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Valve faces lawsuit over developer commissions on Steam
AppWizard
January 28, 2026

Valve faces lawsuit over developer commissions on Steam

Valve is facing a legal battle over allegations of imposing excessive commissions on publishers using its Steam platform, with potential damages reaching £656 million. The lawsuit, initiated in June 2024, represents the interests of up to 14 million UK consumers who purchased games via Steam since 2018. Vicki Shotbolt leads the case, claiming Valve restricts publishers from offering lower prices on competing platforms and locks customers into its ecosystem. Valve's commission is reportedly as high as 30 percent. The London Competition Appeal Tribunal has allowed the case to proceed, despite Valve's objections. This is not the first scrutiny Valve has faced; a previous antitrust lawsuit from Wolfire Games was dismissed in late 2021 but was refiled and merged with another claim in 2022, gaining class action status by November 2024.
UK legal action against Valve over Steam prices gets go ahead
AppWizard
January 27, 2026

UK legal action against Valve over Steam prices gets go ahead

Valve Corporation is facing a £656 million lawsuit in the UK over allegations of unfair pricing practices related to its online store, Steam. The lawsuit, initiated by Vicki Shotbolt in 2024, claims Valve uses its market dominance to impose restrictive terms on game publishers, preventing them from offering lower prices on competing platforms. The legal documents allege Valve charges an excessive commission of up to 30%, resulting in inflated costs for UK consumers. This case is a collective action that could affect up to 14 million Steam users in the UK. Additionally, Valve is facing a separate consumer action case in the United States filed in August 2024. Steam, launched in 2003, has become the largest distribution platform for PC gaming, with over 19,000 games released in 2025, generating £8.6 billion in revenue. Valve has also introduced hardware like the Steam Deck and announced plans for the Steam Machine console.
Concord's surprise return might be short-lived as dev suspends invites after "worrying legal action"'
AppWizard
November 16, 2025

Concord’s surprise return might be short-lived as dev suspends invites after “worrying legal action”‘

A group of fans has initiated a project called Concord Delta to reverse-engineer Concord, a hero shooter from Firewalk Studios that Sony had declared "permanently sunsetting." They have developed matchmaking capabilities and planned private playtesting, but faced DMCA takedowns shortly after announcing their efforts. Following Concord's closure, refunds were issued to players, stripping them of legal entitlement to the game, complicating the reverse-engineering efforts. While boxed copies of Concord exist, the situation highlights the contrast between physical ownership and digital rights. The dissolution of Firewalk Studios raises doubts about a formal return for Concord, despite community enthusiasm for a potential free-to-play PC version.
Should You Cancel Xbox Game Pass? Everything to Know on the Price Hikes and New Features
AppWizard
October 13, 2025

Should You Cancel Xbox Game Pass? Everything to Know on the Price Hikes and New Features

Microsoft overhauled the Xbox Game Pass structure on October 1, transitioning from four tiers to a new framework with the Core tier rebranded as Essential and Standard as Premium, while Ultimate retained its name. The Essential tier's monthly fee remains at .99, but Premium increased by 25% to .99, the PC-only plan rose by 38% to .49, and Ultimate saw a 50% increase to .99. Despite these price hikes, Microsoft introduced enhancements such as cloud gaming across all tiers, an expanded library for Essential (from 25 to over 50 games) and Premium (from around 50 to over 200 games), and Ultimate subscribers gaining access to over 400 games and day-one releases. The changes have led to a surge in cancellations among users, causing the membership site to crash.
This new Steam Deck update has so many fixes we don't know where to start
AppWizard
September 10, 2025

This new Steam Deck update has so many fixes we don’t know where to start

Valve has released an update for the Steam Deck Client, now available for both the Steam Deck and the Legion Go S. The update includes bug fixes and enhancements to SteamOS, such as improved visibility of the onscreen keyboard in desktop mode and a fix for a bug affecting newly created accounts. It also introduces accessibility options in desktop mode, including high-contrast mode, reduced motion settings, and UI scale controls. Additionally, joystick LED controls have been added for the Lenovo Legion Go S. Users are encouraged to download the update to enhance their devices' performance.
Xbox PC App Now Lets You Stream Your Own Games, Including Console Exclusives
AppWizard
July 29, 2025

Xbox PC App Now Lets You Stream Your Own Games, Including Console Exclusives

Xbox has introduced the ability for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to stream games directly to PCs via the Xbox PC app, effective July 28. This enhancement expands access to Xbox's gaming ecosystem and integrates nearly all Xbox features within the app. The streaming capability allows players to access their Game Pass library away from their console or home PC and enables PC-only gamers to experience Xbox console exclusives. The Xbox PC app has also received upgrades, including cross-device play history, a cohesive game library, and a simplified system for tracking Microsoft Rewards. These enhancements are currently available to members of the Xbox Insider program.
Ubisoft's Guillemot: "Support for all games cannot last forever"
AppWizard
July 21, 2025

Ubisoft’s Guillemot: “Support for all games cannot last forever”

Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, discussed the challenges of service-based games during an investor meeting, stating that "nothing is eternal" in the gaming industry. He addressed concerns from shareholders about the Stop Killing Games petition, which calls for the continued availability of purchased games. Guillemot mentioned that Ubisoft is working on solutions to lessen the impact of game deprecation on players, citing The Crew's availability for offline play as an example. He also noted a promotional event in September 2024 for The Crew 2. Guillemot acknowledged that the issue of game longevity is not unique to Ubisoft and that all video game publishers face similar challenges. He explained that as technology evolves, software can become obsolete, leading to the discontinuation of services. He emphasized Ubisoft's commitment to ensuring a positive experience for players amid these industry changes.
Nintendo banned a Switch 2 user for playing second-hand games and only reinstated after providing proof of purchase
AppWizard
July 15, 2025

Nintendo banned a Switch 2 user for playing second-hand games and only reinstated after providing proof of purchase

A Switch 2 owner, known as dmanthey on Reddit, was banned by Nintendo after attempting to play second-hand Switch 1 games purchased from Facebook Marketplace. This incident highlights Nintendo's strict enforcement of its intellectual property rights and digital rights management (DRM) policies. The company recently updated its online user agreement, allowing it to permanently disable services for users who violate terms, which can include actions like modding hardware or using pirated games. The specifics of what triggers a ban are unclear, raising concerns for new Switch 2 owners about inadvertently violating these policies. The situation underscores issues of ownership in the digital age, particularly for consumers who have invested in Nintendo's latest console.
Xbox App For PC Now Integrates Your Steam Games
AppWizard
June 24, 2025

Xbox App For PC Now Integrates Your Steam Games

The Xbox App on PC is integrating purchased games from various storefronts, including Steam, currently available only to Xbox Insider program members. This update transforms the Xbox App into a universal launcher for titles from multiple PC gaming storefronts. Microsoft aims to position Xbox as a universal gaming hub in response to competition, with the PlayStation 5 selling 61.7 million units compared to the Xbox Series consoles' 28.3 million units as of September 2024. Microsoft plans a next-generation gaming platform covering consoles, handheld devices, PCs, and cloud gaming. There is speculation about an Xbox-branded Meta Quest 3S headset, and Xbox President Sarah Bond highlighted collaboration between the Xbox division and the Windows team to make Windows the top gaming platform. Future Xbox iterations may resemble gaming PCs, as indicated by the Asus ROG Xbox Ally handheld introduction.
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