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"Steam is on an absolute historic run": Valve quietly made a huge change that's helping game devs, says…
Valve has implemented significant changes to Steam's "Discounts & Events" feed, greatly improving game discovery for indie developers. Tim Bender, CEO of Hooded Horse, reports a massive increase in visibility for niche titles, transforming a previously negligible traffic source into the best on the store. This update is seen as a major win for players seeking relevant recommendations and for developers struggling to gain traction.
Steam’s Punk Games Showcase Hates AI Slop, Loves Blowing Up Nazis
The Punk Games Showcase on Steam, running from October 9-16, highlights over 100 games with a punk spirit, actively filtering out titles that use generative AI. Organizer Brad Smith aims to foster a dedicated 'punk' category on Steam, inspired by the ethos of independent music scenes.
Meta announces new VR glasses that weigh about 100 grams and cost $1,300
Meta announced its new Meta VR Glasses, priced at $1,300 and weighing approximately 100 grams. The device features hand tracking and passthrough capabilities, and will launch in Spring 2027 with VR adaptations of Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies, Tetris Effect, and Beat Saber. Despite significant financial losses in its Reality Labs division, Meta is pushing forward with new VR hardware.
Counter-Strike Co-Creator Says Gabe Newell Got So Obsessed With Mongolian Throat Singing at Valve HQ That Staff Started Closing Their Office Doors to Escape the Noise
Counter-Strike co-creator Minh Le shared an anecdote about Valve boss Gabe Newell's obsession with Mongolian throat singing at the company's headquarters. Le described Newell's singing as so pervasive that staff would close their office doors to escape the noise.
Oh, the places you'll game: Aerospace engineers use Steam Deck to steer Mars rover prototype
Aerospace engineers at Airbus have utilized a Steam Deck to remotely control a prototype of the ExoMars rover. The handheld gaming PC was modified with custom software to navigate the test terrain, demonstrating an innovative approach to robotic control. While the final Mars rover will not be steered by a Steam Deck, the technology served as a stepping stone in its development.
Valve gives Path of Exile 2 the Steam Deck seal of approval, just in time for 1.0
Valve has officially classified Path of Exile 2 as Steam Deck Verified, just ahead of its full free-to-play launch on December 11. Grinding Gear Games also announced that pre-registrations have surpassed one million, unlocking milestone rewards. The game is noted as being more approachable than its predecessor and well-suited for handheld play.
My failed Steam Frame teardown... and iFixit's successful one
This article details a failed attempt to teardown the Valve Steam Frame VR headset, contrasting it with a successful teardown by iFixit. The analysis highlights the headset's modular design and user-serviceable components, particularly praising Valve's efforts in repairability despite some complex steps.
The Meta Quest 4 isn't a Meta Quest at all - The brand's VR glasses will launch in Spring for $1,299 and…
Meta is launching its new VR Glasses in Spring 2027 for $1,299, focusing on a mixed-reality, wearable AI experience rather than being a direct successor to the Quest line. These glasses feature high-resolution displays and a lightweight design but have a limited field of view and do not include controllers, suggesting a primary focus on entertainment and spatial computing over gaming. Significant privacy concerns are raised regarding the device's always-on camera and AI capabilities.
Meta’s $1,300 VR Glasses Could Be The Most Expensive Way To Play Xbox Games
Meta announced its new VR Glasses, a lightweight headset designed for portability, launching in Spring 2027 for $1,300. The glasses feature 5K Micro OLED lenses and can access the Meta Quest catalog and Xbox Cloud Gaming. While offering advanced features, the high price point is highlighted as a significant obstacle compared to existing Meta headsets and competitors.
Microsoft's approach to age verification in Australia is further proof that Valve is taking the everloving piss
Valve's new age verification requirements in Australia, which mandate credit card details, are criticized for being ill-suited to the market and potentially malicious compliance. Microsoft's alternative approach, using account history to verify adult status, is presented as a more user-friendly alternative, despite general reservations about age verification systems.
Counter-Strike 2 gets a new 3v3 game mode and stealth-adds chicken eggs in latest update
Counter-Strike 2 has received a new update introducing the 'Rush' mode, a fast-paced 3v3 objective-based game mode. The update also includes a new map voting system for Premier matches, silent reloading, improved bullet impact visibility, and the unannounced addition of colored chicken eggs.
Counter-Strike 2 gets 3v3 Rush mode in new update
Valve has introduced a new 3v3 Rush mode to Counter-Strike 2, featuring fast-paced matches across randomly selected battle arenas. The update also includes leaderboards for players to compete for wins and bragging rights. Counter-Strike 2 continues to perform well since its 2023 launch.
The Steam Machine handles Control Resonant capably, but the promised Steam Deck support is a letdown
Control Resonant performs capably on a Steam Machine at 1080p with adjusted settings, achieving playable framerates. However, the game fails to run smoothly on the Steam Deck, even with optimized 'Handheld' presets and upscaling, resulting in sub-30fps performance and significant stutters, making it not recommended for Valve's handheld.
Valve offers CS2 players eggs
Players of Counter-Strike 2 are expressing frustration and demanding an overhaul of the game's anti-cheat system. Valve has responded by offering in-game cosmetic items, which has been met with further player dissatisfaction.
"The Robloxification of Steam": Creator of viral game apologizes after slop rip-offs flood Valve's store
The creator of the viral PC game Needle In A Haystack Simulator has apologized for the flood of copycat games appearing on Steam. The developer expressed dismay at the numerous clones, some of which appear to use generative AI, leading to a sentiment of "the Robloxification of Steam."
Counter-Strike 2 update adds new 3v3 mode, music, and chicken eggs, but it's the last thing on fans' minds: "The game is slowly dying without a working anti-cheat"
A new Counter-Strike 2 update, dubbed 'Rush Hour,' introduces a fast-paced 3v3 mode, changes to Premier map selection, and quality-of-life improvements. However, the community's primary concern remains the lack of a working anti-cheat system, with many players expressing that the game is suffering due to its absence.
What Valve's Steam Community Market Overhaul Teaches Us About Digital Item Economies - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
Valve's recent overhaul of the Steam Community Market, featuring new item pages and dynamic filters, highlights the importance of transparency and scarcity in digital item economies. The update allows for more granular verification of item conditions, improving trust and efficiency for traders.
Gabe Newell made Steam after going "f*** these publishers" due to the broken relationship with Half-Life publisher Sierra, Counter-Strike co-creator says
According to Counter-Strike co-creator Minh Le, Gabe Newell's decision to create Steam stemmed from a deeply negative experience with Half-Life publisher Sierra. This dissatisfaction with traditional publishers led Valve to develop its own digital distribution platform, revolutionizing PC game sales.
Valve shadow dropped chicken pets into CS2
Valve has added untradeable pet chickens to Counter-Strike 2 through a new weekly drop system. These chickens can hatch from eggs, grow into various rarities with different skins, learn tricks, and be displayed on a player's profile. The addition was not mentioned in the official patch notes.
Valve's CS2 Chicken Egg steals the update thunder from new 3v3 mode Rush
Valve has released a new update for Counter-Strike 2, introducing the fast-paced 3v3 game mode 'Rush' and a secret feature allowing players to hatch and raise virtual chickens. The update also includes quality-of-life improvements such as silent reloads, updated Premier pick/ban rules, and clearer impact visibility.
