Valve has revealed that as of October 5, 2026, the Steam Machine has 47 verified games, surpassing the Steam Deck's 38 verified games. Three games—Dragon’s Dogma 2, Control Resonant, and The Blood of Dawnwalker—were upgraded from Unsupported on the Steam Deck to Verified on the Steam Machine. The Steam Machine's verification standard requires a resolution of 1080p at 30 frames per second, while the Steam Deck requires 800p at 30 frames per second. The Steam Machine is powered by hardware comparable to an AMD Radeon RX 7600M, while the Steam Deck uses a custom RDNA 2 APU. The analysis of the top 100 best-sellers shows that 38 games are Verified on Steam Deck and 47 on Steam Machine, with 28 playable on Steam Deck and 23 on Steam Machine. There are 19 Unsupported titles on Steam Deck and 15 on Steam Machine. Valve's compatibility documentation states that any game verified on Steam Deck is also guaranteed to be verified on Steam Machine.
The gaming community is discussing the potential emulation of Grand Theft Auto VI on PCs, with its release scheduled for November 19th. Users are considering emulators like KytyPS5, SharpEmu, and RPCSX, but experts warn against downloading unreliable software such as PCSX5. The main challenge for emulation is the console's multi-layered security system, requiring developers to find vulnerabilities in the console's kernel and hypervisor. Current emulators can only handle basic games, and significant code optimization may take months to years. Legal challenges from Rockstar Games and Sony complicate efforts to distribute unauthorized game dumps. A stable PC port is seen as a distant goal, with the best experience expected on official consoles at launch.
Windows machines that are not current with updates will face changes in access to Windows Update due to two critical certificate expirations on May 17, 2027, and June 19, 2027. Supported versions must install specific security updates before these dates to maintain access.
- Windows 11, version 25H2 and later: No action required.
- Windows 11, version 24H2 and Windows Server 2025: Must install the September 2025 Windows security update or later, before June 19, 2027.
- Other in-support Windows 11 versions and Windows Server 2022: Must install the July 2026 Windows security update or later, before June 19, 2027.
- In-support Windows 10 versions: Must install the July 2026 Windows security update or later, before June 19, 2027.
- Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2016: Must install the July 2026 Windows security update or later, before May 17, 2027.
- Any other Windows version: Upgrade to a supported release to maintain access.
Devices that are up to date will continue receiving updates without interruption, while those that are behind will lose access to Windows Update services after the expiration dates. Out-of-support versions will lose access entirely. The notice regarding the certificate expiration was posted on October 8, 2026, and reiterated on October 10, 2026.
Microsoft has released an update for its Insider Program that includes a revamped Search feature, enhancing user experience with a focus on more informative results and previews. The update integrates advanced capabilities through WinUI 3 and allows users to access quick details without launching files or navigating File Explorer. It introduces web previews for specific queries, such as local weather and stock market data, and includes "inline actions" that enable users to perform tasks directly from the search window, like sending SMS messages or changing themes. Users can explore these features by joining the Windows Insider Program and enabling Feature flags in the settings.
In the 1990s, level packs emerged as a unique category of content for early first-person shooters like Duke Nukem 3D and Quake, sold as boxed products. Notable level packs included Duke Caribbean: Life's A Beach and Duke It Out in DC, which were well-received. Designer Wiederhold, recruited by Sunstorm Interactive after a LAN tournament, contributed to these packs alongside Robert Travis. The period was characterized by a lack of industry structure, allowing for creative exploration. However, some level packs, like Duke Assault, suffered from poor curation. The Nuke It series led to a legal battle over copyright infringement, with a 1998 court ruling favoring FormGen, establishing that video game mods are derivative works. This ruling curtailed unregulated FPS mission packs and clarified the distinction between official expansions and unofficial mods. Despite this, the mapping scene for iconic shooters continues to thrive today.
Bit Reactor, the developer of Star Wars Zero Company, placed over 80% of its workforce on furlough before the game's launch due to sales uncertainties. Recently, the company announced a gradual return to normal operations, with payroll rebounding to over half of pre-furlough levels. The decision to furlough employees was made independently by Bit Reactor and did not involve its publisher, EA. Despite initial challenges, Star Wars Zero Company became a best seller on Steam and received positive reviews from critics.
Valve's game Deadlock, currently in invite-only testing, has reached a peak concurrent player count of 262,145, surpassing Team Fortress 2's previous record of 253,997. This milestone coincided with the release of six new community-chosen heroes. The game's success reflects its popularity in the MOBA genre and highlights Valve's ability to innovate in game development.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 is an action role-playing game available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, with a release date of September 29, 2026. The game features a twelve-hour campaign where players experience consistent challenges due to level scaling, which diminishes the sense of progression. Combat is repetitive, lacking strategic depth, and exploration is limited despite claims of a more expansive world. The visual aesthetic is vibrant, but the narrative is weak and lacks engaging characters. The game includes accessibility options such as a guidance trail, customizable subtitles, and color-blind modes. The review was based on over thirteen hours of gameplay on a high-performance PC.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 is developed by Mojang and Double Eleven, published by Xbox Game Studios and Mojang. It is available on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5, with a release date of September 29, 2026, priced at £24.99. The game serves as an accessible introduction to the action RPG genre, targeting younger audiences, particularly Minecraft fans. It features a semi-open-world structure, allowing exploration of various areas, but the main quest line and side quests can be completed in approximately seven to ten hours. Combat mechanics are straightforward, with rapid loot acquisition and a system that can frustrate players due to hidden stats. The narrative involves ill-intentioned Illagers and lacks variety in quests. The game includes a co-op mode for up to four players and cross-platform online play, but players cannot transfer offline characters online. The Deluxe Edition includes additional content such as a Soul Cape, hero skins, and access to DLC packs.
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