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AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Steam Next Fest 2025: all the dates, details, and everything else you need to know

The first Steam Next Fest of 2025 will take place from February 24 at 10 AM PST / 6 PM GMT to March 3 at 10 AM PST / 6 PM GMT. This event will occur three times throughout 2025, with the other dates being June 9 - June 16 and October 13 - October 20. During Steam Next Fest, players can download free demos of upcoming games and engage with developer live streams. A free Steam account is required to participate. While the event is not a sale, it often coincides with discounts on various titles, with the next major Steam sale starting on March 13, 2025.

AppWizard

February 10, 2025

Valve bans games that rely on in-game ads from Steam, so no ‘watch this to continue playing’ stuff will be making its way to our PCs

Valve has updated its Steamworks developer documentation to introduce new advertising guidelines. In-game advertisements as a revenue model are prohibited, but product placement is allowed if it does not disrupt gameplay and is contextually appropriate. Cross-promotional efforts are permitted, but charging developers for participation in bundles or access to store pages is forbidden. Paid advertising campaigns conducted outside of Steam that direct users to a store page are allowed. Valve has also taken a stance against NFT and crypto-derived games and requires disclosure for games that use generative AI technology.

AppWizard

February 5, 2025

Steam now warns you if that early access game you’re eyeing up has been abandoned by its devs

Steam has introduced a new feature for early access games that displays a highlighted note on store pages when a game has not received updates for an extended period, specifically after approximately 12 months of inactivity. This notification informs users about the duration since the last update and warns that developer information may no longer be current. An example is the game Cavern Kings, which has not been updated in eight years. However, there are concerns about the accuracy of this system, as seen with Heartbound, which recently received a patch for its beta branch but is labeled as having not been updated for over 13 months. Steam does not currently recognize beta updates as valid updates.

AppWizard

December 17, 2024

More classic Call of Duty PC games hit Microsoft Store, hinting at Game Pass launch

Microsoft has added the PC versions of three Call of Duty titles—Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare—to the Microsoft Store. Additionally, four more Call of Duty titles—Call of Duty: Ghosts, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Call of Duty: WWII, and Call of Duty: Black Ops III—have also appeared on the Microsoft Store. The pricing for these games is consistent with market rates, and the store pages indicate that cross-platform multiplayer is not supported. Xbox Achievements and cloud saves are available, but Xbox Play Anywhere is not included. There is speculation about a potential influx of Call of Duty games in the Xbox Game Pass library for 2024.

AppWizard

November 21, 2024

Valve introduces new guidelines for selling season passes on Steam

Valve has revised its guidelines for season pass sales on Steam, requiring developers and publishers to provide a definitive release date for upcoming content associated with season passes. If specific timelines cannot be provided, companies should not sell or allow pre-orders for such offerings. Developers can offer a broader release window, such as a quarter or season, but must commit to a launch schedule for each piece of content included in the season pass. Valve emphasizes the importance of clear communication to ensure customer expectations align with reality.

AppWizard

November 16, 2024

Half-Life 2 gets a major 20th Anniversary Update and bundles Lost Coast with episodes —the game is now free on Steam until November 18

Half-Life 2 celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a comprehensive update on Steam, introducing free content including elements from the Lost Coast expansion and Episodes One and Two until November 18. The Orange Box bundle, which includes these titles along with Portal and Team Fortress 2, is available for .99 until November 22. Most mod support for Half-Life 2 is now integrated into the main game, and standalone store pages for expansions have been delisted. The update features a complete visual overhaul, enhancing graphics to match Lost Coast's fidelity, and introduces a new High Quality mode for improved model rendering and shadow effects. User interface improvements include compatibility with modern controllers and three and a half hours of developer commentary added to Half-Life 2.

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

Steam now requires developers to tell people when their games have kernel mode anticheat

Kernel mode anticheat software has become a controversial topic in the gaming community, with concerns about game performance and system security on one side and a demand for effective cheating measures on the other. Steam has introduced a feature that requires developers to disclose the type of anticheat software used in their games, making it mandatory for those using kernel mode anticheat. This change aims to enhance transparency for players before purchasing games. Kernel mode anticheat was first implemented in 2020, leading to debates, particularly regarding Doom Eternal. Activision introduced the Ricochet kernel mode anticheat for Call of Duty in 2021, promising it would only activate during gameplay, which received mixed reactions. EA followed with similar assurances in 2023.

AppWizard

October 5, 2024

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will require a PSN account, and you can’t buy the originals on PC anymore

The remaster of Horizon Zero Dawn is set to launch on October 31, and players will need a PlayStation Network (PSN) account to access the game. The original PC version has been removed from sale, and both the Steam and Epic Games Store pages for the remaster indicate that a PSN account is mandatory for gameplay. The Complete Edition is still listed but not available for purchase. The situation is reminiscent of the backlash faced by Helldivers 2 due to a PSN requirement, which led to over 221,000 negative reviews on Steam and prompted Sony to retract the requirement. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered's reception is uncertain, as it is an older title compared to Helldivers 2, which had a large player base at launch. The Steam page for the Complete Edition has seen an increase in negative reviews recently, but it does not indicate widespread discontent yet. God of War: Ragnarok, which also has a PSN requirement, maintains a "mostly positive" rating on Steam despite initial negative reviews.

AppWizard

September 6, 2024

PC gamers can grab the latest Football Manager for free for massive savings

Epic Games is offering free games this week, including Football Manager 24 and Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts, available until September 12, 2024. Football Manager 24 is typically priced at £45, while Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts usually retails for £31. Additionally, 28 free PC games are available through Amazon Prime.

AppWizard

August 27, 2024

‘A violation is upon you’: Valve called out for breaking its own rules with Deadlock’s Steam store page

Valve has officially unveiled the game Deadlock, but access is limited to invite-only participants. The game's Steam page is live, featuring only a 22-second teaser instead of the required minimum of five screenshots, leading to criticism that Valve is violating its own guidelines. A developer, 3DGlyptics, argues that as a Steamworks Partner, Valve should adhere to the same rules as other developers. They reference a previous incident in March 2024 where Valve violated guidelines by incorrectly labeling a product. 3DGlyptics emphasizes their commitment to compliance with Steam's publishing standards for their upcoming game, BC Piezophile, which is available for wishlisting on Steam.