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Here come the weird and wonderful mods for the Steam Frame, as Valve drops the full CAD files for free
Valve has released the full CAD files for its Steam Frame VR headset, enabling users and third parties to create custom modifications. This release follows similar CAD file releases for the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Controller, encouraging community creativity.
For the second time this year, Steam has set a major new concurrent user record
Steam has once again broken its own record for concurrent users, reaching over 43.5 million players on Sunday. This marks the second time this year Valve's PC platform has set a new high, with the number of players in-game also reaching a record of over 14 million. Recent popular game launches, including Aion 2 and an update for Deadlock, contributed to the surge.
Steam hits new all-time high of over 43 million concurrent users just 7 months after its last record as Wardogs and…
Steam, Valve's digital storefront, has achieved a new all-time record with over 43 million concurrent users in October 2026, surpassing its previous record from March of the same year. This growth is attributed to the diverse game library, including live-service titles like Wardogs and Deadlock, and the increasing popularity of PC gaming.
Steam Week in Review: The curious case of Wonder Boy in Monster Land's dubious PC debut
A PC version of Wonder Boy in Monster Land, released on Steam by Retro Maniac, is alleged to be an illegitimate ROM running in an emulator, lacking official licensing from SEGA or LAT Corp. The listing has been flagged for potential copyright infringement and is reportedly being processed for removal, highlighting issues with intellectual property rights and the availability of classic games on modern platforms.
Steam Hits New Milestone of Over 43 Million Concurrent Users
Steam, the PC-exclusive digital distribution platform, has set a new record with over 43.5 million concurrent users. This milestone surpasses its previous record set earlier this year. The platform has seen consistent growth, particularly since the COVID-19 lockdowns, with Valve's hardware efforts like the Steam Deck potentially contributing to its sustained user base.
Deadlock's City Never Sleeps update makes Valve's MOBA my favorite videogame setting in years
Valve's MOBA Deadlock, currently in beta, has received a significant update called 'City Never Sleeps' that overhauls its Cursed Apple map. The update introduces new neutral monsters and richly textured areas, transforming districts like Broadway into a neon metropolis and Greenwich into an occult-themed park. The game's new characters and expanded dialogue are also praised for their creative and inventive design, making Deadlock's setting one of the author's favorites.
Deadlock surpasses Team Fortress 2's all-time concurrent player count peak as it adds a chess wizard
Valve's new MOBA, Deadlock, has surpassed Team Fortress 2's all-time concurrent player peak with 262,145 simultaneous players during its invite-only test. The game's recent addition of a new hero, Solomon the chess mage, is credited with contributing to this surge. The article also touches on the challenges of breaking into the MOBA genre and Valve's approach to game development.
Gearbox is doing a much better job with roguelike icon Risk of Rain 2 as its new expansion debuts to "Very…
The Hallowed Concepts DLC for Risk of Rain 2 has been met with a positive reception on Steam, with 84% of user reviews recommending it. Despite some initial bugs, players praise the expansion for its fresh content and ability to reinvigorate the late-game experience. Gearbox Publishing, which acquired the game in 2022, has seen improved fan sentiment after a divisive previous update.
Valve's Gambit: Deadlock's chess-playing new hero is its riskiest yet, and it's working
Valve's new hero shooter MOBA, Deadlock, is seeing significant player engagement on Steam, even in its invite-only beta phase, surpassing Team Fortress 2's peak player count. The game's latest character, Solomon, a chess hustler, introduces complex mechanics that allow players to manipulate their team and battlefield using chess pieces, offering a unique and ambitious gameplay experience.
Don't worry, Valve: I've got your next Deadlock character concepts sorted
This article proposes several character concepts for Valve's game Deadlock, aiming to fill perceived gaps in its occult and cryptozoological roster. The author suggests ideas like a 'Summer Mummy' from the comic strip Heathcliff, a minotaur baseball player, and a haunted boxer suit, emphasizing their potential for unique gameplay and aesthetic appeal.
Gears of War: E-Day reportedly courts over 1.7m Xbox Game Pass players and makes over $37m since launch
Gears of War: E-Day has reportedly sold around 230,000 copies across Steam and Xbox consoles/PC, generating over $37 million including Premium Edition upgrades and microtransactions. A significant portion of its player base, over 1.7 million, engaged with the game through Xbox Game Pass, with many opting for the $30 Premium Edition upgrade for early access. The article also touches on player overlap with other titles and discusses the studio's confidence in the game as a foundation for future installments.
Valve is telling devs how well their games actually run on Steam Deck with real world data
Valve has begun providing developers with real-world frame rate data from Steam Deck users to help them better understand and optimize game performance. This new system allows developers to see how their games are running on a mass of Steam Decks, potentially leading to graphical adjustments and improved player experiences.
Video games need to let players feel stupid
This article argues that many triple-A video games are overly afraid of players getting stuck, leading to excessive hand-holding and hints that diminish the satisfaction of solving puzzles. Games like Order of the Sinking Star, Routine, God of War, Marvel's Wolverine, and Halo: Campaign Evolved are discussed as examples of this trend, with the author advocating for more trust in players' problem-solving abilities to foster a greater sense of accomplishment.
Counter-Strike 2 player dedicates Master's thesis to rooting out cheaters, creates grade A player tracking system
A student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Christopher B. Didriksen, has dedicated his Master's thesis to combating cheating in Counter-Strike 2. He developed a system that analyzes mouse and keyboard movements to create a unique player 'fingerprint,' allowing for more accurate identification and permanent banning of repeat offenders and smurfs.
"It's DisplayPort image quality, wirelessly" - Pimax's newly announced Crystal Pro VR headset could solve VR's wireless compression problem, and it takes the fight to the Steam Frame and Steam Machine
Pimax has announced the Crystal Pro VR headset, aiming to solve wireless image compression issues that plague current VR technology. The headset features a DisplayPort connection for lossless PCVR and a unique 60G AirLink for wireless streaming, utilizing beam aiming and native foveated streaming for enhanced image quality. Pimax also revealed ringless controllers and a mini-PC called Spation, positioning itself as a competitor to Valve's offerings.
Crowning the best FPS mode of all time through 1v1 combat (ROUND 2)
PC Gamer's FPS column, FOV 90, is conducting a community tournament to determine the greatest FPS mode of all time. Round 1 saw 16 modes compete in 1v1 matchups, with winners like Team Deathmatch, Battle Royale, Conquest, Bomb Defusal, Payload, Infection, Capture the Flag, and Attack & Defend advancing. Round 2 voting is now open, pitting these winners against each other.
All hail the long steam machine, Pimax's new SteamOS-ready mini PC
Pimax has announced the Spation, a new mini PC designed to run SteamOS and potentially compete with Valve's Steam Machine. The Spation boasts powerful hardware, including an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor and either an RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, aiming to provide a more capable VR experience than Valve's offering.
Pimax says 'I'll have what Valve's having' as it announces new wireless VR headset, foveated streaming, updated controllers, and long Steam Machine
Pimax has announced a suite of new VR products, including the wireless Crystal Pro headset featuring Wi-Fi 6E and optional 60G AirLink for high-bandwidth streaming. The company is also introducing ringless controllers, updated Steam Machine-like PCs called Spation, and leveraging foveated streaming technology with eye tracking. The Crystal Pro headset boasts dual QLED displays, Mini-LED backlighting, and costs $1,399 for the base model, with the wireless kit adding $599.
After months of PSVR 2 stock shortages, PlayStation sells hundreds of VR patents to Meta, signaling the brand's…
Meta has acquired 43 US XR patents from Sony, previously used for PlayStation VR and PlayStation VR2. This follows months of PlayStation VR2 stock shortages and a lack of software support, suggesting a potential winding down of Sony's VR efforts. Meta's acquisition comes despite its own recent cutbacks in the VR market.
Denuvo attempts to subpoena Discord, Valve, and Reddit in effort to identify hacker
Denuvo is seeking subpoenas for Discord, Valve, and Reddit to identify a hacker known as "voices38" who has allegedly bypassed its digital rights management technology on numerous PC games. The company claims this hacker's success in cracking Denuvo's security, which has been increasingly defeated this year, threatens the effectiveness of its DRM service for publishers and developers.
