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Steam Players Need 135GB To Reach The Belkan War Bonus
Players purchasing Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on Steam are required to install the full 135GB game to access the preorder bonus Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. This contrasts with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S owners, who receive the 2006 title as a standalone application. This delivery method has led to significant player complaints on Steam.
Tragi-Comedy Exploration Game The Memphis Chronicles Is Dropping a Demo on Steam Soon!
High Road Stories will release a demo for its magic-realist exploration game, The Memphis Chronicles, on Steam on October 5th, 2026. The full game is slated for a PC release in January 2027, with a Meta Quest VR version planned for later that year. The game features a surreal version of Memphis filled with memories and strange characters.
Aion 2 officially launches for those who bought in to founder’s packs
Aion 2 has officially launched for PC via Steam and NCsoft's Purple launcher, granting early access to players who purchased founder's packs. These packs unlock all game features, including transmog, full PvE and PvP content, and the in-game economy. The game will be available to all players on October 5th, with founder's pack players having access to separate servers but able to queue with launch servers.
The Witcher 3 hits its highest-ever Steam concurrent player count following Remastered launch
CD Projekt Red's free remaster of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has propelled the 11-year-old RPG to its highest-ever concurrent player count on Steam, exceeding 120,000 players. This surge surpasses previous peaks, including its 2015 launch and the popularity driven by Netflix's Witcher series.
PS5 Users Can Play Acclaimed 2025 Action Game for Free via PlayStation Store
PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 owners can download a free demo for SNK Corporation's upcoming fighting game, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves. The trial includes six playable characters and limited access to modes like Arcade and Classic Versus, with no online play. The full game, priced at $19.99, features RPG elements and a larger roster.
It's not even out yet, but Valve's Deadlock just became one of the most played games on Steam
Valve's unreleased MOBA, Deadlock, has seen a significant surge in concurrent players on Steam following its 'City Never Sleeps' update. The update introduced a revamped map, new heroes, and numerous quality-of-life improvements, propelling the game to its highest player count yet. Despite not having a full release date, the game's ongoing development and community engagement suggest strong potential.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Has Its Fangs In Me Already, And Fangfully, There’s A Pre-Order Discount
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by Evil Empire, offers a familiar yet refined Metroidvania experience reminiscent of Dead Cells. Players control Rose Belmont, a vampire hunter in Paris, utilizing a Tarot Card system to wield defeated enemies' skills. The game is available for pre-order at a discount on Steam, including a bonus Alucard Style Costume.
Steam is swapping its curated discounts section for a more personal touch, and it could be "a big win" for indies
Steam is replacing its curated discount sections with a more personalized, algorithm-driven system in early 2027. This change is expected to significantly improve game discovery for players and provide greater visibility for developers, particularly for indie titles. The CEO of Hooded Horse believes this shift is a major benefit for both consumers and creators.
Steam Is Finally Changing How Games Get Their Big Front-Page Break
Valve is overhauling Steam's front page discoverability, moving from a curated calendar to personalized recommendations based on user history. This change, set to roll out in early 2027, aims to level the playing field for developers by reducing reliance on manual pitches and AAA marketing budgets.
Nearly 120,000 Players Return to The Witcher 3 on Steam
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has achieved a new peak of nearly 120,000 concurrent players on Steam following the release of its Remastered edition. This free update for existing owners, which also includes the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions, has brought a significant number of players back to the 11-year-old RPG.
Valve is updating Steam's Discount & Events section to become more "dynamic and personalised"
Valve is overhauling Steam's Discount & Events section, transitioning to a dynamic and personalized system expected in early 2027. This change aims to significantly improve game discoverability by allowing ten times more games to be featured daily, benefiting both players with more relevant recommendations and developers, especially smaller indies, with increased visibility.
Röjiga top-down shootern Darkswarm bjuder in till alfatest
The top-down shooter Darkswarm, which draws comparisons to Helldivers and The Ascent, is inviting players to sign up for a closed alpha test on Steam. Players take on the role of a mercenary battling insectoid enemies in various colonies, with options for stealth and hacking alongside intense combat. The game will feature four distinct classes and is planned for an early access release on PC after testing.
Evening Reading - September 29, 2026
This roundup covers several gaming news items including Sony's withdrawal from CES 2027, the upcoming reveal of Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and a significant update for Deadlock. It also highlights a new concurrent player record for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on Steam following its remaster, and reviews for Minecraft Dungeons 2 and the Razer Naga V3 Pro mouse.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Studio Apologizes for PC Issues, Working on Fixes
The developers of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve have apologized for significant technical issues affecting the PC version, including crashes and poor flight-stick integration, which have led to a 'Mostly Positive' rating on Steam. While the PlayStation 5 version is praised for its gameplay and story, the studio is actively working on fixes for the PC version. Players are advised to update drivers and check system requirements as temporary measures.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 PC Specs and Features Revealed
Infinity Ward has detailed the PC version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, highlighting features like high frame rate optimization, ultrawide resolution support, and the RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system. The game will offer advanced graphics options, HDR10+ support, and ray tracing across all modes. Recommended PC specs target 90 FPS, with detailed minimum and recommended hardware requirements provided for various resolutions and settings.
Another Steam page is being turned into an algorithm as Valve aims to show "10x more games to customers"
Valve is transitioning Steam's Discounts & Events page from a manual calendar system to an algorithm-based approach, aiming to showcase significantly more games to customers. While Valve believes this will improve discovery and benefit developers, concerns exist that algorithmic recommendations might limit exposure to games outside a user's usual preferences.
American Truck Simulator adds DLC where you don't have to drive a truck, suddenly sets a new all-time Steam player…
American Truck Simulator has set a new all-time Steam player record with over 21,000 concurrent players, driven by the recent "Road Trip: Ford" DLC. This expansion allows players to drive consumer vehicles like the Ford F-150 and Bronco, deviating from the game's core truck-driving experience but proving highly popular.
Ace Combat 8 Steam reviewers are steaming mad about its pre-order bonus not being a standalone app
Players are expressing significant dissatisfaction with the pre-order bonus for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve on Steam, leading to a surge of negative reviews. The inclusion of Ace Combat Zero as a DLC requiring the installation of the full 140GB Ace Combat 8 has been criticized as a bait-and-switch, especially compared to its standalone presentation on consoles.
Steam's discounts and events tab will soon be fully algorithm-driven
Valve is transitioning Steam's "Discounts and Events" tab from a manually curated calendar to an algorithm-driven system. This change aims to personalize game recommendations for each customer, with initial tests showing a tenfold increase in games featured and significant boosts in store page visits and wishlists. While Valve states this will help developers focus on game creation rather than promotion, some industry figures like Simon Carless and Tim Bender of Hooded Horse have noted positive impacts on visibility for smaller titles.
The algorithm comes for Steam's Discounts and Events
Valve is changing how games are featured in Steam's Discounts and Events section, replacing curated spots with personalized recommendations driven by algorithms. The company claims this will increase visibility for 10 times more games, leading to more store page visits, wishlists, and cart additions. While some express concern about over-reliance on algorithms, the change is seen as potentially beneficial for indie developers seeking visibility.
