDs
A Reddit user has created a physical media project using cheap SATA SSDs to function as game cartridges for their Steam library. Each SSD is housed with the game's cover art, and a script automatically navigates Steam to the game's library page or launches it directly when the cartridge is slotted into a dock. This project highlights the appeal of physical media amidst rising memory prices and ongoing discussions about digital ownership.
Steam reveals all the sale dates and themed events for the first half of 2027
Valve has revealed the schedule for all Steam sales and themed events planned for the first half of 2027. The announcement includes dates for seasonal sales like the Steam Spring Sale and Steam Summer Sale, alongside various themed festivals such as Desktop Companion Fest, Shop Keeper Fest, and Rhythm Fest.
Steam fan finds 'cheap SSDs' to make retro 'game cartridges' system — the only problem is 2026…
A Steam user has devised a method to store PC games on SSDs, creating physical 'game cartridges' with custom artwork and auto-navigation scripts. This concept emerges amidst controversy over Sony's planned discontinuation of physical PlayStation game discs in 2028, highlighting ongoing debates about digital ownership and the future of physical media in gaming.
Valve appears to be discontinuing self-repair parts for the LCD Steam Deck at iFixit
Valve appears to be discontinuing self-repair parts for the LCD Steam Deck, as iFixit has indicated they will not be stocking replacement OEM batteries. This suggests a shift in Valve's strategy regarding user repairability for the handheld.
'Unfortunately, Valve is just starting to sunset these parts': Aftermarket battery replacements may soon be…
Valve is reportedly beginning to sunset replacement parts for the original LCD Steam Deck model, making it increasingly difficult for iFixIt to source OEM batteries. While iFixIt is exploring aftermarket options, there is no confirmed timeline for their availability. This move raises concerns about the longevity and repairability of Valve's hardware, especially since the LCD Steam Deck has been discontinued.
Steam study of over 53,000 games finds "60 – 90% of the growth" in monthly releases on Valve's store is from games using AI and "almost none of them make money"
A study of over 53,000 games released on Steam between July 2023 and July 2026 reveals that 60-90% of the growth in monthly releases comes from games disclosing AI-generated content. However, these AI-flagged games are not significantly more profitable than non-AI games, with the vast majority of titles, regardless of AI usage, failing to generate substantial revenue.
After just four years, Valve is seemingly discontinuing Steam Deck LCD parts, and the repair enthusiast in me is upset
Valve appears to be discontinuing parts for the four-year-old Steam Deck LCD model, with iFixit indicating they will likely stop stocking OEM batteries. While Valve has not officially announced this decision, the move could leave owners struggling to find replacement components. This potential discontinuation raises concerns about the long-term repairability of the original Steam Deck model.
This DIY 'OpenPuck' project allows the Steam Controller to emulate Xbox, Switch, and PlayStation controllers,…
The OpenPuck project allows the Steam Controller to emulate Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation controllers using a Pro Micro NRF52840 board. While Switch and PS3 modes have been verified on consoles, DualSense emulation is currently PC-only. The project also includes ReversePuck for emulating Steam Controller inputs on the Steam Deck.
