Steam Deck
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Steam Deck.
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Morning Tech Bits
HDMI 2.2 has been updated to double bandwidth to 96Gbps, enabling uncompressed 4K resolution at 240Hz. There is speculation that this technology could be implemented on the Steam Deck, potentially with FSR4 support.
GTA 5 in 2026: First-Time Playthrough | TAG
This guide assesses whether Grand Theft Auto V is worth a first-time playthrough in 2026, especially with Grand Theft Auto 6 on the horizon. It concludes that the single-player campaign remains an excellent, visually updated experience, offering 40-50 hours of engaging content, and recommends skipping GTA Online. The article provides platform recommendations, mod suggestions for PC, and advice on pacing and prioritizing content for players with limited time.
Combine work and play with 12 back to school gadgets that double up perfectly in hybrid setups
This article highlights 12 back-to-school gadgets suitable for hybrid work and play setups, including noise-canceling earbuds compatible with PlayStation 5, Xbox, Switch, and PC, as well as gaming laptops. It also features recommendations for portable chargers, backpacks, and wireless mechanical keyboards, with links to further reviews on gaming earbuds, tablets, and laptops.
Steam Week in Review: spammy, AI-generated capsule art is a pox, and it makes browsing Steam less fun
The proliferation of AI-generated capsule art on Steam is diminishing the browsing experience, making it harder to discover genuine indie gems. This trend creates a disconnect between appealing art and actual game quality, potentially leading to wasted time and a less enjoyable user experience for curious players.
Best retro controllers 2026: perfect pads for your classic consoles and games
This guide explores the best modern retro controllers available for classic consoles, highlighting options from companies like Gulikit, 8Bitdo, Retro-Bit, and Retro Fighters. It details controllers suitable for Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, PlayStation consoles, original Xbox, GameCube, and Game Boy, emphasizing features like wireless connectivity, hall-effect sensors, and improved ergonomics for an enhanced retro gaming experience.
Sony May Mitigate Hardware Pricing Nightmare by Simply Selling Fewer PS5s
Sony is reportedly planning to mitigate the impact of rising hardware component costs by selling fewer PlayStation 5 consoles. This strategy aims to maintain profitability despite increased prices for memory semiconductors, which are also affecting other platforms like the Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch. The company does not expect to offer hardware promotions in the near future.
The best D&D videogame you've never played is one guy's outsider art, personal Baldur's Gate saga
The Neverwinter Nights mod campaign, Swordflight, is highlighted as a masterfully designed, challenging RPG experience created by a single developer over many years. This fan-made module for BioWare's classic game offers a deep Dungeons & Dragons 3E adaptation, emphasizing strategic planning and resource management, and is praised for its reactive storytelling and unique moral system.
I spent an entire day with a fan-mod of North Korea's homegrown operating system, and I'm sorry to say…
An attempt to install and run a fan-modded version of North Korea's RedStar OS 3.5 on a PC proved largely unsuccessful. Despite improvements over the base 2011 version, the modified OS still suffered from installation issues, graphical glitches, and an inability to run modern applications or games, highlighting the significant gap between the OS and contemporary computing standards.
What are we all playing this weekend?
Several members of the RPS team share their weekend gaming plans. James is enjoying Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core, while Julian plans to finish Cyberpunk and Mark continues his Red Dead Redemption playthrough. Jeremy will be playing Final Fantasy XII on his Steam Deck during a holiday.
Shack Chat: What is your favorite video game comeback?
Shacknews staff members discuss their favorite video game comebacks, highlighting titles like Overwatch 2, Guilty Gear Xrd, F-Zero 99, Destiny 2, Half-Life: Alyx, and No Man's Sky. The discussion also touches on Nintendo's successful transition from the Wii U to the Nintendo Switch as a significant comeback for the company.
You deserve to get in some gaming time this summer, and these travel-friendly gadgets will help with that
This article provides a guide to travel-friendly gaming gadgets for summer holidays. It highlights accessories like USB-C fans for the Nintendo Switch 2 and power banks suitable for the Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, and smartphones. The author also references other hardware guides for Nintendo Switch controllers, headsets, and microSD cards.
Steam Controller demand is so high Valve is changing reservation estimates, and some customers won't get theirs until 2027
Valve has adjusted reservation estimates for the Steam Controller due to overwhelming demand, with some customers now facing delivery windows in 2027. The company stated that production cannot keep up with current demand, and new orders placed today are unlikely to be fulfilled this year. The Steam Controller, priced at $99, aims to emulate the Steam Deck experience on PC and provide a comfortable alternative to mouse and keyboard for sofa gaming.
If You Haven’t Reserved A Steam Controller Yet, You’ll Have To Wait Until Next Year
Due to overwhelming demand, new reservations for Valve's Steam Controller will not be fulfilled until at least 2027. Valve has stated they have no plans to stop production but the response has exceeded expectations. The company is providing estimated delivery windows for existing orders, with new orders facing significant delays.
Steam Controller demand is so high that new reservations won't be fulfilled until 2027
Valve is struggling to meet the high demand for its Steam Controller, with new reservations not expected to be fulfilled until 2027. The company has updated its reservation system to reflect estimated shipping windows of September 2026, December 2026, or sometime in 2027. Valve assures customers that production will continue, but current demand far outstrips their manufacturing capacity for the year.
The devs of EVE Online's survival spinoff are on a 'side quest' to get it on Steam Deck: 'Our goal is to get this to as many players as possible'
Developers at Fenris Creations are exploring Steam Deck compatibility for their upcoming MMO EVE Frontier, aiming to make the game accessible on as many platforms as possible. While not officially on the roadmap, the team is experimenting with Valve's handheld, noting that gamepad controls make it a strong candidate. The game's launcher and lack of traditional anti-cheat are minor hurdles compared to the initial challenge of implementing gamepad support.
Moonlight Pale confirmed for Nintendo Switch
Moonlight Pale, a hand-drawn survival horror game developed by Blue Lily Games, is confirmed for a Nintendo Switch release between Q4 2026 and Q1 2027. The game, currently on Kickstarter, is set in a late 1800s female seminary and features a fully voiced cast and a soundtrack by Arai Tasuku.
Valve releases SteamOS 3.8 — and it comes with the biggest hint yet that the Steam Machine is about to arrive
Valve has released SteamOS 3.8, which includes initial support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware, signaling a potential imminent launch. The update also brings general stability tweaks, improved compatibility with Intel and AMD platforms, and enhanced video memory management for discrete GPUs.
Warframe Drops a Massive Update, Jade Shadows: Constellations
Digital Extremes has released a major free update for Warframe titled Jade Shadows: Constellations. This update expands the existing Jade Shadows content with a new story quest continuing the Stalker's narrative, a new playable Warframe named Sirius & Orion, new Railjack missions, Prime gear, cosmetics, and weapons. Players can choose to ally with one of two Protoframe mentors, Ryoku or Vena, which impacts new Railjack crew members and space battles.
From Hori to Hello Kitty - these are some of my favorite Switch 2 cases available for your Nintendo handheld today
This article highlights various protective cases available for the Nintendo Switch, emphasizing their role in safeguarding the console and facilitating portability. It mentions options for carrying accessories, charging capabilities, and designs featuring popular characters like Hello Kitty and Kirby, with potential Prime Day discounts anticipated.
Morning Patches
Several games have received official updates. Euro Truck Simulator 2 has released its 1.60 update, while Hubert Demo has added new languages and combat improvements. Steam Deck has updated to SteamOS 3.8, and World War Z: Aftermath has received a patch.