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"Sony waited for Rockstar to make the first move": Founding Xbox member warns against PlayStation's all-digital future, says "I trust" Steam games won't just disappear
Industry veteran Laura Fryer, a founding member of the original Xbox, warns about the risks of an all-digital future for gaming, citing PlayStation's move away from physical discs. She shares a personal anecdote about losing hundreds of dollars in Rock Band songs due to delisting, highlighting the impermanence of digital ownership and the potential loss of the second-hand market. Fryer suggests Sony is waiting for major releases like Grand Theft Auto 6 to normalize digital-only sales before fully committing.
Indie dev defends criticism of Steam refund abuse amid review bombing of his game: 'It's wrong to refund a…
Indie developer Mateo Covic has spoken out against players who refund games on Steam after completing them, despite his own game, Paddle Paddle Paddle, experiencing a high refund rate. Covic clarified that his frustration stems from players bragging about finishing and refunding games, not the refund policy itself. The controversy has led to some review bombing of his game, though he maintains his stance that completing a game and then refunding it is unethical.
Steam has reportedly made Valve more money in the first half of 2026 than it did in all of 2020 – $11.1 billion…
Steam reportedly generated $11.1 billion in revenue in the first half of 2026, surpassing its total revenue for 2020. This growth is attributed to a surge in Asian players, higher game prices, viral co-op titles, and publishers returning to the platform. Despite strong sales of new releases, revenue from games launched in 2026 constitutes a smaller percentage of overall sales compared to previous years.
"Just too gay" - Robert Yang is battling censorship to launch a collection of his award-winning games on Steam and Itch, and it's completely free
Developer Robert Yang is facing censorship issues with his collection of experimental games, Radiator Forever, which is available for free on Steam and Itch.io. Yang criticizes platforms like Steam for stricter content rules, particularly regarding adult and LGBTQ+ themes, which he argues are unfairly applied compared to mainstream titles. The collection, initially featuring four remastered games, will be expanded over time with more of Yang's acclaimed and politically charged works.
'Valve isn't interested in a nuanced conversation' says indie dev suffering from Steam censorship
Indie developer Robert Yang has detailed his struggles with Steam's content moderation policies, which have led to his games being hidden from most users due to their 'gay' nature and sexual content. Yang criticizes Valve for not engaging in nuanced conversations about content, contrasting it with the more permissive approach to sexual content in mainstream titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3. This situation highlights the ongoing impact of censorship on indie creators, even after broader crackdowns on adult content have subsided.
As Xbox and PlayStation flounder, Steam is reportedly having another record year
Valve's PC storefront Steam has achieved record-breaking revenue in the first half of 2026, generating an estimated $11.1 billion. This growth is attributed to the strong performance of the Chinese market, higher new release prices, and the return of third-party publishers. Meanwhile, Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation divisions are facing challenges due to declining sales, increased hardware costs, and negative consumer sentiment.
Virtual Reality Check
Valve's Steam Frame appears to be nearing its launch, as indicated by the appearance of a new 'Great on Frame' category on the platform. This suggests an imminent release for the virtual reality hardware.
"Compliance-in-advance is never enough to appease a zealous censor": Robert Yang on the current challenge of bringing experimental gay games to Steam
Developer Robert Yang discusses the difficulties of releasing experimental gay games like his collection Radiator Forever on platforms like Steam. He highlights issues with content moderation, age verification, and censorship campaigns that lead to games being hidden or geoblocked, even when developers attempt to comply with platform guidelines.
E-Ink faceplates for the Steam Machine are coming, but not from Valve
Peripherals brand Jsaux is developing E-Ink faceplates for the Steam Machine, a feature initially shown by Valve but not produced by them. Jsaux plans to offer Color E-Ink, Mono E-Ink, and Color Dot Matrix versions, though pricing and release dates are not yet announced. Valve has stated they do not have plans to produce more faceplates but will release CAD files for users to create their own.
A new Deadlock update leaves Graves and Silver gleeful, but Valve still can't get Shiv right
Valve has released a new update for the MOBA Deadlock, focusing on adjustments to objectives like the Soul Urn and Unstable Rift, as well as hero balance changes. The update aims to improve objective clarity and impact, with Graves and Silver seeing buffs while Shiv and Drifter receive nerfs. This patch continues Valve's efforts to refine the game based on community feedback.
Indie developer says Steam did them a solid by fixing their unbootable game to beat the Next Fest deadline
An indie developer shared how Steam Support went above and beyond by fixing a broken build of their game, Red Flag, allowing it to meet the deadline for Steam Next Fest. Instead of rejecting the submission due to a C++ redistributable issue, a Steam reviewer corrected the configuration themselves. This act of support enabled the game to participate in the festival, leading to a significant increase in wishlists and player engagement.
Valve's Steam Frame launch looks imminent, with new 'Great on Frame' category spotted
Valve's new VR headset, the Steam Frame, appears to be nearing its launch, with a new 'Great on Frame' category appearing on the Steam store. This category, currently featuring four games including Valve's own Portal 2 and The Lab, suggests official compatibility verification. Shipments of Steam Frames have reportedly begun arriving in the US, further indicating an imminent release alongside the Steam Machine this summer.
Steam Machine Verified medals appear on games' store pages overnight, as if left by the Compatibility Fairy
Valve has enabled the display of Steam Machine game compatibility ratings on store pages, mirroring the system used for the Steam Deck. Games like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and Palworld have received 'Verified' status, while Dota 2 is marked as 'Playable' due to minor issues. This update aims to clarify how Windows games will perform on Valve's SteamOS hardware.
It's not just you: Steam is down
Steam experienced a widespread outage on a Thursday, preventing users from accessing the store and community pages due to 'too many requests.' While some services like matchmaking remained operational, the website was inaccessible. The outage occurred on the same day the Steam Summer Sale was scheduled to end.
New Counter-Strike 2 Map Has Players Rescuing Dogs Instead Of Hostages, And That’s Very Nice
A new fan-made map for Counter-Strike 2, titled 'Shelter,' replaces the traditional hostage rescue objective with saving dogs from a fictional animal shelter. The map features detailed environments and a narrative involving 'Phoenix Biotechnical' and their animal testing practices. This unique map has gained attention amidst real-world news of dog rescues from a research facility.
Jsaux doubles down on its Steam Machine e-ink faceplate plans with a dot matrix version and a panel that looks like my…
Accessory maker Jsaux is moving forward with its plans for Steam Machine faceplates, announcing new versions including a dot-matrix LED display and a color e-ink panel with a rotary knob. The company reassured customers that the original e-ink display is still in development, aiming to offer customization options beyond Valve's own DIY instructions.
Valve just changed how CS2's bomb works, and it's terrifying
Valve has updated Counter-Strike 2 with significant changes to bomb detonations in Season 5, introducing a more realistic explosive wave that dissipates around corners and does not penetrate walls. This update also includes a new console command to manually detonate thrown grenades by shooting them, potentially for future testing. The update also sees the Cache map added to the active duty pool, replacing Overpass.
‘Lies about driver support’: Valve now lets you install Windows 11 on a Steam Machine, but many people…
Valve has released official Windows 11 drivers for the Steam Machine, allowing users to install Microsoft's operating system on the console-like PC. However, the article argues against this, citing potential performance degradation due to Windows 11's heavier nature compared to SteamOS, and Valve's historically poor track record with Windows driver updates for its devices.
id Tech is Still Part of Xbox’s Future Despite Layoffs – Rumor
Despite recent layoffs at id Software, the id Tech game engine remains a part of Xbox's future plans, according to a report. Many employees working on the engine's development were affected by the cuts. The engine is expected to be used in future projects at id Software and by MachineGames for their Wolfenstein titles.
Valve Steam Machine review: This would've been perfect five years ago
The Valve Steam Machine is not recommended due to its high price point, making it a poor value proposition. The article suggests that the hardware would have been more competitive if released several years prior.