Steam
News, coverage and analysis tracking Steam across the outlets.
Latest coverage
"Elon Musk disagrees with me. This means I am onto something": Legendary game artist calls out AI billionaires, Tim Sweeney responds "this is bulls***" with Musk's support
Veteran game artist Kenney Vleugels criticized AI billionaires like Tim Sweeney and Elon Musk for pushing AI in game development, arguing they don't understand the craft. Sweeney defended AI's velocity and potential, while Musk supported Sweeney. The debate highlights creator concerns about AI's ethical implications, environmental costs, and potential to devalue artistic work.
Valve beats Epic to the punch, updates Steam launcher 1 day before its rival claims to be "faster" thanks to…
Valve has updated the Steam launcher with improved startup performance, seemingly in response to Epic Games' claims of a faster, AI-enhanced launcher. Early tests and user reports indicate that Steam now boots up faster than the newly updated Epic Games Store launcher, contradicting Epic's assertions.
Epic Games claims its new "vibe coded" launcher runs 46% faster than Steam from cold start to store page
Epic Games has released a beta version of its new launcher, claiming it is 46% faster than Steam from a cold start to the store page. The company stated that AI was used as a tool in its development process to improve efficiency and speed up the rewrite of the codebase. This move follows reports of Epic shifting to an 'AI-first' production model, leading to delays in a Disney collaboration.
Unofficial PS5 pirate store with over 1,600 games taken down before being immediately replaced by a clone, with Pandora's box open following recent jailbreak
An unofficial PlayStation 5 store offering over 1,600 pirated games was quickly replaced by a clone after its initial takedown, highlighting the challenges Sony faces following a recent PS5 jailbreak. This situation is compared to Nintendo's struggles with emulator clones, suggesting a continuous battle against piracy and unauthorized access.
Steam now has a maddening bouncing logo screensaver, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't perfectly hit the corners
Valve has released a new update for the Steam client, notably adding a "retro inspired bouncing logo screensaver" to Big Picture Mode. The author expresses strong negative sentiment towards this screensaver, comparing it to the psychologically damaging DVD logo screensavers of the past and warning users against activating it. The update also includes improvements to startup performance and a new experimental video codec for Remote Play.
Steam profiles are beautiful 2000s-era relics
The author expresses a fondness for customizing Steam profiles with themes and backgrounds, comparing the experience to early 2000s internet aesthetics found on sites like Neopets and LiveJournal. The article poses a question to readers about their own Steam profile decoration habits.
Report: 13TB of Steam data leaked after users access 'publicly accessible endpoint'
A significant data leak, dubbed 'Steam2 leak,' has reportedly exposed 13TB of data from Valve's Steam platform, primarily containing files uploaded between 2003 and 2013. The leaked data includes early versions and assets of Valve games like Left 4 Dead 2 and Portal 2, as well as beta builds of third-party titles such as Dragon Age: Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum. The information was allegedly accessed via a publicly accessible endpoint, raising security concerns for Valve and other exposed companies.
Digital Visibility Determines Community Growth | Invision Game Community
This article analyzes how discoverability and digital visibility are crucial for the growth and sustainability of online communities, particularly in the gaming sphere. It emphasizes that effective search engine optimization, a strong web presence, and engaging content are key to attracting and retaining members, ultimately leading to vibrant and self-sustaining communities.
"Expect fake messages": A load of Steam user personal info has been stolen thanks to a cyberattack on one of Valve's partners, claims report
A cyberattack on CEVA Logistics, a shipping partner for Valve's Steam hardware in Europe, has potentially compromised the personal information of customers. The breach, which occurred between July 29 and August 1, 2026, may have exposed names, phone numbers, emails, and postal addresses, though payment information and passwords were not accessed. Valve is notifying affected users and data protection authorities, while CEVA Logistics is investigating the incident.
Okay, this time it seems like Valve has *actually* fixed Steam's local game transfer problem
Valve has released further updates to the Steam client to address issues with local network game transfers. These updates aim to resolve problems that prevented users from transferring game files between systems without using internet bandwidth. The latest patch also fixes a bug that prompted users to select a profile on startup.
Morning Safety Dance
Multiple sources report that hackers are targeting Steam games with malware, specifically using the XMRig cryptominer. This attack method, observed on Steam forums, infects gamers and can potentially spread through compromised Wi-Fi networks.
Steam update makes gifting much easier, adds wishlist organization features
Valve has updated Steam to simplify the digital gifting process, allowing users to send games and gift cards via email without needing to be Steam friends or even own a Steam account. The update also introduces new organization features for wishlists, enabling users to categorize and share specific lists.
Midday Safety Dance
A report from GameSpot details how malware allegedly distributed through Steam was used by an individual in Florida to steal over $220,000 in cryptocurrency. The incident highlights the security risks associated with digital platforms and financial assets.
Redditor fashions a 'game cartridge' system for their Steam library out of cheap SATA SSDs
A Reddit user has created a physical media project using cheap SATA SSDs to function as game cartridges for their Steam library. Each SSD is housed with the game's cover art, and a script automatically navigates Steam to the game's library page or launches it directly when the cartridge is slotted into a dock. This project highlights the appeal of physical media amidst rising memory prices and ongoing discussions about digital ownership.
Steam Social Deduction Fest
The Steam Social Deduction Fest is currently running, featuring sales on party games that emphasize detective skills. The event will conclude on Thursday.
You can now easily find out if a game is compatible with the Steam Machine
Information on Steam Machine compatibility for games can now be easily found on individual game pages within the Steam store. Users can check the Steam page to determine if a particular title supports the Steam Machine.
NO MORE BLIND SPOTS. ROKKY LAUNCHES NEW TOOL FOR GAMES STUDIOS TO MANAGE STATUS OF STEAM KEYS
PC game distribution platform Rokky has launched the Steam Key Checker, a free tool designed to help game studios manage and track the activation status of their Steam keys. This new service aims to combat gray market sales by providing visibility into unredeemed keys, allowing publishers to revoke them safely and prevent revenue loss. The tool runs as a browser extension and does not share publisher credentials with Rokky.
The new Epic Games Launcher might not suck so much thanks to 'ground-up' rebuild with 5–6.5x improved performance—still a long way to catch up with Steam
Epic Games is rebuilding its PC launcher from the ground up, promising significant performance improvements including a 5-6.5x faster startup time. The redesign aims to enhance user experience with features like personalized recommendations, improved browsing, and detailed product pages, drawing comparisons to Valve's Steam platform.
Adult Gaming Backlog: The 2026 Data | TAG
Analysis of public Steam profiles in 2024 reveals that the median player has over half their game library unplayed, with an average unplayed share of 51.5%. This suggests many players are collectors who occasionally play games rather than active gamers with a backlog problem. The trend is also observed in the board game community.
This Google Chrome extension warns you about Steam games are made with generative AI
A new Google Chrome extension called 'AI warning for Steam' helps users identify games on Steam that disclose the use of generative AI in their development. The extension alerts users with a pop-up detailing the AI usage, allowing them to decide whether to proceed with viewing the game's page. This tool addresses Valve's requirement for developers to disclose AI usage, which is often buried deep within game descriptions.
