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Inkle co-founder explains how TR-49 broke even in three hours
Inkle co-founder Jon Ingold revealed that their latest game, TR-49, broke even within three hours of its release due to its low price point and minimal budget. He discussed how the studio's financial model, which doesn't factor in founder salaries for individual game budgets, allows for lower pricing. Ingold also mused on changing consumer perceptions of game pricing on platforms like Steam.
Valve’s Steam Controller launch looks imminent based on new public records — and it might finally give me the perfect excuse to build a custom Steam Machine
Valve's Steam Controller appears to be nearing its release, with a public import record indicating a shipment of wireless PC controllers from China. This suggests the controller may launch before the Steam Machine, which is still slated for 2026. The early release of the controller could benefit PC users building custom Steam Machines.
14 tons of Steam Controllers appear to have just arrived in the US, hinting at imminent release date
A large shipment of Steam Controllers, weighing approximately 14 tons, has arrived in the US, suggesting an imminent release date for Valve's new peripheral. The shipment, originating from Taiwan, hints at a substantial quantity of units ready for distribution. This new iteration of the Steam Controller features a dual-stick design and improved touchpad controls, differentiating it from its predecessor.
Valve is now sitting on lots of Steam controllers, so releasing them before the Steam Machine is a no-brainer
Valve has received a large shipment of Steam Controllers in the US, suggesting a potential release for the Steam Machine is imminent, possibly in 2026. While official release dates are unconfirmed, the availability of the controller could precede the Steam Machine launch or be released independently to maintain interest in Valve's living room PC concept.
SteamVR Beta 2.16.3 brings Linux fixes for VRLink
Valve has released SteamVR Beta 2.16.3, introducing several fixes specifically for Linux users. The update focuses on VRLink, improving wireless game streaming to VR headsets like Meta, HTC, and PICO, and includes optimizations for NVIDIA cards on Linux.
SteamOS 3.8.2 Beta brings fixes for security issues, trackpad on Legion Go and Borderlands 2
Valve has released SteamOS 3.8.2 Beta, introducing fixes for security vulnerabilities, trackpad issues on the Legion Go, and a crash bug in Borderlands 2. The update also includes general stability improvements, enhanced controller support for various handheld devices like the ASUS ROG Ally and GPD Win 5, and updates to the KDE Plasma desktop environment to version 6.4.3 with Wayland as the default.
Valve’s 2026 Steam Controller Spotted in Major Customs Shipment
Customs records indicate Valve has shipped a new '2026 Steam Controller', suggesting a renewed focus on hardware beyond the successful Steam Deck. This potential successor to the original Steam Controller arrives in a market with evolved standards like hall effect sticks and adaptive triggers. The move signals Valve's commitment to building a comprehensive gaming hardware ecosystem.
The Marketing Mystery: How Does Steam Actually Promote Itself?
This article explores the unique and largely invisible marketing strategy of Valve's Steam platform. Despite hosting over 100 million active users, Steam relies on organic growth, community engagement, and its essential role in PC gaming rather than traditional advertising. This approach has made the platform indispensable, turning users into advocates and embedding it deeply into the gaming culture.
UK Steam Lawsuit Seeks $900M: Gamers Could Get Just £22 Each
A UK lawsuit is seeking $900 million from Valve, alleging anti-competitive practices by Steam through its 30% commission and most-favored-nation clauses. If successful, individual payouts are estimated to be between £22-£44. The article argues that Steam provides significant value for its fees, including robust customer service and features, and that a loss could negatively impact future development and services.
A Valve developer has just made it easier to run games on Linux with 8 GB cards thanks to a simple fix
A Valve developer has released a fix to improve game performance on Linux systems with 8 GB of VRAM. The solution involves kernel patches and utilities that better manage memory allocation, making games run more stably. This fix is particularly beneficial for Arch-based distributions and may eventually be adopted by others.
The Steam Machine could pull some pretty big moves with just 8GB VRAM, thanks to a savvy Valve engineer
Valve engineer Natalie Vock has proposed Linux kernel patches to improve VRAM management, potentially boosting performance on devices with limited memory like the upcoming Steam Machine. These optimizations could allow games like Cyberpunk 2077 to utilize available VRAM more efficiently, preventing data from being offloaded to slower system memory.
PS6 rumors suggest the next console war will be fought on a completely new battlefield, and the Steam Machine might be…
Rumors suggest the PlayStation 6 will launch in 2027 with multiple hardware options, including a budget model and a handheld, potentially shifting Sony's strategy towards ecosystem dominance. This comes as Xbox is also focusing on a hybrid console/PC approach with Project Helix and portable options like the ROG Ally, while Valve's Steam Machine is positioned to compete directly in the console market by leveraging existing PC player bases.
Valve’s New Kernel Patches Let 8GB GPUs Handle High VRAM Games
Valve has released kernel patches designed to help PC gamers with 8GB graphics cards run high VRAM games more effectively. These software-level changes aim to alleviate bottlenecks caused by demanding modern titles, benefiting a significant portion of the Steam user base who utilize mid-range hardware like the RTX 3060. The optimization efforts are expected to improve performance without requiring users to purchase new hardware.
Xbox co-creator "vastly more excited" about Steam than Project Helix because Valve is "relentlessly…
Original Xbox designer Seamus Blackley expressed more excitement for Valve's and Nintendo's future projects than Microsoft's upcoming console, codenamed Project Helix. Blackley praised Valve for its focus on games and Nintendo for its consistently interesting hardware designs, even citing the Wii U as a 'cool' failure.
D7VK version 1.7 brings even more retro Direct3D gaming to Linux
D7VK version 1.7, a Vulkan-based translation layer for running older Direct3D games on Linux via Wine/Proton, has been released. This update improves rendering for legacy Direct3D versions 3, 5, 6, and earlier, enhancing compatibility for titles like O.R.B: Off-World Resource Base, Requiem: Avenging Angel, and Warhammer: Dark Omen. Further work is planned for fixed function lighting and other legacy features.
'Single-player Tarkov' Road to Vostok's solo dev admits its huge popularity is "running away from me," but he has a plan
Road to Vostok, a solo-developed survival shooter, has achieved significant success with approximately 140,000 copies sold and over 25,000 daily active users. Developer Antti Leinonen admits the popularity is overwhelming but has a plan to manage the influx of player feedback and development tasks, including hiring additional help.
Epic Employees Spill the Tea: Users Only Want Free Games, Then Dip Back to Steam
Former Epic Games employees have revealed that many users primarily engage with the Epic Games Store to claim free titles before returning to Steam. Despite significant investment in giveaways like Grand Theft Auto V and Control, the strategy appears to foster transactional behavior rather than long-term platform loyalty. This analysis explores the challenges Epic faces in competing with Steam's established ecosystem and user habits.
Gundam's Trailer Gives Hope for Armored Core Anime Drea... | TAG
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is breaking its Nintendo exclusivity to launch on PC and PlayStation 5 in 2026, featuring a new trailer and art style. The article also speculates on the potential for a FromSoftware Armored Core anime inspired by the latest Gundam trailer and discusses the recent volatility in RAM prices.
SteamGPT Has Gamers Asking: Is AI Integration Actually What We Want?
The Steam community is debating the potential integration of AI features, dubbed "SteamGPT," into the platform. While some AI applications like customer support or enhanced game discovery could be beneficial, many gamers are wary of unnecessary AI additions that might complicate the user experience or raise privacy concerns. The article suggests that Valve should focus on improving existing functionalities rather than adopting AI trends for the sake of competitiveness.
Amazon Luna Pulls the Plug: Cloud Gaming Service Shuts Down Store, Leaving Families in Gaming Limbo
Amazon Luna is shutting down its game store on April 10, 2026, and all purchased games will become unavailable by June 10, 2026. This decision impacts families who relied on the service for shared gaming experiences, raising concerns about digital ownership and the future of cloud gaming. Amazon is pivoting to a new initiative called GameNight, but the closure has eroded trust within the gaming community.
