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Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Linux.
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KDE Plasma 6.7 gets per-screen virtual desktops and Wayland session management
KDE Plasma 6.7 is set to release on June 16th, introducing significant new features including per-screen virtual desktops and support for the Wayland session management protocol. The update also brings improvements to the Discover software center and application menu widgets.
Reality-bending puzzles arrive in Uncle Lee's Cookbook: Five Recipes for Disaster on May 12
Uncle Lee's Cookbook: Five Recipes for Disaster, a collection of five reality-bending puzzle episodes, is set to release on May 12th. Lead programmer Giuseppe Sellaroli confirmed it will be available DRM-free on Steam, GOG, and itch.io, featuring pixel art, witty dialogue, and English voice acting with Italian subtitles. The game also includes a native Linux version compatible with Steam Deck.
MMO space shooter Star Conflict is shutting down
The MMO space shooter Star Conflict, developed by Star Gem Inc. and Gaijin Network Ltd, will shut down its servers on October 10, 2026. The developers cited increasing infrastructure costs, technical limitations, and a declining player base as reasons for the closure. Registration for new accounts will be disabled on May 14, 2026, and monetization on June 1, 2026.
Prehistoric life and farming sim Roots of Pacha gets a surprise Anniversary Update
The farming and life simulation game Roots of Pacha has received a surprise Anniversary Update, adding new content such as hats for pets, new world interactions, and cutscenes. Developer Soda Den also implemented various quality of life improvements and bug fixes. Roots of Pacha is a casual game set in prehistoric times, featuring farming, village building, and animal befriending.
Portal 2: Community Edition Beta is out now as a playground for modding
Portal 2: Community Edition Beta has been released, offering enhanced modding tools and capabilities for players. This community-maintained version utilizes a modified version of the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive engine, Strata Source, to introduce features like DirectX 11 support, improved lighting, and increased engine limits. The beta is available for users who own the original Portal 2 and supports native Linux.
DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 3 gets formally announced
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 has been officially announced, with a planned release in 2027. The game will feature original characters created by Akira Toriyama and is set in AGE 1000, with a focus on West City. The article also expresses hope for improved Linux and SteamOS multiplayer support, referencing issues with Easy Anti-Cheat in the previous installment.
I found out the hard way that Linux is not a dad-friendly gaming OS, and maybe neither is the PC
The author details his struggles with PC and Linux gaming while trying to play with his son, highlighting issues with controller connectivity and Microsoft account logins. These frustrations led him to rely on cloud gaming services like GeForce Now for a smoother co-op experience. The article concludes that PC gaming, especially on Linux, still faces accessibility challenges that can hinder family gaming time.
Wine 11.7 released with DirectSound 7.1 support, VBScript improvements, MSXML updates
Wine 11.7 has been released, introducing DirectSound 7.1 speaker configuration support, VBScript compatibility fixes, and initial MSXML reimplementation without libxml2. This update also includes SRGB filter support in D3DX and resolves 35 bugs across various applications and games. The compatibility layer now defaults to Windows 10.
US may force operating systems to have mandatory age verification, share info with third parties
A new bill in the US House, the "Parents Decide Act," proposes mandatory age verification for operating systems like Windows, Linux, and MacOS during installation and use. The bill, referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, would require users to provide their date of birth, with details on verification methods and data protection left to the committee. Concerns have been raised about potential privacy risks and the impact on open-source operating systems.
The first major update for Slay the Spire 2 is out now
Mega Crit has released the first major gameplay content update for their deck-builder Slay the Spire 2, following a beta period. The update includes significant balancing changes, reworks, new artwork, a new Badges system, revamped leaderboards, and numerous bug fixes. The developer also recently increased their direct support for the Godot Engine.
Properly funny chaotic dungeon crawler Lucky Tower Ultimate 1.0 has launched
Studio Seufz has officially launched Lucky Tower Ultimate 1.0, exiting Early Access with a significant content update. This chaotic roguelite dungeon crawler features randomly generated levels, hand-drawn 2D graphics, full voice acting, and new end-game content including a multi-stage quest and over 600 new voice lines. The game is confirmed to work well on Linux via Proton and on Steam Deck.
EdenSpark unveils monthly game jams with $250,000 total prize pool
Gaijin Entertainment has launched EdenSpark, a new open development platform featuring monthly game jams with a total annual prize pool of $250,000. Participants have 14 days each month to create games using the EdenSpark tools, with opportunities to publish directly to consoles. The initiative aims to empower creators and foster game development without requiring registered companies.
This is not a drill: All-timer weirdo game Deadly Premonition now playable on Linux as of Valve's most recent Proton beta, plus 17 others and your EA library (until EA breaks it again)
Valve has released the first beta for Proton 11, its compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux and Steam Deck. This update includes improvements from Wine 11 and adds support for numerous games, notably making Deadly Premonition playable on Linux. The beta also addresses issues with EA games and introduces an Arm64 version of Proton.
Valve's latest Proton 11 beta has been quietly released in an even more beta Arm64 flavour and you can thank the…
Valve has released a beta version of its Proton 11.0 compatibility layer, including a specific build for Arm64 processors. This update aims to improve the ability of Windows games to run on Linux-based systems like SteamOS, with potential implications for Valve's upcoming Steam Deck hardware and VR initiatives.
Proton 11 Beta arrives to bring enhanced gaming compatibility to Linux / SteamOS
Valve has released Proton 11 Beta, an update to their compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux and SteamOS. This version is based on Wine 11 and includes enhancements like NTSync for potential performance improvements, alongside an ARM64 build. The update brings numerous game-specific fixes and improvements, including better video playback, text-to-speech accessibility, and controller support for many titles.
Cleaning Up! Released
The cozy cleaning simulation game Cleaning Up! has been released on Windows, macOS, and Linux by developer Unknown Creations. The game is currently available with a 10% launch discount on Steam.
Book of Travels Dropping Online Play
Book of Travels is transitioning from an MMORPG to a single-player RPG, as announced on Steam. The game, available on PC, macOS, and Linux, will no longer feature online multiplayer after its Early Access period.
Road to Vostok is an incredibly impressive solo-developed hardcore survival shooter
Road to Vostok, a solo-developed hardcore survival shooter built with Godot Engine, has entered Early Access and achieved over 140,000 sales in its first week. The game offers realistic FPS mechanics, physics-based loot, and permadeath, with plans for native Linux support in the future. Despite a somewhat unengaging intro and a restrictive save system, its positive reception highlights its appeal to players seeking a challenging survival experience.
After years in development v8 of the factory management RTS Mindustry is out
Version 8 of the free and open-source factory management RTS game Mindustry has been released after two years of development. This major update overhauls the Serpulo campaign, improves multiplayer functionality, enhances unit pathfinding and command queuing, and introduces a new marker system for map editing. Future updates will focus on the Neoplasm faction and further campaign development.
Book of Travels from Might and Delight goes offline in July but you'll still be able to play alone
Book of Travels will transition to an offline, single-player experience with its servers shutting down on July 31st, 2026. Developer Might and Delight will also enable modding and reduce the game's price to $4.99 USD. The studio apologized for a lack of communication and acknowledged they took on more than they could handle with the online aspects of the game.
