Steam Deck
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Steam Deck.
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Grab 7 action-packed games in the Sharp Shooters Humble Bundle
The Sharp Shooters Humble Bundle is now available, featuring seven action-oriented games for £13.40. Titles include Earth Defense Force 5, Wildgate, Strike Force Heroes, Outriders, Way of the Hunter, Receiver 2, and Holy Shoot, all of which are noted as Steam Deck playable.
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.
Game Devs Reveal the Hidden Complexity Behind Pause Buttons
Game developers are revealing the surprising complexity behind implementing pause buttons, a feature often taken for granted by players. Implementing pause mechanics requires careful consideration of physics engines, multiplayer synchronization, and engine-specific solutions, with different genres and platforms presenting unique challenges. This behind-the-scenes look highlights the intricate problem-solving involved in creating seemingly simple game features.
Mailbox: The Wii U's Legacy, Mii Singing, Hippos - Nintendo Life Letters
This month's Nintendo Life Mailbox features discussions on favorite Nintendo hippos, the legacy of the Wii U in light of Switch ports, and creative ways players customize their experiences in games like Tomodachi Life and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The segment also touches on the creative use of puns in Nintendo Life articles and briefly mentions Shigeru Miyamoto.
What we've been playing - "I started with maple trees behind the bank"
Several individuals share their recent gaming experiences across various titles. Connor details a deep grind in Old School RuneScape, Victoria discusses a 25th-anniversary item in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Bertie recounts a successful run in Slay the Spire 2 on a Steam Deck, and Kelsey describes the chaotic start of their island in Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream.
Echoes of Elysium Update 0.18 Overhauls Early Game | Invision Game Community
Loric Games and Snail Games USA have released Update 0.18 for their airborne open-world survival RPG, Echoes of Elysium, which is available on Steam Early Access. This significant update overhauls the early game experience, introducing a new Power Jump ability, a revamped glider progression system, and 150 new items, alongside numerous performance improvements and bug fixes based on player feedback. The developers also shared a roadmap for future updates, including controller improvements, Steam Deck optimization, and two major content expansions planned for 2026.
Blood Gauntlet Indie Game
Blood Gauntlet is a fast-paced, pixel art action platformer where players must constantly move and destroy enemies to survive while bleeding out. The game features three levels, an unlockable Extreme Mode, and an original soundtrack, and is playable on PC and Steam Deck.
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.
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.
Gamesir's excellent Pocket Taco Game Boy controller is finally at Amazon, but the price is weird
The GameSir Pocket Taco controller, designed to turn smartphones into retro Game Boy-style handhelds, is now available on Amazon for $34.99, down from its listed $44.99 price. While praised for its functionality and compatibility with devices like the Nintendo Switch and PC, the article questions the value at its full price point, especially compared to potential competitors.
With the right settings, Pragmata can hack it on the Steam Deck - more or less
This article analyzes the performance of Capcom's Pragmata on the Steam Deck, finding it playable with custom settings despite its demanding nature on PC. While achieving around 35-45fps in most scenarios and dipping below 30fps during intense moments, the game has earned Steam Deck Verified status. Battery life is a concern, with the LCD Steam Deck draining in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
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.
The new Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is doing a lot with its extra wattage, but I'm bracing myself for the price tag
The 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 offers a significant performance boost over its predecessor, featuring Intel's new Panther Lake processors and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU. It boasts a brighter OLED display and a comfortable keyboard, though concerns remain about potential throttling away from a desk and its likely high price tag.
GeForce NOW Review (India): The Future of Gaming… Still Buffering on Mobile?
NVIDIA's GeForce NOW cloud gaming service has launched in India, aiming to transform mobile devices into gaming machines. While it offers access to thousands of PC titles with high-fidelity streaming, a stable, high-speed internet connection and often a dedicated gamepad are essential for a good experience. The service is best suited for gamers with existing internet infrastructure and game libraries, providing a glimpse into the future of mobile gaming but not yet a fully mature solution.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach PC Update Brings More In-Game Steam User Avatars
Kojima Productions has released update 1.4 for the PC version of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, focusing on bug fixes and enhancing the social Strand system with more player avatars. The update also includes improvements to sharpness controls for upscaling and addresses frame generation bugs. The PC version has seen a successful launch with strong player numbers and positive reviews.
Squad-building, twin-stick shooter roguelike Survivor Mercs comes to consoles April 30th
Wolpertinger Games and Wandering Wizard announced that the squad-building, twin-stick shooter roguelike Survivor Mercs will launch out of Early Access on April 30th for Xbox and PlayStation consoles. The 1.0 release includes all previously released content and features procedurally generated maps, tactical squad-building, and a variety of cloneable Mercs.
Gamer Strikes Gold: Working Nintendo 3DS Super Smash Bros Edition Found in Trash
A shop worker discovered two Nintendo 3DS systems, including a functional Nintendo 3DS XL Super Smash Bros edition with games, discarded in electronics disposal bins. This find highlights the increasing value of discontinued handhelds and raises concerns about electronics waste within the gaming community.
Warp Into Retro-Futuristic Mayhem — ZPF Soars onto Steam and Consoles Today
The shoot 'em up game ZPF has launched today on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S for $9.99. Developed by ZPF Team and published by Mega Cat Studios, the game features retro-futuristic visuals, challenging bosses, and a high-energy soundtrack. ZPF is also Steam Deck verified and includes updates from its acclaimed Genesis debut.
After 300 hours, Hades 2 has put me back under its spell with a console launch and secret new game mode
Hades 2 has launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, following its PC and Nintendo Switch debut. The console release includes a secret new game mode called 'Dream Dives,' a randomized challenge that remixes existing regions and pits players against 'visages' of enemies. This update, along with other quality-of-life improvements, has revitalized the game for both new console players and long-time fans.
Even with ray tracing to buff out its bots, Pragmata performs a treat on PC
Pragmata demonstrates strong performance on PC, even with ray tracing enabled, and has relatively low system requirements. The game runs smoothly on a variety of hardware, including older GPUs and the Steam Deck, with options for upscaling technologies like FSR and DLSS to further enhance frame rates.
