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AV1 codec

How do PC player demographics change at 50 hours vs. 30 minutes?
AppWizard
August 1, 2026

How do PC player demographics change at 50 hours vs. 30 minutes?

GameDiscoverCo newsletter has reached 45,000 subscribers. The Video Game History Foundation launched a ‘history of E3’ collection, including an introductory video, vintage footage, and a podcast. Microsoft reported a decline in Xbox revenue for four consecutive quarters, with Content & Services revenue at approximately .75 billion (down 10% year-over-year) and hardware revenue around million (down 13% year-over-year). Asha Sharma noted over 200 million new players joined Xbox in FY2026, but the business did not grow. PlayStation's PS5 sales reached 95.3 million, with a 1.6 million increase for the quarter but a 36% year-over-year decline. Active PSN users rose to 125 million, and profit surged by 37%. Meta's Reality Labs reported a loss of .6 billion in Q2, despite million in revenue. Slotbound, a roguelike auto-battler game, achieved 50,000 wishlists and 2,900 peak demo concurrent users. Over 1,000 PC games now operate direct channels, saving developers an estimated billion in platform fees in 2025. GameDiscoverCo’s Steam Fan Snapshot data revealed that the average age of players is 31 for Clair Obscur and 25 for R.E.P.O. 37.5% of respondents find games through short-form video, while 27.9% use traditional media websites. Players of ARC Raiders show a strong preference for the Steam Deck, and as playtime increases, console playtime declines.
Steam Link Android app adds AV1, HDR support
AppWizard
November 19, 2024

Steam Link Android app adds AV1, HDR support

The Steam Link Android app has been updated to support over 500 new Android devices and now includes AV1 video streaming support for high-quality streaming from high-end PCs. The AV1 codec enhances video quality while reducing bandwidth usage, which is beneficial for users with poor network conditions. The update also adds HDR streaming support for Windows users, allowing enhanced 1080p or 4K streaming options. Valve has implemented a settings recommendation system based on network tests to help users optimize their streaming experience. Other improvements include better compatibility with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, resolutions for surround sound issues on Android TV, and the ability to disable low-latency audio. The update is being rolled out, and Steam Link v1.3.12 can be downloaded from official sources, though some Android TV devices may not support AV1 streaming. Users need a capable PC to utilize HDR, AV1, or surround sound audio features. The update also introduces a new Wi-Fi Lock setting to reduce streaming interruptions.
From AV1 to HDR support, the Steam Link Android app just got a huge update
AppWizard
November 13, 2024

From AV1 to HDR support, the Steam Link Android app just got a huge update

Valve has updated its Steam Link app on Android, introducing support for over 500 additional devices, AV1 streaming support, HDR streaming capabilities for Windows users in 1080p or 4K, personalized settings recommendations based on network performance, fixes for compatibility issues with the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and surround sound on Android TV, and an option to disable low-latency audio. The app is now available for download.
Microsoft's WDDM 3.2 makes Windows 11 (24H2) video encoding even better with AV1 support
Winsage
September 5, 2024

Microsoft’s WDDM 3.2 makes Windows 11 (24H2) video encoding even better with AV1 support

Microsoft is preparing to release the Windows 11 version 24H2 feature update, currently available for Copilot+ PCs and expected to roll out to more systems soon. The final testing and certification process for eligible systems began in May. This update introduces the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) version 3.2, which includes improved driver timeout detection and recovery (TDR) debugging to reduce display and graphics driver crashes. Additionally, WDDM 3.2 enhances Direct3D 12 video encoding by adding support for the AV1 codec, allowing for GPU-accelerated video encoding on Windows. This update extends the existing video-related framework to enable drivers to report AV1 video encoding support and capabilities, facilitating hardware acceleration for various applications, including IoT, cloud, media APIs, machine learning, and game streaming. Prior to Windows 11 version 21H2, Microsoft did not support hardware-accelerated encoding, but WDDM 3.0 introduced this capability.
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