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New York Sues Valve Over Loot Boxes, Calls Them Illegal Gambling
AppWizard
February 26, 2026

New York Sues Valve Over Loot Boxes, Calls Them Illegal Gambling

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against Valve, the creator of Steam, regarding loot boxes in games like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and Team Fortress 2, claiming they promote gambling behaviors among youth. The state seeks to stop Valve's use of loot boxes and impose financial penalties. The lawsuit argues that loot boxes resemble traditional slot machines and that items obtained can be traded for real-world value, with a virtual gun skin from Counter-Strike 2 reportedly selling for over a million dollars in 2024. The lawsuit claims Valve intentionally makes high-value items rare to increase their perceived worth and highlights the potential for addiction and illegal gambling, particularly among young people. Valve has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
Nightdive Studios' Stephen Kick has 8,544 hours in Dota 2, and just clocked his 5,000th win: 'I think it's made me a better leader'
AppWizard
February 23, 2026

Nightdive Studios’ Stephen Kick has 8,544 hours in Dota 2, and just clocked his 5,000th win: ‘I think it’s made me a better leader’

Stephen Kick is the co-founder of Nightdive Studios and a dedicated curator of PC gaming's golden age, leading the revival of classic games like Doom, Quake, and System Shock 2. He has a strong passion for gaming, which began with a visit to a friend's house where he played Wolfenstein 3D. Nightdive's remake of System Shock has received critical acclaim. Kick encourages collaboration with the gaming community for remastering classic games. He was inspired to enter game development by a competition for Dota 2, which ignited his passion for gaming. He has logged 8,544 hours in Dota 2 and acknowledges its significant role in his personal growth and family life. Kick also enjoys playing Plants vs. Zombies and uses Photoshop for his creative artwork. He maintains a tidy desktop and has a methodical approach to organizing his workspace.
I'm sad Deadlock is 'just' a MOBA—not because I don't like them, but because I'm in love with Valve's lore and characters enough to want any other game instead
AppWizard
February 17, 2026

I’m sad Deadlock is ‘just’ a MOBA—not because I don’t like them, but because I’m in love with Valve’s lore and characters enough to want any other game instead

The author is currently engaged with the game Deadlock, which has rekindled their interest in MOBAs after a significant time spent on Dota 2. They have logged 183 hours in Deadlock and are captivated by its gameplay, voice lines, lore, and worldbuilding. Deadlock is still in development, featuring an incomplete roster and some subpar character models, but it also showcases impressive designs and evolving visuals. The game is structured around three lanes and a single map, leading the author to express a desire for a standalone single-player experience or expanded universe content. They believe Deadlock has the potential for a deeper exploration, including possibilities for an MMO or tabletop RPG.
I can't put down this dark fantasy roguelike that's basically Elden Ring Nightreign, and it just got a magical new character
AppWizard
January 20, 2026

I can’t put down this dark fantasy roguelike that’s basically Elden Ring Nightreign, and it just got a magical new character

Ravenswatch is a dark fantasy roguelike ARPG that blends elements from top-down action games and power-leveling titles. The game features a roster of fairytale characters and has introduced its first DLC character, Merlin, along with a significant update that includes an overhaul of magical objects and balance adjustments. Merlin has a unique skill set with two-button combinations that allow him to cast nine distinct spells across three categories: nature, arcane, and defense. His passive trait enables him to build runes of potency through basic attacks, enhancing his spells. The game also includes a complimentary update with five new magical objects, improvements to the enemy aggro system, and guaranteed rare or epic items from certain chests. Merlin will be available on January 19 for .99 / £6.49, and the game has an 86% approval rating on Steam.
Steam just hit more concurrent players than there are people in Canada, as Counter-Strike 2 and PUBG push it to a new peak
AppWizard
January 5, 2026

Steam just hit more concurrent players than there are people in Canada, as Counter-Strike 2 and PUBG push it to a new peak

On January 4, Steam reached a peak of 41,816,052 users logged into the platform, with approximately 13.4 million actively engaged in gameplay. This user count surpasses the entire population of Canada, estimated at around 41.6 million as of late 2025. Steam's user base has nearly doubled since the initial lockdown in April 2020, driven by factors such as rising console prices and the introduction of handheld devices like the Steam Deck. Valve plans to launch the Steam Machine, which will be crucial for its market success in the gaming landscape.
Steam and Valve's online games are down
AppWizard
December 25, 2025

Steam and Valve’s online games are down

On December 24, around 1 PM ET, Steam users experienced significant disruptions, affecting access to the game store and online gaming. SteamDB's status page indicated that the Steam Store, Steam Community, and Steam Web APIs were offline. By 1:15 PM ET, DownDetector recorded over 6,000 outage reports. Valve's mobile applications were also inaccessible, impacting popular games like Team Fortress 2, Dota 2, and Counterstrike 2. Recovery began around 4 PM ET, and by 6 PM ET, the platform had largely returned to normal, although some services remained sluggish and many online games were still experiencing partial outages or were down. This incident follows a previous significant disruption in October and accessibility issues during the launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong in September.
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