Steam update Archives

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

4 years after being delisted, Lost Planet 2 finally got a Steam update to remove Games for Windows Live—but it also removed online multiplayer and blew up everyone’s saves

Lost Planet 2, a sci-fi third-person shooter from Capcom, was removed from Steam in 2021 due to issues with the discontinued Games for Windows Live (GFWL). A recent update lifted GFWL but disrupted online multiplayer functionality and erased local save files. Initially launched in 2007, GFWL aimed to merge multiplayer services for PC but ultimately failed, leading to many games, including Lost Planet 2, being left in disrepair. Despite being delisted, players found ways to keep the game alive, though installation issues hindered the multiplayer experience. Guides have emerged to revert the game to its previous state to restore GFWL. There is speculation that Capcom may be working on a comprehensive Steamworks update, as the game has not reappeared in Steam listings.

AppWizard

April 26, 2025

The end of The Long Dark is in sight after over a decade in development, culminating in a fifth and final story episode that is ‘3 to 4 times as big’ as episode 4

The Long Dark, developed by Hinterland, was released in early access in 2014 and officially launched in 2017, completing its survival mode. The episodic story mode, "Wintermute," is nearing its conclusion with episode five expected later this year. Creative director Raphael van Lierop highlighted the importance of this final episode, stating it must be great due to the long wait from fans. Hinterland is also developing a sequel, Blackfrost: The Long Dark 2, while continuing to support the original game. Van Lierop mentioned that completing the story mode has been a significant focus for the company, and finishing it will allow them to explore future developments without the pressure of unfinished commitments.

AppWizard

November 26, 2024

2K Removes Its launcher From All PC Games

2K has announced the removal of its launcher from all PC games on Steam and the Epic Games Store, effective November 18, 2024. This includes the discontinuation of the 2K Launcher Beta for Sid Meier’s Civilization V. A follow-up update was released on November 25 to ensure complete removal of the launcher. Players may notice a text file named 2kLauncherRemoved.txt in place of the 2KLauncher folder. Some titles, such as Bioshock Remastered and Marvel’s Midnight Suns, will now launch directly into gameplay. Players are advised to restart Steam or reboot their PCs to ensure changes take effect. The 2K Launcher files may still be present on users' computers, but saved games will not be impacted, and access to purchased games will remain unchanged.

Winsage

November 24, 2024

Steam has died its final death on Windows 7 and 8: Nearly a year after Valve ended support, new Steam updates have stopped coming to the ancient OSes

Valve announced that its Steam client update released on November 5, 2024, will no longer support Windows 7 or Windows 8. Users on these operating systems will not receive automatic updates to the new client. This decision is due to the need for an embedded version of Google Chrome that does not support older Windows systems. According to the October Steam hardware survey, only 0.28% of users remain on Windows 7, while Windows 8 has no active users.

Winsage

November 11, 2024

The latest Steam version no longer works on Windows 7 and 8

Valve has released a significant update for the Steam client that introduces new features, including gameplay recording, but it is not compatible with Windows 7, 8, and 8.1. Users must upgrade to Windows 10 or a newer operating system to access the update. Steam will continue to function on older Windows versions, allowing users to access their libraries, but technical support will not be provided for these systems. Valve's decision aligns with Microsoft's end of support for these operating systems in January 2024. Approximately 0.28% of Windows users on Steam were still using Windows 7 as of October 2024. Users must purchase a new license or a new PC to upgrade, as free upgrades to Windows 10 are no longer available.