Valve
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Valve.
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The Ayn Odin 3 is creeping up to old Steam Deck prices, and I can't wrap my head around the $529 Max
The Ayn Odin 3 handheld gaming device is facing its third price increase since March, with the Max version now costing over $500. Ayn attributes the hikes to rising costs of Qualcomm chipsets and DRAM/UFS. Prices for the Base, Pro, and Max models will increase by $20 starting September 1, making them significantly more expensive than the original Steam Deck.
Snabbkollen: Vilket är bästa Valve-spelet?
Valve is celebrating its 30th anniversary, prompting a discussion about which of its games is the most beloved. The article presents poll results showing Half-Life 2 as the current favorite, followed by Counter-Strike and Half-Life.
Heroes of Might & Magic 3 gets off to a bumpy start on Steam after Ubisoft forgot to include the game itself in the…
Ubisoft's recent launch of Heroes of Might and Magic 3 on Steam was marred by an issue where the game files were missing from the download, resulting in a very small file size and negative player reviews. The company has since acknowledged and resolved the problem, releasing an update that includes the necessary game files.
When Valve killed its Ravenholm game, Arkane founder says "we did not understand" its thinking: "It all came down to the economics behind Half-Life 2 and how the DLCs were selling"
Arkane founder Raphaël Colantonio discussed the cancellation of the Ravenholm game, a Half-Life 2 spin-off, stating that Valve's decision was based on the economics of DLC sales. Colantonio reflected on the decade-long pain of the cancellation but now understands Valve's business reasoning. He also mentioned that the project led to close collaboration with Half-Life 2's art director, Viktor Antonov.
Analyst reckons the Epic Games Store can't "recover" in duel with Steam, Epic GM says "the data…
An analyst from Newzoo believes the Epic Games Store cannot compete with Steam due to Steam's established dominance and Epic's strategy of giving away free games. However, Epic Games' VP and GM, Martin Keely, stated that data shows significant growth in player hours and spending on third-party games on the Epic Games Store in 2025, with further acceleration expected.
Valve fyller 30 år – företaget som förändrade PC-spelandet
Valve, founded 30 years ago by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, has significantly impacted PC gaming through titles like Half-Life and its sequels, and the revolutionary digital distribution platform Steam. The company has also ventured into hardware with the Steam Deck and VR, continuing to innovate in how and where PC games are played.
30 år och fortfarande inget Half-Life 3
This article discusses the long-standing mystery surrounding the unreleased Half-Life 3, 30 years after the original Half-Life's debut. It explores the history of the series, the failed episodic continuation of Half-Life 2, and potential reasons for Half-Life 3's absence, including developer Valve's high expectations and the passage of time.
Valve turns 30 today, and it's stronger than ever
Valve celebrates its 30th anniversary, having significantly shaped PC gaming through titles like Half-Life and the digital storefront Steam. The company has also expanded into hardware with devices like the Steam Deck and Steam Machine, continuing its influence on the industry.
Twitch faces a class action lawsuit over using streamers' content to train Amazon's AI
Twitch and its parent company Amazon are facing a proposed class action lawsuit from streamer Warren Pandiscia, who alleges his content was used to train generative AI models without consent or payment. This follows Twitch's recent announcement of AI training features, which have been met with community backlash due to their opt-out rather than opt-in nature. Separately, an analyst suggests that Epic Games Store's efforts to compete with Steam may be too late, despite ongoing improvements to its storefront and the continued success of Fortnite.
Epic Games Store overhaul might be "too little, too late", says Newzoo analyst
Newzoo analyst Emmanuel Rosier believes that an overhaul of the Epic Games Store may be too late to challenge Steam's dominance in the PC digital distribution market. While Epic's free game giveaways attract users, they do not foster lasting engagement, and players tend to stick with Steam. Rosier is more optimistic about Epic's prospects with Fortnite, noting its successful integration of crossover cosmetics.
A single-minded new Deadlock update targets its teamfight-trashing unicorn
Valve has released a new update for the MOBA Deadlock focused on rebalancing the hero Celeste. The update adjusts item effects and Celeste's abilities, including her ultimate, Shining Wonder, to reduce her oppressive impact in teamfights. These changes are being rolled out as a standalone patch, suggesting Valve felt immediate action was necessary.
Can the Epic Games Store turn things around? 'I don't see how they can recover at this point,' says…
Industry analyst Emmanuel Rosier expresses skepticism about the Epic Games Store's ability to recover market share from Steam, citing its reliance on free game giveaways and broad competitive efforts. While acknowledging Epic's success with Fortnite and its integration of various game IPs, Rosier believes the storefront faces an uphill battle.
Frustrated with GTA 6 leaks, Rockstar fans dig up Gabe Newell's "I play games to have fun" rant – and miss the most important part
Following Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks that suggest a realistic fuel system, fans have resurfaced a Gabe Newell quote about realism in games. The article discusses Newell's definition of fun in games as player choice recognition and response, contrasting it with the potential tedium of hyper-realism. It also touches on how games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur's Gate 3 utilize player agency and systemic interactions.
Whenever you're ready, Valve - nine minutes of Steam Frame user guide videos appearing as Steam Store assets surely point to this headset launching soon, right?
Nine minutes of user guide videos for Valve's upcoming VR headset, codenamed Steam Frame or Deckard, have leaked online as Steam store assets. The videos cover setup, unboxing, and accessories, suggesting a launch is imminent despite previous delays. Valve has not commented on the leaks, which have appeared on Reddit and YouTube.
Someone has managed to run Zork on the Steam Controller's internal hardware, but it's risky business
A creator has successfully run the classic text adventure game Zork on the internal hardware of a Steam Controller by developing custom firmware. This involved flashing new firmware, which temporarily bricked the controller, and then using a Rust program to emulate an Intel 8080 CPU and the CP/M-80 operating system. While the end result is a playable experience, the process is described as risky and complex, with a real possibility of permanently damaging the device.
"Steam is a monopoly with very few precedents," says dev of game inexplicably flagged as adult-only by Valve: "As a developer, I'm completely at their whim"
The creator of the game Future? No Thanks! has criticized Valve's Steam platform, calling it a monopoly with opaque rules that leave developers at its mercy. The game was repeatedly flagged as adult-only without clear reasoning, despite containing mature themes rather than explicit content. This situation highlights ongoing concerns about Valve's content moderation policies and its dominant position in the PC gaming market.
'Dude no joke looks like Hugh Jackman now': The internet is swooning over Gabe Newell's svelte new look…
Valve president Gabe Newell appeared in a video for The International 2026, the Dota 2 championship tournament, sparking widespread online discussion about his significantly slimmer appearance. Many fans expressed admiration for his new look, with some comparing him to actors like Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe, while others simply expressed happiness that he appears healthy.
Valve chief Gabe Newell makes a rare public appearance as "New Chad Gabe" and rings in Dota 2's biggest…
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell made a rare public appearance via video message at the opening ceremony of The International 2026 Dota 2 tournament. Newell, who appeared noticeably slimmer, reflected on the game's evolution and thanked the players and fans for their continued passion. The message was met with positive reactions online, with fans expressing happiness over his healthier appearance.
Unboxing videos of the Steam Frame have been leaked, giving us a closer look at the long-awaited VR headset
Leaked unboxing and setup videos of Valve's upcoming Steam Frame VR headset have surfaced, offering a detailed look at its premium design and features. The videos, initially part of an Arm Steam Client update, showcase the headset's comfort, adjustable headband, and controller pairing process. While Valve has pulled the original videos, they have been reposted, suggesting the product is nearing its release in the latter half of 2026.
Dota 2 The International 2026: Dates, brackets, prize pools & where to watch
The Dota 2 The International 2026 esports tournament is currently underway, featuring a prize pool exceeding $3.19 million. The event began on August 13, 2026, with the Grand Finals scheduled for August 23, 2026. Matches can be watched on the official Dota 2 Twitch and YouTube channels.
