Steam Deck
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Steam Deck.
Latest coverage
Best Games to Play When You Only Have 10 Minutes
The article highlights the growing trend of short-session games that cater to players with limited time. Titles like Marvel Snap, Vampire Survivors, Rocket League, and Hades are praised for their fast startup, instant gameplay, and quick rewards. The piece also touches on the resurgence of browser games and the impact of the Steam Deck on portable gaming, emphasizing that games respecting players' time are becoming increasingly important.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Forza Horizon 6 and Subnautica 2 get Steam Deck Verified
Several upcoming games, including LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Forza Horizon 6, and Subnautica 2, have received Steam Deck Verified status. This indicates they are expected to run smoothly on Valve's handheld PC. The article also mentions other games that have recently passed Valve's verification process.
Unreal Engine 5.8 adds experimental Steam Frame support, Qualcomm give the Steam Frame a dedicated page
Qualcomm has launched a dedicated page for the Steam Frame, powered by their Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, indicating its impending release. Additionally, Unreal Engine 5.8 Preview now includes experimental support for the Steam Frame, with developers able to test performance criteria for VR titles.
Global Expansion of Crash Games
Crash games are experiencing rapid global growth, driven by their simple rules, fast rounds, and mobile compatibility, making them ideal for modern player habits. Regions like India, Brazil, and various African countries are significant contributors to this expansion, facilitated by improved internet infrastructure, affordable smartphones, and accessible digital payment systems. While Europe has a more mature, regulated market, crash games are gaining traction there as an alternative to traditional casino offerings.
Why settle for a boring Switch 2 case when you could grab one of these cute and colorful accessories instead
This article discusses the appeal of colorful and unique accessories for the Nintendo Switch, contrasting them with plain, functional options like the Belkin Charging Case Pro. It highlights examples from Hori featuring Pokémon art and lenticular designs from Turtle Beach for Donkey Kong and Super Mario fans, suggesting that vibrant cases enhance the gaming experience.
Video codecs are a nightmare for game developers, but there's no solution in sight
Video codecs present a significant and persistent challenge for game developers, with no easy solutions in sight. Developers like Sam Barlow and Remy Siu highlight the complexities of compressing and decompressing video for games, especially for multi-platform releases and full-motion video content. Issues range from cutscenes not appearing on certain platforms to the sheer volume of work required to optimize video for different hardware, leading to painful development cycles and limitations on creative possibilities.
230 runs later, Hades 2's ranking system has me feeling cheated out of a huge missed opportunity
Despite hundreds of hours played on Steam Deck, the author feels cheated by Hades 2's post-game ranking system, finding it a missed opportunity for deeper engagement. While the game expands on many elements from its predecessor, the ranking system, similar to the first Hades, offers little more than a private prestige system with minimal in-game reward or narrative impact, even when tied to mentions of the goddess Nyx.
10 Best RPGs on Steam to play in 2026
This article lists and describes ten of the best role-playing games available on Steam, suitable for playing in 2026. It highlights titles such as Baldur's Gate 3, Disco Elysium, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Fallout: New Vegas, detailing their unique features, gameplay mechanics, and suitability for platforms like the Steam Deck.
"It's expensive and it doesn't age": Why Ken Levine didn't aim for realistic graphics in BioShock, and won't for Judas either
BioShock director Ken Levine prioritizes artistic style over photorealistic graphics in his upcoming game Judas, arguing that realism is expensive and ages poorly. He believes that strong art direction, rather than cutting-edge technology, is key to a game's lasting appeal, citing the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck as examples of platforms focusing on form factor over raw power. Levine also draws parallels between Judas's complex narrative branching and Larian Studios' work on Baldur's Gate 3, emphasizing the engineering and organizational challenges over technological demands.
Uncle Lee's Cookbook: Five Recipes for Disaster - Out Now on Steam and GOG
Dionous Games and Relatively Painless Games have launched Uncle Lee's Cookbook: Five Recipes for Disaster, a complete collection of the point-and-click adventure series. Available on Steam, GOG, and Itch, the game features all five episodes with revised content, full voice acting, and a built-in hint system. The collection is also verified for the Steam Deck.
Get some fun games to play with friends in the Fanatical Crazy Co-op Bundle
Fanatical has launched the Crazy Co-op Bundle, allowing customers to build their own collection of co-op games at discounted prices. Players can purchase 3, 5, or 7+ games, with prices decreasing based on the number of titles selected. Notable games available in the bundle include PEAK, Content Warning, BallisticNG, and Bang-On Balls: Chronicles.
Steam Deck Optimization Guide: Best Settings for Battery Life and Performance | TAG
This guide provides practical tips for average gamers to improve Steam Deck battery life and performance without extensive tweaking. It focuses on three key settings accessible through the Quick Access Menu, including setting a TDP limit, to achieve significant improvements.
7 Offline Games for Flight, Hotel, Waiting Room | TAG
This guide highlights seven games that function fully offline, ideal for travel situations with unreliable internet. Titles like Balatro, Vampire Survivors, Hades II, and Stardew Valley are recommended for their ability to run without account checks or sync requirements on devices such as the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2. The article also provides tips for preparing gaming devices for travel and avoiding common pitfalls like installing games at the airport or forgetting chargers.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Switch 2 is further proof that Nintendo's latest can tackle the biggest…
The Nintendo Switch 2 is proving capable of handling major third-party releases, with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle being a recent impressive port. Despite lower resolution targets and graphical settings compared to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, the game's visual fidelity and performance are well-preserved thanks to the id Tech 7 engine and DLSS capabilities. MachineGames has effectively navigated the console's limitations, offering a strong experience that plays to its strengths.
Modder designs an ultra premium PSP shell from the ground up that puts my handheld plans to shame
YouTuber Polymatt has designed and manufactured a premium custom shell for the PlayStation Portable using brass and acrylic. The extensive process involved 3D scanning, modeling, and machining to create an elevated, high-end aesthetic for the retro handheld. This project also includes a custom USB-C mod board to replace the original charging port.
Valve might be making 512GB and 2TB versions of its new Steam Machine, despite AI-driven memory shortages
Valve may be planning 512GB and 2TB versions of its Steam Machine, according to a recent Steam software update. This comes despite ongoing AI-driven memory shortages impacting component prices and availability, which have already affected Steam Deck supplies. The potential new storage options align with Valve's previously stated desire for multiple Steam Machine configurations.
Cheaper AMD Radeon RX 9050 GPUs are seemingly inbound, and it's almost better than the RX 9060
Reports suggest AMD is preparing to release the Radeon RX 9050 graphics card, which may feature a higher core count than the RX 9060. This new GPU is rumored to use the Navi 44 GPU with 2,048 Stream Processors and 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, potentially making it a strong option for small form-factor PCs and rivaling upcoming devices like the Steam Machine.
Don't forget to claim your Amazon Prime games for May via Amazon Luna
Amazon Prime members can claim a selection of free games for May through Amazon Luna, including titles like Mafia II: Definitive Edition and Survival: Fountain of Youth. These games are available to keep via GOG, Amazon Games, Epic Games Store, and Legacy Games codes.
The most wishlisted game on Steam - Subnautica 2 gets an Early Access trailer, pre-purchase and pre-loads
Subnautica 2 has reached 5 million wishlists on Steam and is currently the most wishlisted game. Pre-purchasing and pre-loads are now available, and all players will receive the Reaper Leviathan Statue blueprint at Early Access launch on May 14, 2026, for $29.99 USD. The game is also confirmed to be Steam Deck compatible.
Valve fix Steam Controller double inputs with the Puck - Steam Deck gets configurable Track Pad Locking
Valve has released a new Steam Client Beta for PC and Steam Deck that addresses an issue causing double inputs on the Steam Controller when charging on the Puck. The update also introduces configurable trackpad locking behavior for the Steam Deck, allowing users to disable it when using the joysticks.
