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Another Steam Game Gets Removed Over Malware
Valve has removed the Steam game Beyond the Dark after YouTuber Eric Parker exposed it for containing malware designed to steal player data. The game was previously uploaded under the name Rodent Race, suggesting an attempt to bypass security checks. The FBI is investigating similar incidents of malware on Steam.
20 Must-Play Games on Steam Deck in 2026 (Verified and Optimized) | TAG
This guide highlights 20 games that perform exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, focusing on session-friendliness and battery life. It categorizes games into quick sessions, hour-long sessions, and deep dives, while also noting AAA titles that are playable with adjustments. The article also details Valve's 'Steam Deck Verified' system and lists games that did not make the cut due to performance issues.
Free Steam game Beyond the Dark turns out to be malware, but this isn't the first time we've seen it
The Steam game Beyond the Dark, previously released as Rodent Race, has been removed from the platform after being discovered to contain data-gobbling malware. Cybersecurity expert Eric Parker detailed how the game disguised its malicious intent, raising concerns about the ease with which bad actors can inject malware into games after they pass initial store review. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in video game security and the potential for AI to be used in creating such malicious software.
At last, The Bullet Heaven genre - popularised by hits like Vampire Survivors - has been sanctioned by Steam
Steam has officially added the 'Bullet Heaven' genre tag, a subgenre popularized by games like Vampire Survivors. This update, released by Valve, introduces 17 new tags and removes 28 to improve game discovery and recommendations on the platform. The 'Singleplayer' tag remains the most popular on Steam.
Steam rejigs tags in a potential win for game visibility. And, more importantly, capybaras
Valve has updated Steam's game tagging system, removing 28 tags and adding 17 new ones, including 'Bullet Heaven' and specific animal tags like 'Capybaras.' The changes aim to improve game discovery by streamlining subjective and overlapping tags, such as 'Cult Classic' and 'NSFW.' The 'single-player' tag remains the most prevalent on the platform.
Steam's NSFW and Mature tags ditched by Valve in favour of "more descriptive" ones like Sexual Content and Gore, as part of wider revamp
Valve has revamped Steam's tagging system, replacing broad tags like NSFW and Mature with more descriptive ones such as Sexual Content and Gore. This change aims to improve game discovery and recommendations by providing clearer categorizations for genres and themes, with 17 new tags added and 28 removed.
Forza Horizon 6 is out, Valve update Proton Hotfix for Linux - initial thoughts
Forza Horizon 6 has launched on PC and is playable on Linux via Valve's Proton Hotfix, which has been updated to address initial issues. While the game runs well on high settings on desktop PCs, Linux users on Steam Deck experience performance drops and stuttering, requiring significant setting adjustments for a smoother experience. Despite some visual glitches and AI concerns, the game is stable and visually impressive on Linux.
Forget Forza Horizon 6 and Subnautica 2 – today you should be playing the excellent Dwarf Eats Mountain
Dwarf Eats Mountain is a highly recommended indie game that offers a colorful and engaging incremental gameplay experience, drawing comparisons to Dwarf Fortress but with a more accessible approach. Players manage dwarves to mine mountains for gold, facing challenges as the mountain fights back, and can acquire it on Steam with a launch discount.
Steam Beta brings even more Steam Controller tweaks and a firmware fix for Linux
Valve has released a new Steam Beta client with several updates for the Steam Controller, including firmware fixes and new input options. The update addresses issues with firmware updates on Linux, rumble haptics, and trackpad dead zones. A Steam Deck Beta client update also includes some of these changes.
Valve make adjustments to Steam tags, and they settled the Vampire Survivor-like argument with Bullet Heaven
Valve has updated Steam's official store tags, adding 17 new ones, removing 28, and modifying others to improve game discovery and recommendations. Notably, 'Bullet Heaven' has been officially added to categorize games similar to Vampire Survivors, distinguishing them from 'Bullet Hell' titles. Several other tags were also renamed or merged for clarity.
Sony to no longer bring PlayStation narrative single-player games to PC
Sony is reportedly ending its practice of bringing PlayStation narrative single-player games to PC, according to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier and PlayStation studio business CEO Hermen Hulst. This shift marks a return to console exclusivity, potentially reigniting the console wars after a period of increased PC ports. The decision follows backlash over PlayStation Network integration and some regional game restrictions on Steam.
Steam Store Tags Update
Valve has announced updates to Steam's Store Tags to improve game discovery. New official tags have been added, including 'Bullet Heaven' for survivorslike games and 'Desktop Companion' for games with companion app functionality.
Sony retreats from PC gaming, robbing us of maybe 4 games
Sony is reportedly ceasing the release of its single-player PlayStation games on PC, according to PlayStation boss Herman Hulst. This decision marks a shift from the company's previous strategy of porting titles like Horizon: Zero Dawn and God of War to PC. While multiplayer games will still be released on PC, this move emphasizes Sony's focus on its PlayStation 5 console as the primary platform for its prestige single-player experiences.
Valve Updates Steam Tags With New Genres, Themes, and Major Removals
Valve has updated Steam's official store tag system, introducing 17 new tags and removing or revising dozens of older ones to improve game browsing and recommendations. New tags include genre-specific ones like Bullet Heaven and theme-based ones like Wuxia, while removed tags include NSFW and Masterpiece. Several existing tags were also renamed or merged for consistency.
It's official: Steam decrees 'bullet heaven' the name of the Vampire Survivors genre
Valve has officially added 'Bullet Heaven' as a Steam store tag to categorize games like Vampire Survivors, which focus on automatic attacks and upgrades. This new genre is described as the opposite of 'Bullet Hell.' The update also saw the addition and removal of various other tags, with 'Clicker' being renamed to 'Incremental' and subjective tags like 'masterpiece' being removed.
Voice Chat Safety: The Practical Guide for Online Gamers (2026) | TAG
This guide provides practical advice for online gamers on managing voice chat safety in 2026, addressing the uneven implementation of AI monitoring across various games. It details different voice chat configurations like 'Voice Off,' 'Party-Only Voice,' 'Push-to-Talk,' and 'Open Mic, Active Muting,' and offers specific settings for popular titles such as Call of Duty, Valorant, and Fortnite. The article also discusses the privacy implications of voice chat and recommends using platforms like Discord as a safer alternative for communication.
Discord's latest 'year of the Linux desktop' update is a game-changer for Steam Deck, but fans are concerned about its age verification plans
Discord has released a significant update for its Linux client, improving game and screen sharing with hardware-accelerated video encoding support across Nvidia, AMD, and Intel GPUs. This update is particularly beneficial for handheld devices like the Steam Deck. However, users are expressing concern and frustration over Discord's upcoming global age verification plans, overshadowing the technical improvements.
"That lore terrifies me": Ex-Valve writer Chet Faliszek isn't interested in writing a Half-Life 3, as he wouldn't touch a sequel "with with a 10-foot pole"
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek stated he has no interest in working on a potential Half-Life 3, citing the overwhelming established lore as a major deterrent. He expressed a general aversion to working on games with extensive backstories, preferring to create new IPs or work on titles with less narrative baggage.
The Steam Controller no longer needs Steam to get the most from it
The Steam Controller now offers its full range of features in games not running on Steam, thanks to the integration of its new capabilities into the Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL) software library. This update allows applications using SDL to access the controller's touchpads, capacitive stick touch, and grip sense handling without requiring Steam to be running in the background. While developers will need to implement support, this enhancement expands the controller's usability beyond Steam-launched titles, particularly for emulators and open-source games.
'This game is extremely broken': The dev of VKD3D-Proton, software for running Direct3D 12 games on Linux, isn't enjoying Forza Horizon 6 very much
The developer of VKD3D-Proton, Hans-Kristian Arntzen, has identified and submitted fixes for issues causing Forza Horizon 6 to perform poorly on Linux. While the game runs well on Windows PCs, Linux gamers have reported significant problems, with Arntzen's work translating Direct3D 12 to Vulkan being key to resolving these glitches. Nvidia has also acknowledged issues and plans a driver release, while Valve's involvement with Steam Deck verification suggests ongoing support for the game on the platform.
