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"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.
Morning Tech Bits
Valve has clarified that the 'Red Line of Death' on Steam Machines indicates a memory training issue rather than GPU failure. The company has released drivers and notes to assist users experiencing this problem on Windows.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced can run smoothly aboard both Steam Deck and Steam Machine - with the right settings
This article analyzes the performance of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced on the Steam Deck and Steam Machine, detailing optimal settings for smooth gameplay. While the Steam Deck requires careful adjustment of graphics options and upscaling for playable framerates, the Steam Machine demonstrates surprisingly strong performance at 1080p, even rivaling higher-end desktop GPUs in some scenarios.
A current Valve designer recreated Half-Life 2's Ravenholm in the Source 2 engine, and says he was "blown away…
Valve level designer Chuck Wilson recreated the iconic Half-Life 2 level Ravenholm using the Source 2 engine, showcasing impressive improvements in textures and lighting while retaining the original's eerie atmosphere. Wilson expressed his admiration for the power of Source 2's level design tools, calling them his favorite to date. This fan-made recreation has sparked discussions about the possibility of an official Half-Life 2 remake.
Valve's magical play-Windows-games-on-Linux tech is rebased, updated, and ready to play Resident Evil
Valve has released Proton 11, an updated version of its compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Linux platforms like the Steam Deck. Rebased on Wine 11, this update brings improved support for numerous games, including Resident Evil (1996), Resident Evil 2 (1998), Dino Crisis, and Metal Gear Survive, along with various bug fixes and enhancements.
Xbox boss Asha Sharma pins layoffs on Phil Spencer's regime spreading the company "too thin", while claiming a "a healthy Xbox" could weather the RAM storm
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma attributes recent layoffs and studio closures to a strategy of spreading resources too thin under Phil Spencer's leadership. Sharma suggested that a healthier Xbox would have been better equipped to handle the current hardware crisis, implying that the company's current struggles are a direct result of past strategic decisions.
No, you can't build your own Steam Machine, but you can cry trying
This article clarifies that users cannot build their own Steam Machine due to custom components and size constraints, contrasting it with traditional DIY PCs and modern consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. It highlights Valve's unique engineering approach for the compact Steam Machine, which uses semi-custom AMD chips for performance comparable to current-gen consoles.
Valve has released Windows drivers for the Steam machine, y'know for the three people who managed to buy one and…
Valve has released official Windows drivers for the Steam Machine, allowing users to switch from SteamOS to Microsoft's operating system. This move aims to increase game compatibility, particularly for online shooters, though dual-booting is not yet supported. Users will need an Ethernet connection for initial Windows product key entry as Wi-Fi drivers are installed later.
