Valve Archives

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Users can now search Steam by accessibility requirements

Valve has updated its Steam platform to improve accessibility for gamers, allowing users to search for games based on specific accessibility options such as adjustable gameplay difficulty, customizable text size, and narration of menus. Detailed accessibility information is now displayed on game store pages, and over 5,000 applications have included details about their accessibility support. This initiative responds to feedback from developers and players with disabilities, encouraging more developers to consider accessibility in their game design.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

CHARTS: Dune Awakening takes second place on Steam debut

Dune: Awakening became the second highest-grossing title on Steam after its launch on June 10th, with early access starting on June 5th. Counter-Strike 2 remained the highest-grossing title, while Deltarune entered the rankings at third place after its release on June 4th. The Elden Ring: Nightreign expansion dropped to fourth place, and the Steam Deck fell to fifth due to stock shortages. Stellar Blade, with pre-orders, landed in sixth place but slipped two positions. Lies of P returned to the Top 100 at seventh place after a 50% price reduction for its Overture DLC, which debuted at eighth. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma debuted at ninth place on June 5th, and Dead by Daylight climbed 12 places to complete the Top Ten. The Steam Top Ten for the week ending June 10th is as follows: 1. Counter-Strike 2, Valve 2. Dune: Awakening, Funcom 3. Deltarune, Tobyfox 4. Elden Ring: Nightreign, Bandai Namco 5. Steam Deck, Valve 6. Stellar Blade, Shift Up (P) 7. Lies of P, Neowiz 8. Lies of P: Overture, Neowiz 9. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, Marvelous 10. Dead by Daylight, Behaviour

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

Steam Next Fest – June 2025 Features Over 30 PC VR Demos

Steam Next Fest has begun, featuring over 30 PC VR games. Notable titles include Ghost Town, Of Lies and Rain, Don't Move, Puzzling Places, RAGER, Virtual Skate, Ultima Chess, Retronika, and Whispers of the Void (which has an updated demo). The event runs until June 16, 2025, at 10 AM PT. The list of participating games is based on information from Valve, and some titles may change or new demos may be introduced during the event.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Microsoft Finally Gets Into the Handheld Game With ROG Xbox Ally

Microsoft unveiled its new handheld gaming consoles, the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, during the Summer Game Fest on June 8. Both models feature a design resembling a pair of controllers attached to a wide screen and are expected to launch this holiday season. They will operate on Windows 11 and allow for gaming through remote play, cloud gaming, or directly on the device, providing access to a wide range of PC games and popular applications. Initial impressions of the consoles have been positive, with reports highlighting their comfortable design and gameplay experience. Microsoft aims to compete with existing handheld devices like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, and the Ally will debut with popular titles, including Roblox.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Full-screen Xbox handheld UI is coming to all Windows PCs “starting next year”

Valve's Steam Deck and SteamOS primarily support Windows games compatible with the Proton compatibility layer and some native Linux titles. Microsoft and Asus have collaborated on the ROG Xbox Ally, which features a new Xbox-branded interface designed to improve compatibility for PC gamers while resembling SteamOS. This interface will debut on the ROG Xbox Ally and is planned for broader release on other handheld devices next year. Microsoft has been developing a handheld-optimized user interface for Windows since at least 2022, identified during an internal hackathon. The proposed "Windows Handheld Mode" includes a tile-based UI similar to the Xbox interface and aims to enhance touch screen usability. The ROG Xbox Ally's full-screen interface replaces the traditional Windows desktop, conserving RAM and optimizing energy consumption compared to standard Windows devices like the regular ROG Ally, which require additional software to function similarly to SteamOS.

Winsage

June 9, 2025

Why the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X have Valve in their sights, not Nintendo

Microsoft has announced its first Xbox co-branded handheld devices, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X, in collaboration with Asus, set to launch in the holiday season of 2025. Pricing details are not yet available. The Xbox Ally is designed as a generalist device, while the Xbox Ally X targets high-performance gamers, both powered by AMD processors and equipped with Windows 11. They feature Xbox-branded buttons, a gaming interface, and access to Xbox Game Pass, along with the ability to stream console libraries via Xbox Cloud Gaming and Remote Play. The user interface is similar to that of Xbox consoles, with ergonomic grips inspired by Xbox controllers. Accessibility features from Xbox and Windows will be included, and the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative will allow games to function across PC, console, and cloud platforms. The launch will occur in multiple countries, including the US, UK, Japan, and several European nations, with plans to expand to additional territories. The devices aim to provide a unified gaming library for users with both PC and Xbox consoles, enhancing the existing ecosystem. The introduction of Windows 11 is highlighted as a key feature, offering access to games not available elsewhere. The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are positioned to compete with existing handhelds like the Steam Deck, with a focus on appealing to both console and PC gamers. Sales of Windows PC handhelds reached approximately 1.2 million units by the end of 2024.

Winsage

June 8, 2025

Microsoft ‘Xbox PC’ branding surfaces in game dev publicity materials — Xbox App also sees big changes

Microsoft is working to unify its Windows and Xbox platforms, as indicated by the release of MIO: Memories In Orbit on both Steam and "Xbox PC." Gears of War: Reloaded will launch on multiple platforms, including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, and Steam this summer. The Xbox App has been enhanced to allow users to access Xbox console games directly on their PCs, suggesting a merger of Xbox and Windows stores. The Steam Deck, launched in 2022, has influenced the gaming market, prompting other manufacturers to create similar devices. Lenovo's Legion Go S operates on SteamOS and Windows 11, with initial reviews showing it may outperform Windows devices. Microsoft is reportedly developing a handheld console, Project Kennan, integrated with Xbox Game Pass, expected to debut in late 2025. The Xbox Series X|S has sold 33 million units, while the PlayStation 5 has sold over 75 million. Windows remains dominant in PC gaming, but the rise of SteamOS poses a competitive threat.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

CHARTS: Elden Ring Nightreign debuts at Steam No.1

Nightreign, an Elden Ring spin-off, became the highest-grossing game on Steam for the week ending June 3rd, having sold over 3.5 million copies since its release on May 30th. Pre-orders for Nightreign ranked sixth on the Steam charts. Counter-Strike 2 was in second place, followed by the Steam Deck in third. Pre-orders for Stellar Blade, set to release on June 11th, were fourth, while F1 25 debuted at fifth. Helldivers 2 dropped to sixth, Marvel Rivals returned to seventh, Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time fell to eighth, The Last of Us Part 1 was ninth, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 rounded out the top ten.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

Epic cops to the Epic Games Store sucking for the 2nd time in a month as it proudly announces its money-hose has spaffed over $2 billion

Steve Allison, general manager of the Epic Games Store (EGS), acknowledged ongoing challenges in improving the platform, stating that there is still significant work to be done. Upcoming features aimed at enhancing the EGS include preloading, gifting options, and game-independent voice and text chat. Despite these improvements, the EGS struggles to match basic functionalities offered by Steam, which may not be enough to attract users already invested in Valve's ecosystem. Epic has disbursed over a billion dollars to developers and publishers and offers a revenue-sharing model with a 12% cut, compared to Valve's 30%, along with a 0% fee for games until they reach a million in revenue. However, convincing players to switch to the EGS remains challenging due to the large libraries they have already built on Steam.

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

New Steam Game Just Released Has a 99% Rating and Is Free

Poco is a point-and-click adventure game released on May 20, developed by Whalefall and Micah Boursier. It has received an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam, with 99 percent of 774 user reviews being favorable. The game is free to play and contains no microtransactions or hidden costs. Poco features a whimsical narrative where players help a clown named Poco navigate the Below World and construct a rocket. The gameplay lasts around two hours, and its compatibility with the Steam Deck is currently listed as “Unknown.”