gaming console Archives

Winsage

July 7, 2026

Valve Ships Official Windows Drivers For The Steam Machine, But Installing It Wipes SteamOS Entirely

Valve has released official Windows drivers for the Steam Machine, allowing users to install Windows while ensuring compatibility with essential hardware components like the AMD Radeon graphics card, WiFi, Bluetooth, and the SD card reader. However, Valve does not recommend transitioning to Windows OS on the Steam Machine at this time. Installing Windows requires wiping the Steam hardware, as dual-booting with SteamOS is not currently available. Valve plans to update its SteamOS installer with a dual-boot wizard in the future, enabling users to run both operating systems simultaneously. SteamOS is promoted as the preferred operating system, offering a console-like gaming experience and optimized user interface.

AppWizard

June 26, 2026

Steam Summer Sale 2026 Is Live: 90% Deals on PC Games as Machine Lottery Closes

Valve's Steam Summer Sale 2026 began today at 1:00 PM ET and will run until July 9, 2026, featuring discounts on over 4,000 titles. The average discount is around 45%, with reductions of up to 90% on older catalog titles. New releases like Gothic 1 Remake, Resident Evil Requiem, and Crimson Desert are included in the sale. Discounts are locked for the entire duration of the sale, and there is a minimum 30-day cooldown between promotional events for specific games, except for the four major seasonal sales. The Steam Machine lottery closed today, with invitations for winners to purchase starting the week of June 29. Those who missed the deadline will be placed on a waitlist, with processing expected by the end of 2026.

AppWizard

June 25, 2026

Building a better PC than the Steam Machine for cheaper: is it possible?

The Steam Machine, Valve's gaming console, has received criticism for its high price and poor performance, largely due to rising component costs influenced by investments in artificial intelligence. In response, Linus Tech Tips, led by Linus Sebastian, is working on creating a more affordable and better-performing gaming PC. They are focusing on functionality and value while exploring various components and configurations for an exceptional gaming experience. Alternative builds may not fit as well under televisions as the Steam Machine but offer better performance and cost-effectiveness for dedicated gamers.

AppWizard

June 23, 2026

The Steam Machine’s price has finally been revealed, and it’s not cheap

Valve has announced the pricing for its Steam Machine, with the entry-level 512GB model priced at ,049 without a controller. There are four configurations available: - 512GB model without a controller - ,049 / £879 - 512GB model with a Steam Controller - ,128 / £938 - 2TB model without a controller - ,349 / £1,149 - 2TB model with a Steam Controller - ,428 / £1,208 The pricing reflects recent market trends, including a 40% price increase for the Steam Deck. The specifications for the 512GB model include a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU, semi-custom AMD RDNA3 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, and support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. Registration for interest in the Steam Machine is open until June 25th at 10 AM PT.

AppWizard

June 11, 2026

15 years later, the PS2 gets a Minecraft port, and it actually hits 30fps

The Sony PlayStation 2 is the highest-selling gaming console ever, with sales exceeding 160 million units. Minecraft is the most sold non-arcade video game, second only to Tetris in overall sales. Minecraft was never officially released on the PS2, but a developer has successfully ported Minecraft Pocket Edition version 0.6 to the PS2, allowing it to run without modded hardware. The port achieves frame rates exceeding 30fps despite the PS2's limitations, using a custom "OpenGL adaptor" and various strategies to manage the console's 32MB of RAM. The optimized version of the game is called OptiCraft.

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

Why Are Game Consoles Cheaper Than A Gaming PC?

There is a disparity between the costs of building a gaming PC and purchasing a gaming console, with consoles often being the more economical choice. The average cost of building a gaming PC tends to exceed that of acquiring a current-generation console. Console manufacturers often sell their systems at a loss, compensating through sales of higher-priced games and subscription services. The PS5 Pro retails for 0 or more, aligning it more closely with the cost of building a gaming PC. Modern consoles have limited hardware upgrade options, while gaming PCs offer flexibility for incremental upgrades. Affordable pre-built systems with older hardware configurations are available, allowing for cost-effective gaming setups. While the initial investment in a gaming PC may be higher, long-term benefits include free online multiplayer, a vast library of games, straightforward upgrades, and extended support.

Winsage

June 3, 2026

Linux might never replace Windows, so Valve is putting it in your living room instead

The tech community has long awaited the "Year of the Linux Desktop," but Linux has struggled to gain mainstream market share. Valve's SteamOS and the Steam Deck have shown that consumers are open to Linux for gaming. The upcoming Steam Machine aims to present Linux in a console-like format, booting directly into Steam and offering a user-friendly interface while still providing access to a full desktop mode. This approach allows users to engage with Linux without recognizing it as the underlying operating system. Valve has improved Linux gaming compatibility through initiatives like Proton, making it more accessible. However, the Steam Machine faces challenges related to hardware costs and the risk of obsolescence due to rapidly evolving technology. If successful, the Steam Machine could redefine Linux adoption by introducing it into homes through entertainment rather than direct competition with Windows.

AppWizard

June 1, 2026

Not just for AI agents: Nvidia’s RTX Spark means Arm-powered laptops for gamers, too, promising 100 fps at 1440p in the latest games

Nvidia has introduced the N1X CPU, integrated into the RTX Spark SoC, marking its entry into the laptop SoC market. The RTX Spark features up to 20 Grace CPU cores and 6144 RTX Blackwell GPU cores, supporting up to 128 GB of unified LPDDR5x memory. Major manufacturers like Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, and MSI are expected to release over 30 laptops and around ten desktop models with this technology. Nvidia's Aevermann described the RTX Spark as "the most efficient PC chip ever built," designed for both computing and gaming. Nvidia plans to introduce mini PCs powered by the RTX Spark chip this autumn, with companies like Acer, Asus, and Gigabyte preparing systems. The RTX Spark's custom Arm architecture requires Windows-on-Arm, raising performance concerns due to reliance on Microsoft's Prism emulator. Nvidia is collaborating with game developers to ensure compatibility and performance, focusing on optimizing popular games and integrating anti-cheat software.

AppWizard

May 29, 2026

Acer’s launching a Linux handheld for streaming your PC games

The Acer Nitro Blaze Link is a handheld gaming device designed primarily for cloud gaming, featuring a 7-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200. It has 1GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 8GB of eMMC storage, focusing on streaming games rather than local gameplay. This device is positioned as a budget-friendly alternative in the handheld gaming market, contrasting with the Logitech G Cloud, which had 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage but struggled with its pricing and performance. The Nitro Blaze Link aims to attract users looking for accessible gaming solutions without significant financial investment.

Winsage

May 29, 2026

You can run Windows on a Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64 can run Windows CE, a lightweight operating system that requires minimal resources. The IVM Workpad Z50, which has a CPU similar to the N64, can also support Windows CE. This operating system requires just 1MB of RAM, matching the N64's specifications. Throaty Mumbo has documented the process of running Windows CE on the N64 on his YouTube channel and provided instructions on GitHub for implementation.