Valve
Valve business and news from across the web.
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The Steam Controller is actually a scream controller, because Valve couldn't resist making it cry out in memey pain when you drop it
The Steam Controller has a hidden easter egg where it emits the 'Wilhelm scream' sound effect if dropped from a certain height. This feature, discovered on Reddit, appears to have a cooldown and specific height requirement to trigger. Valve previously included noisy hardware features in the first Steam Controller through modded haptic motors.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Forza Horizon 6 and Subnautica 2 get Steam Deck Verified
Several upcoming games, including LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Forza Horizon 6, and Subnautica 2, have received Steam Deck Verified status. This indicates they are expected to run smoothly on Valve's handheld PC. The article also mentions other games that have recently passed Valve's verification process.
Unreal Engine 5.8 adds experimental Steam Frame support, Qualcomm give the Steam Frame a dedicated page
Qualcomm has launched a dedicated page for the Steam Frame, powered by their Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, indicating its impending release. Additionally, Unreal Engine 5.8 Preview now includes experimental support for the Steam Frame, with developers able to test performance criteria for VR titles.
If you drop (or throw) your new Steam Controller it will scream at you
Valve has included a hidden Easter egg in the new Steam Controller that causes it to emit a Wilhelm scream when dropped. This feature, discovered by a Reddit user and confirmed by the author, does not require Steam to be running and occurs intermittently. The controller also has a 'Ping' function to help identify multiple units.
The Steam Controller Features A Very Familar-Sounding Easter Egg
The Steam Controller has been found to feature a hidden Easter egg where it plays the Wilhelm Scream sound effect when dropped from a height of approximately three feet. This discovery was confirmed by GameSpot, highlighting the playful nature of Valve's engineers. The article advises users to test this feature in a safe, cushioned environment.
Roadmaps and Plans
Valve has announced updates to the Steam Community Market, with a trailer released for the Roadside Research May Update. Further details on the specific changes and features are expected.
ARGs and Easter Eggs
Valve has included a Wilhelm scream Easter egg in the new Steam Controller. This discovery was reported by PC Gamer, highlighting the developer's penchant for hidden details.
Valve snuck a Wilhelm scream easter egg into the new Steam Controller
Valve has included a Wilhelm scream easter egg in the new Steam Controller. When dropped, the gamepad will occasionally emit the iconic sound effect, a feature that appears to be triggered by haptics and gyros. This secret feature was discovered by a Reddit user and confirmed by PC Gamer staff.
Valve's next Steam UI target is the Community Market, with more details and, yes, a wider layout
Valve is updating the Steam Community Market's user interface with a wider layout and more detailed listings. The changes aim to better accommodate the growing number of games and items available, including enhanced image displays for items like Counter-Strike skins and improved graph data for economic analysis.
Valve made more than 27 million unique images for Counter-Strike listings as part of its new 'major update' to…
Valve has launched a beta for a major update to the Steam Community Market, designed to improve the buying and selling experience for users. The update includes larger listing images, improved graphs, dynamic filters, and a new wider layout. Counter-Strike items are being used to test extensive item integration, with over 27 million unique images generated for existing listings to showcase item features.
Valve might be making 512GB and 2TB versions of its new Steam Machine, despite AI-driven memory shortages
Valve may be planning 512GB and 2TB versions of its Steam Machine, according to a recent Steam software update. This comes despite ongoing AI-driven memory shortages impacting component prices and availability, which have already affected Steam Deck supplies. The potential new storage options align with Valve's previously stated desire for multiple Steam Machine configurations.
Valve fix Steam Controller double inputs with the Puck - Steam Deck gets configurable Track Pad Locking
Valve has released a new Steam Client Beta for PC and Steam Deck that addresses an issue causing double inputs on the Steam Controller when charging on the Puck. The update also introduces configurable trackpad locking behavior for the Steam Deck, allowing users to disable it when using the joysticks.
The Steam Machine has a new reference in Steam's database, and it means we could be seeing it arrive very soon
Valve's Steam Machine appears to be nearing release, with four package references recently discovered in Steam's database within a reservation system code. This suggests multiple models are prepared for launch and that a release date and pricing announcement, along with pre-orders, could be imminent. Similar database entries preceded the launch of the Steam Controller, which also faced scalping issues leading to a reservation system.
Rumor Mill
A recent Steam update suggests the potential for four distinct Steam Machine models and the implementation of a reservation system. This news comes from a report by PC Gamer, indicating possible future hardware developments for Valve's gaming platform.
New Steam update hints at four separate Steam Machine models and a reservation system
A recent Steam update suggests Valve is preparing to launch four distinct models of the Steam Machine, potentially implementing a reservation system similar to the Steam Controller. While a specific release date and price remain unconfirmed, Valve has stated the device will launch this year, with a reservation system being a positive indicator of upcoming announcements.
Valve's Steam Machine reservation page code points towards four package flavors, and two could ditch the controller
Code found on Valve's Steam Machine reservation page suggests four package configurations will be available, including options with and without the new Steam Controller. The article speculates on potential storage sizes and pricing, noting that a smaller SSD could make the device more affordable for indie gaming or as a secondary console alongside platforms like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
Some fun VR game announcements from the Creature Feature 2026 event
The Creature Feature 2026 event showcased several new and updated virtual reality games, including Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades 2, Compass, Wordbound, and Sock Puppet Superstar. The event also highlighted updates for existing VR titles like Deadly Delivery, Crossings, Sweet Surrender VR, Forefront, Beat the Beats VR, and Spymaster, with a focus on new content and features for the PC VR market.
SteamOS 3.7.24 released along with a stable Steam Client update with more Steam Controller fixes
Valve has released SteamOS 3.7.24 and a stable Steam Client update, focusing on fixes for the Steam Controller. The updates include improvements for audio stability, security, and controller functionality, such as grip sensor settings and touch registration for left trackpads.
Sunday Postmortems/Retrospectives
This article looks back at SiN Episodes: Emergence, a Valve-backed shooter that attempted to pioneer episodic gaming but ultimately failed. The retrospective examines the game's ambitious goals and its eventual shortcomings in the PC market.
This Team Fortress 2 zombie mod looks so good, we almost thought it was official
A new total conversion mod for Team Fortress 2, titled Mann Versus Zombies, transforms the game into a zombie-blasting horde survival experience. The mod features co-op for up to eight players, unique perks, a barricade mechanic, and increasingly difficult waves of enemies. It aims to capture the essence of the game's early days with new weapons and zombified character designs.
