Steam Deck
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Steam Deck.
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The Game Boy Pocket is now 30 years young, and I'd thank it for today's retro handhelds
The Game Boy Pocket, celebrating its 30th anniversary, is credited with refining the handheld gaming experience and influencing modern retro handhelds. Despite lacking a backlight, its improvements over the original Game Boy, such as a better screen and slimmer design, set a precedent for quality-of-life enhancements that continue to inspire devices like the Steam Deck and Anbernic's emulators.
The new MSI Claw nails almost everything I could want from a handheld gaming PC
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM is praised for its stellar gaming performance, excellent battery life, and comfortable design, powered by Intel's Arc G3 Extreme silicon. However, its prohibitively high price of $1,800 makes it a difficult recommendation for most consumers, positioning it as a luxury item rather than a practical handheld gaming PC.
The Glorious GHS Wireless InfinitePlay delivers swappable battery tech at a cheap price, but it's too quiet to be a true SteelSeries competitor
The Glorious GHS Wireless InfinitePlay is a budget-friendly wireless gaming headset featuring swappable battery technology, offering up to 85 hours of playback per battery. Despite its impressive battery life and dual Bluetooth/2.4GHz wireless connectivity, the headset suffers from a quiet sound output, a flimsy build, and an exposed battery design, making it a less compelling option compared to competitors like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless.
Fallout 3 is a masterpiece and I hope the remaster comes to Switch 2
The author expresses a strong desire for the confirmed Fallout 3 remaster to be released on the Nintendo Switch 2, citing it as a preferred entry over Fallout 4. They hope for enhanced features like reduced loading times and an improved inventory system, believing the game would be a perfect fit for the handheld console, especially with the recent success of the Fallout TV series.
Jokes aside, buying the $4,299 Ayaneo Next 2 would mean selling my car
The Ayaneo Next 2 flagship gaming handheld is launching with extremely high prices, ranging from $1,799.99 to $4,299. The article questions the value proposition of these premium handhelds, especially considering the rapid pace of hardware upgrades and the high cost of components. It suggests that such pricing might push the market towards cloud gaming solutions.
A new Elder Scrolls is still years away, but this fun Arthurian Skyrim clone is 50% off right now
Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, an open-world first-person RPG inspired by Arthurian legend, is currently 50% off on Steam. The game, which launched last year after early access, features exploration, crafting, and morally ambiguous choices. A recent patch added new items, graphics options, armor sets, and a romance option.
The Xbox Characters That Defined 25 Years of Gaming
This article examines the iconic characters that have defined Xbox's 25-year history, from Master Chief and Marcus Fenix to Minecraft Steve and Ori. These characters represent the evolution of Xbox from a console newcomer to a multi-platform gaming brand, highlighting shifts in game design, company acquisitions, and the importance of personality in brand identity.
LCD emulation could preserve a bunch of iconic Nintendo handhelds and their cursed rivals
The BrickEmuPy project aims to preserve classic handheld LCD games through emulation, having already archived over 60 titles including Nintendo's Mini Classics keychain games. This initiative seeks to maintain access to these older, often obscure, gaming devices as physical hardware degrades and the industry moves towards digital distribution.
The Steam Machine isn't doing exclusives because Valve thinks "restricting where people can play"…
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais explained that the Steam Machine will not feature exclusive games, as the company believes restricting access is not a good model. Instead, Valve aims to make the entire PC catalog available on the platform. This approach mirrors that of the Xbox Series X|S, focusing on the breadth of existing PC games rather than new, platform-specific titles.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed review (2018)
This retrospective review highlights Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed as a strong arcade-style racer that offers a leaner, more skill-expressive alternative to Mario Kart. Developed by Sumo Digital and published by Sega, the game features a unique crossover roster and the ability for vehicles to transform between cars, planes, and boats, making it a standout title on PC.
Valve Doesn’t Want to Use Exclusive Games to Sell Steam Machines, Says Engineer
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the company does not intend to make games exclusive to the Steam Machine, preferring to keep the entire PC catalog available. Engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Griffais also emphasized Valve's interest in fostering innovation among hardware manufacturers rather than dominating the market. Despite early success and high pricing, Valve acknowledges ongoing memory supply challenges for the Steam Machine.
'We're interested in having the whole PC catalog as our 'launch exclusive'': Valve talks exclusives and the advantages of an open platform
Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat stated that the company is more interested in having the entire PC catalog as a 'launch exclusive' rather than restricting games to specific hardware. Valve aims to grow the PC platform by maintaining an open spirit, allowing other manufacturers to innovate with devices like the Steam Machine and handhelds such as the Lenovo Legion Go.
That Lenovo cloud handheld lands this August, and an 120Hz display and TMR thumb sticks won't get me into streaming
Lenovo's cloud streaming handheld, the C700, is set to launch in August with a 7.82-inch 120Hz display and TMR thumbsticks. The device is primarily designed for Tencent's START cloud gaming service, raising concerns about game ownership and reliance on internet connectivity and subscriptions.
60 fps is still the de facto minimum frame rate for half of PC Gamer readers, but more than 10% of you are dying on the…
A PC Gamer poll reveals that 50% of readers consider 60 frames per second (fps) the minimum acceptable frame rate for playable games, while over 10% accept frame rates as low as 30 fps or even 24 fps. The article discusses the historical shift from 30 fps to 60 fps as a standard and acknowledges the growing acceptance of lower frame rates on portable gaming PCs like the Steam Deck.
Sky Children of the Light’s wholesome Van Gogh experience is live today on all platforms
Sky Children of the Light has launched its interactive Vincent van Gogh exhibit, allowing players to explore 3D recreations of his iconic paintings and learn about his life through his correspondence with his brother Theo. The free-to-play experience is available on all platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, Meta Quest 3, Steam Deck, and ASUS ROG Ally.
Ayaneo unveils its Konkr Pocket Advance, and it's the GBA handheld remake I was holding out for
Ayaneo has unveiled the Konkr Pocket Advance, a handheld device designed as a homage to the original Game Boy Advance. While official specifications are pending, the device features a design reminiscent of the GBA with modern additions like four face buttons and a larger widescreen display, suggesting it will be capable of emulating systems up to PlayStation 1 or potentially GameCube.
Railway Management Sim Rail Estate Pulls Into The Station As The Game Becomes Available On Steam!
The railway management simulation game Rail Estate, developed by Holonautic, has been released on Steam. The game features a story-driven single-player campaign, multiplayer modes, and support for Steam Deck. Players take on the role of a rail tycoon aiming to outsmart opponents through resource management, route bidding, and company upgrades.
Retroid finally provides a closer look at its Pocket Nova handheld in action
Retroid has released new gameplay footage of its upcoming Pocket Nova retro handheld, showcasing its ability to run various classic games like F-Zero GX and God of War 2. The portable device features a 4:3 screen and is priced starting at $229, positioning it against competitors like the Anbernic RG Cube and Retroid's own Pocket 5.
Fabled Mouse Adventure Moss: The Forgotten Relic Launches on PC and Consoles
Polyarc has released Moss: The Forgotten Relic, a reimagined adaptation of its storybook saga, on PC and multiple consoles including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. This title combines the original Moss and Moss: Book II into a single, enhanced experience featuring modernized visuals and new cinematics. The game is available for $19.99 and includes elements of exploration, environmental puzzles, combat, and a unique dual perspective gameplay.
We're getting "a little bit more" of Warframe's Jade Shadows, as Digital Extremes knows Constellations "didn't give players as much as they wanted"
Digital Extremes acknowledges that the Warframe: Jade Shadows: Constellations update did not provide as much content as players desired. Community Director Megan Everett stated that more lore for Vena and Ryoku will be added later this year due to player feedback. The studio is committed to expanding the narrative of Warframe, which is known for its unique approach to storytelling in multiplayer games.
