Game Discovery
Ongoing coverage on Game Discovery.
Latest coverage
Game Categories Should Tell Us What We’ll Actually Do
The article argues that current game library categories like 'popular' or 'featured' are insufficient for helping players choose their next experience. It suggests that more useful categories should describe the actual gameplay loop, such as whether it involves careful planning, quick reactions, or following a hosted round, thereby reducing player uncertainty and aligning with user intentions.
I've got egg on my face because Steam's Personal Calendar feature has apparently been a test this whole time and is only now actually a fully fledged component
Valve has announced that Steam's Personal Calendar feature, which suggests recently released and upcoming games based on user playtime profiles, has officially launched out of Steam Labs. The feature uses data from players with similar gaming habits to recommend titles users are likely to be interested in. This marks a broader effort by Valve to enhance Steam's discovery tools and algorithmic recommendations.
Steam's new Personal Calendar aims to solve game discovery without trapping you in a bubble
Valve has officially launched the Steam Personal Calendar, a new tool designed to improve game discovery on the platform. Developed through Steam Labs, the calendar aims to bridge the gap between popular and niche titles, offering personalized recommendations without creating a filter bubble.
The best thing Valve has added to Steam in years just graduated to "full feature"
Valve has officially launched its Personal Calendar feature on Steam, graduating it from beta. This tool aims to help users discover new games by showcasing upcoming releases algorithmically tailored to their play history and preferences, addressing the challenge of sifting through numerous daily releases.
"Thank you, Hades" - Evil Empire on indie game discovery, how Steam early access has changed, and the rise of AI tools
Evil Empire's CEO Thomas Pfeiffer and Head of Business Ben Laulan discuss the studio's growth from supporting Dead Cells to developing Castlevania: Belmont's Curse and The Rogue Prince of Persia. They highlight the success of their Triple-i Initiative for indie game discovery and share insights on collaborations with larger publishers. The pair also express concerns about the impact of AI on the creative process and the meaning of game development.
Google Play adds Game Finder, Sprints, and Sidekick Playbacks in discovery push
Google Play is introducing new features to enhance game discovery and social interaction, including a personalized Game Finder, timed Sprints, and clip-sharing via Sidekick. The platform is also expanding its Quests to offer in-game items and bringing PC titles to Google Play with cloud save functionality across Android and PC. Additionally, Google is offering lower service fees to standout titles through its Apps Experience and Level Up programs.
S&box plans to go free-to-play and embrace human curation saying "Netflix for games doesn't work"
Facepunch Studios is shifting its s&box platform to a free-to-play model and will focus on human curation rather than an AI-driven approach to game discovery. Founder Garry Newman acknowledged the platform's struggles with retention and user reception, stating that a 'Netflix for games' model is not effective. The company is also moving towards the Steam Workshop for content distribution and implementing a stricter approval system for games.
State of Indie 2026 Part 4: Going International
The final installment of State of Indie 2026 examines the growing international landscape for game development and discovery. It highlights the significant, albeit insular, Chinese market and the challenges of piracy, while also noting the potential in emerging regions like India. The article also discusses the crucial role of content creators and evolving discovery methods for indie games.
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.
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.
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.
Valve is changing Steam's homepage discounts and events section to go the way of the algorithm to get you to look at, and buy, obviously, more games
Valve is transitioning Steam's 'Discounts & Events' section from manual curation to a dynamic, algorithm-driven system. The company claims this change will personalize recommendations, leading to a 10x increase in games shown and meaningful growth in store page visits, wishlists, and cart additions. While Valve believes this will benefit customers and developers, the article expresses hesitation about the increased reliance on algorithms and potential negative impacts on smaller developers.
"Steam is on an absolute historic run": Valve quietly made a huge change that's helping game devs, says…
Valve has implemented significant changes to Steam's "Discounts & Events" feed, greatly improving game discovery for indie developers. Tim Bender, CEO of Hooded Horse, reports a massive increase in visibility for niche titles, transforming a previously negligible traffic source into the best on the store. This update is seen as a major win for players seeking relevant recommendations and for developers struggling to gain traction.
Subscriptions: The Gaming Industry Business Model of the Future
Subscription services like Microsoft's Game Pass have fundamentally changed the gaming industry by shifting the model from ownership to access. This provides players with greater affordability and choice, while also offering developers and publishers new avenues for reaching audiences and extending game lifecycles. However, increasing competition and subscription fatigue may force platforms to innovate further to retain users.
Player discovers game-changing pair of pants in World of Warcraft: Forever
A player has discovered a unique item called 'The Smelting Pants' in the World of Warcraft: Forever beta, which significantly reduces smelting times for various ores. This discovery is considered game-changing for the game's profession system, offering a crafting boost not seen in the original Classic WoW.
The Small Details That Make a New Gaming Platform Worth Exploring - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
This article analyzes the crucial small details that contribute to a positive user experience on new gaming platforms. It emphasizes that intuitive navigation, clear categorization, and simple game discovery are more important than sheer library size for retaining players. The piece highlights how modern web technologies enable rich browser-based gaming experiences, making the initial interaction and ease of trying new titles paramount for player engagement.
Modern gamers spoiled by Steam will never understand the joy of a MegaPak
This article reflects on how modern gamers are spoiled by the abundance and affordability of games compared to the 1990s. It highlights the "MegaPak" compilations from Megamedia Corp as an early precursor to modern game bundles, offering a large collection of PC titles at a budget price. The author argues that while modern gaming offers more choice, the MegaPak era provided a unique, less noisy way to discover games.
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The article discusses the significant challenge developers face in making their games discoverable amidst a crowded market. It highlights how traditional marketing strategies are becoming less effective, leading to a situation where many great games struggle to find an audience.
Backloggd Review: The Best Game Tracker? I Tested It for 6 Months
After six months of testing, this review finds Backloggd to be the best free game tracking service for community and reviews, but lacking in helping users decide what to play next. While praised for its excellent UI, free features, and active community, its lack of a mobile app and automated library import are significant drawbacks for many users. The service excels at cataloging past gaming experiences but does not offer robust features for discovering games to play in the present.
