Valve Archives

AppWizard

February 22, 2025

Ex-Amazon Gaming Exec Explains Why No One Has Beaten Steam

Valve's Steam has dominated the PC gaming market for nearly two decades, despite various attempts by companies like Amazon to challenge its supremacy. Ethan Evans, former VP of Prime Gaming at Amazon, shared insights on their unsuccessful efforts to disrupt Steam, which included acquiring Reflexive Entertainment, developing a PC game store leveraging Twitch, and launching the Luna game streaming service. Other major publishers such as EA, Ubisoft, and Bethesda also failed to establish competitive storefronts. The Epic Games Store, launched in 2017, has not positioned itself as a true rival to Steam. Evans noted that Amazon underestimated the reasons consumers use Steam, which combines a store, social network, library, and trophy case. Despite criticisms of Steam, its ecosystem and features have reinforced its dominance, while alternatives have struggled to gain traction.

Winsage

February 21, 2025

Valve survey reveals almost 45% of gamers are still using Win 10

Nearly 45% of gamers on Steam continue to use Windows 10, according to a hardware survey conducted by Valve in January 2025, which shows that 44.41% of users rely on this operating system. In contrast, Windows 11 has captured 55.38% of the user base on the platform.

Winsage

February 19, 2025

Valve’s monthly survey reveals that almost 45% of Steam users on PC are still using Windows 10 even with the sword of Damocles hanging over them

As of January 2025, 44.41% of PC users are still operating on Windows 10, which is set to lose support in October 2025. Windows 11, released in 2021, has demanding system requirements that deter users with older hardware from upgrading. Many Steam users on Windows 10 may include internet cafes, where maintaining hardware is challenging. The end of support for Windows 10 means users will no longer receive updates or security patches, increasing risks associated with continued use. Resources are available to assist users in transitioning from Windows 10.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Valve releases Team Fortress 2 source code

Valve has released the complete client and server code for Team Fortress 2 (TF2) as part of its Source engine Software Development Kit (SDK), allowing developers to create game modifications. The SDK enables fans to "change, extend or rewrite" the TF2 experience, but all modifications must be non-commercial and offered free of charge. TF2 mods can be published on the Steam Store as new games. Valve emphasizes the importance of respecting community contributions and encourages mod creators to integrate community-driven content with the new modifications while honoring the work of Workshop contributors.

Tech Optimizer

February 19, 2025

Trojanized game PirateFi discovered on Steam

Free downloads from torrent trackers pose significant risks of malware, prompting security solutions to quarantine suspicious files. A recent incident involved the game PirateFi, which was removed from Steam after being flagged for harboring malware that stole browser cookies and compromised online accounts. The game attracted minimal attention, with around 1,500 downloads and reports of unauthorized transactions among players. Valve advised users to run security scans and suggested reformatting their operating systems, which confused many. The developers, Seaworth Interactive, raised suspicions due to their promotional tactics. Malware incidents on Steam are not new, with past cases like Dynostopia affecting players. Gamers are advised to avoid cheats, choose well-reviewed games, and install dedicated gaming antimalware for protection. Kaspersky Premium offers a gaming mode that minimizes interruptions during gameplay.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

CHARTS: Monster Hunter Wilds pre-orders were third highest grossing title on Steam last week

Pre-orders for Monster Hunter Wilds have surged, making it the third best-performing game on Steam for the week ending February 18. The game is set to release on February 28. Counter-Strike 2 is in first place, and Sid Meier's Civilization 7 debuted at second place. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 dropped to fourth, while Apex Legends rose to fifth. The Steam Top Ten includes Counter-Strike 2, Sid Meier's Civilization 7, Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Apex Legends, Steam Deck, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Marvel Rivals, Avowed, and Warframe.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Steam gamers urged to check out gorgeous free download: ‘I really like it’

Voxile, developed by VoxRay Games, Inc., is a new voxel game on Steam that is being compared to Minecraft due to its stunning visuals and innovative technology. Players have praised its aesthetic appeal, particularly its ray tracing capabilities, with one user noting the game's gorgeous world and another highlighting its performance on modest hardware. The game's visual rendering style, including global illumination and detailed shadows, has also garnered attention. The developers are actively engaging with the community, indicating that the art style and ray tracing focus are significant draws. A demo is available on Steam, but a release date has not been announced, with expectations of a wait of one to two years for full release.

AppWizard

February 17, 2025

Half-Life 2 and Dishonored artist Viktor Antonov has died

Viktor Antonov, a prominent figure in the gaming industry, passed away at the age of 52. His death was announced via an Instagram story by former Valve writer Mark Laidlaw, with no specific details provided. Born in 1972, Antonov was known for his artistic contributions to several iconic video games, including Half-Life 2, Dishonored, Counter-Strike: Source, Wolfenstein: The New Order, Fallout 4, Doom (2016), and Prey. Colleagues from Arkane Studios, such as Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith, shared their admiration for Antonov, highlighting his influence on the studio's success and his sense of humor. Pete Hines, a former Bethesda employee, also expressed his sorrow and acknowledged Antonov's talent in creating immersive game worlds.

Winsage

February 17, 2025

Nearly 50% of Steam users are still on Windows 10 despite its death date approaching

Windows 10 will no longer receive support after October 14, 2025. Currently, 42.87% of users surveyed by Valve's Steam Hardware Survey are still using Windows 10, while Windows 11 has a market share of approximately 36.6%. Windows 10 commands 60.33% of the global market share. Among Steam users, 96.55% operate on a Windows platform, with 53.46% using Windows 11. The reluctance to adopt Windows 11 is due to stringent hardware requirements and a perceived lack of compelling features.

AppWizard

February 16, 2025

How did your parents limit your game time?

Engaging in conversations about childhood gaming experiences highlights the trend of regulating gaming time for children. Today's parents tend to adopt a cautious approach, imposing restrictions while also participating in gaming with their children. The author reflects on their own lenient upbringing regarding gaming time, noting that their parents allowed gaming after homework was completed. They maintained a disciplined routine, limiting themselves to an hour of play each night, and later negotiated for more gaming time as a secondary school student. The author has since pursued a career in game development, influenced by their father's work in the field.