Category: Gaming

  • Valve Targets Abandonware with New Steam Feature Update

    Valve Targets Abandonware with New Steam Feature Update

    Valve has made a low-key move on Steam that’s catching the attention of both gamers and developers. Now, Early Access games that haven’t been updated for months or even years are being highlighted, showing their latest update dates right below the ‘Early Access Game’ label. This small yet significant change seems aimed at boosting transparency and responsibility within the Early Access program.

    Spotlight on Heartbound

    One title under scrutiny is Heartbound. Gamers quickly voiced their concerns when Steam indicated it had gone 13 months without updates. The surprising part? Developer Pirate Software had actually shared an update in January 2025, but it was hidden away in an opt-in development channel not accessible to all players. This brings up a key question: what kind of updates does Steam really want from Early Access creators? And how can developers improve their communication about progress?

    Ripple Effects in the Community

    This adjustment is already creating waves. Some developers, likely wanting to dodge the dreaded “abandonware” label, have increased their communication with players. This might encourage studios to follow their roadmaps more closely and meet their commitments—a definite plus for gamers who spend their time and money testing these changing games.

    Unanswered Questions Persist

    Still, since Valve hasn’t officially rolled out this feature, several questions linger. Is there a specific standard for what counts as an “acceptable” update frequency? Will developers face repercussions if they concentrate on backend improvements or cater to niche communities instead of making visible updates? At this point, the absence of clear guidelines leaves a gap for speculation.

    All in all, this appears to be a positive move. The Early Access program has faced backlash for housing abandonware—games that developers have simply left behind, leaving players hanging. By introducing this level of accountability, Valve could be trying to restore player trust and clarify expectations for both developers and their communities.

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    Valve Targets Abandonware with New Steam Feature Update
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  • Nintendo Switch 2 Price Leak: What You Need to Know

    Nintendo Switch 2 Price Leak: What You Need to Know

    A few pictures related to the Nintendo Switch 2 have surfaced on the internet. These images are said to be from an individual employed at Costco in Canada, with the second image seemingly reinforcing the somewhat dubious first one. The first image that was posted indicates “Nintendo Switch place holder” (noticing the misspelling of “place”) alongside a price tag of $499.99. Since this is in Canadian dollars, the equivalent amounts in major currencies would be approximately $350 (US), €340, AUD$558, and £282.

    Supporting Evidence

    The alleged price of the Switch 2 is strengthened by a screenshot from a database used by the warehouse, which shows a listing for a “Nintendo Switch placeholder.” The price of 499.99 appears again. While this doesn’t definitively prove that the Switch 2 will be priced at CAD$499.99, it’s easy to fake such information, or Costco might have made an educated estimate without any direct input from Nintendo. Nevertheless, this information comes from a well-known international retailer, which makes it one of the more credible leaks so far.

    Price Speculations for Other Markets

    If we take the Canadian price into account, it might imply around $399 in the US, somewhere between €400-450 in Europe, and about £350 in the UK. However, it’s important to consider a few additional factors here, assuming this Costco placeholder is indeed correct: there could be several Switch 2 variants, meaning this price might apply to a Switch 2 OLED Model or a bundled version. Naturally, it’s wise to approach this with skepticism, but such price points would suggest that Nintendo might be aiming for a competitive pricing strategy.

    Conclusion

    In summary, while the information about the Nintendo Switch 2 pricing is intriguing, it should be taken with caution. As we await more official announcements, these leaks give us a hint of what might be in store.

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    Nintendo Switch 2 Price Leak: What You Need to KnowNintendo Switch 2 Price Leak: What You Need to Know

     

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  • Sony PlayStation Network Down for 18+ Hours, Impacting Games

    Sony PlayStation Network Down for 18+ Hours, Impacting Games

    Console users are reminded of their reliance on online systems for gaming. Right after 6 p.m. EST on Friday, the Sony PlayStation Network experienced a significant outage. Sony has confirmed that this issue affects both multiplayer games and certain single-player games. Although there have been some sporadic reports of service restoration, the majority of gamers are still experiencing problems more than 18 hours after the disruption started.

    Tracking the Outage

    Downdetector is a helpful tool for monitoring the offline status of websites and services. On Friday at 6:38 PM EST, the platform noted over 68,000 reports indicating that the PlayStation Network was down. This timing coincides with peak hours when numerous players explore the PS Store or engage in online games. While reports of outages decreased during the night, they surged again as players began to log on in the morning.

    Updates from Sony

    A few hours post-outage, Sony’s North American support Twitter account provided an update. However, it did not include many details and directed users to the PlayStation Network status page. On Reddit, players found more information, with the latest update indicating that some users could reconnect to the service. Yet, it seems that most gamers are still unable to access the network.

    Frustration Among Players

    The situation is aggravating for gamers, especially since many single-player games depend on the PlayStation Network. Titles like Gran Turismo 7 limit available modes when players are offline. This is particularly frustrating for fans of Monster Hunter Wilds, as its second open beta concludes on Sunday night.

    Social media is buzzing with unhappy players demanding partial refunds for their PlayStation Network subscriptions. Currently, gamers are uncertain about the situation, with many suspecting that the outage might be linked to a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. In the end, just as in 2011 when the service was down for 23 days, Sony will likely need to provide some clarification.

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    Sony PlayStation Network Down for 18+ Hours, Impacting GamesSony PlayStation Network Down for 18+ Hours, Impacting Games

     

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  • Take-Two Backs Switch 2; Fans Wonder About GTA 6 Release

    Take-Two Backs Switch 2; Fans Wonder About GTA 6 Release

    During its earnings call on February 6, 2025, Take-Two Interactive announced its intention to support the soon-to-be-released Nintendo Switch 2. CEO Strauss Zelnick mentioned that the company is in favor of Nintendo platforms as long as it fits into their strategy.

    Audience Shift

    Zelnick highlighted that Nintendo traditionally targeted a younger demographic, which is why Take-Two had only a few games on earlier systems, such as Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the DS and BioShock Infinite for the Wii U. The Nintendo Switch, however, has drawn in a more diverse audience, leading to an increase in Take-Two titles on the Switch compared to the Wii U. The next game from Take-Two for the Switch, Civilization VII, is set to release on February 11, and with the Switch 2 coming up, a broader release strategy appears to be on the table.

    Speculation and Expectations

    Although Take-Two has not yet shared its upcoming game roster, discussions are already buzzing on platforms like Reddit. Central to the chatter is GTA 6, but some fans are also wishing for Borderlands 4 on the new Nintendo console. However, many view this as unlikely and expect instead to see ports of GTA 5, Red Dead Redemption 2, or other titles from 2K. A major concern remains the technical capacity. Since the precise hardware abilities of the Switch 2 are still unclear, uncertainties linger about whether it can support these high-demand games.

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  • GMKtec Launches AD-GP1 eGPU with OCuLink and USB4 Support

    GMKtec Launches AD-GP1 eGPU with OCuLink and USB4 Support

    GMKtec has launched its new eGPU worldwide, just a month after its initial reveal. The AD-GP is now part of the growing family of modern eGPUs featuring an AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT graphics card, which is typically seen in mid-range gaming laptops.

    Powerful Performance

    Even though the RX 7600M XT has been outpaced by the newer Radeon RX 7800M, which can be found in the OneXGPU 2 (currently priced at $999.95 on Amazon), the Navi 33 GPU remains capable of running triple-A games at 1080p or even 1440p in certain situations. However, achieving this level of performance is reliant on connecting the AD-GP using OCuLink, which leverages PCIe 4.0 x4 for optimal output.

    Connectivity Options

    On the other hand, using USB4 will lead to some performance drops, but this is balanced out by features like 100 W device charging support. The eGPU also comes equipped with an SD card reader, four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, and an RJ45 Ethernet port. Both connection types allow access to the two DisplayPort 2.0 and two HDMI 2.1 ports included by GMKtec.

    Pricing and Availability

    The AD-GP1 is priced at $459.99 when bought directly from GMKtec’s website. Alternatively, you can purchase it on Amazon for its full retail price of $599.99 before using the coupon code GMKTECPC5 to get a 5% discount. For additional information, check GMKtec’s official site.

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    GMKtec Launches AD-GP1 eGPU with OCuLink and USB4 SupportGMKtec Launches AD-GP1 eGPU with OCuLink and USB4 Support

     

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  • Free Arena Shooter Rises to Top of Steam Charts with Grappling Hook

    Free Arena Shooter Rises to Top of Steam Charts with Grappling Hook

    Grapples Galore made its way into Early Access on November 9, 2023, and officially launched on February 7, 2025. This unique arena shooter is known for its grappling hook mechanics based on physics, allowing players to swing through the map, pull enemies towards them, or quickly escape from danger.

    Diverse Game Modes

    The game presents a variety of modes for players to enjoy. In addition to the classic free-for-all and team deathmatch formats, Grappleball has teams compete to throw a ball into the other team’s goal using their grappling hooks, which is similar to Rocket League. On the other hand, the King of the Hook mode adds a strategic layer, as players struggle to gain control of important points across the map.

    Major Update on Full Release

    When Grapples Galore fully launched, it came with the largest update yet. The new Facility map elevates the excitement of grappling hook combat, featuring vertical battles and tight corridors. Players can also challenge themselves in the newly introduced obstacle course mode. Aside from new content, this update brought visual improvements across all current maps and enhanced the physics of the grappling hook, making movement even more fluid.

    Positive Reception on Steam

    Zoteling’s arena shooter has been well-received on Steam. During its Early Access phase, it garnered over 4,500 reviews, with 88% of them being positive. In the last month, that figure has increased to 92%. Grapples Galore is also currently leading the “Trending Free” charts on Steam, showcasing its popularity among players.

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  • RTX 5090 & 5080 Users Report Black Screen Issues, Driver Problems

    RTX 5090 & 5080 Users Report Black Screen Issues, Driver Problems

    Not too long ago, there were reports about the GeForce RTX 5090D and RTX 5080 GPUs in China facing bricking issues stemming from driver complications. Some regular RTX 5090 users had similar experiences, but the numbers weren’t as high. Now, these two Blackwell GPUs are causing even more trouble for users (H/T @Zirkoz1 on X), just after they jumped through numerous hoops to get their hands on one. A user shared their experience on Reddit, detailing the following situation:

    I got my RTX 5090 Gaming Trio yesterday. When I tried to run 3DMark Time Spy, I encountered the strangest issue. Once the loading bar completes, the screen turns completely red, and it cycles through blue, white, green, black, and red continuously, while the benchmark runs in the background. Then it stops and shows loading for the next test (Graphics test 1, Graphics test 2, and CPU test).

    User Complaints

    Another user mentioned facing a black screen problem, but that post has since been removed from r/Nvidia. Additionally, several users on Hardwareluxx’s forums are reporting similar difficulties with their systems.

    Hey, I’m still dealing with issues on my MSI 5090 Gaming Trio OC. I’d really appreciate any help, as I’m running out of ideas. Whether it’s in games or benchmarks like 3DMark (Steel Nomad), I get a black screen and the sound lags for about a minute before my PC restarts. I have a multi-boot setup with different Windows versions, but the issue occurs on both.

    Affected Models

    Although most issues seem to arise from the RTX 5090, there is at least one RTX 5080 reported to be affected, but in fewer cases. Some suggested fixes include operating the card on PCIe Gen4, avoiding riser cables, downgrading Windows versions, and for the first Reddit user, using just one monitor at 4K 60 Hz.

    Currently, it appears that only a small number of users are affected. However, more cases may surface as additional RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 units are delivered. Most of the problematic cards appear to be from MSI, but a Founders’ Edition and a Gigabyte variant are also facing issues.

    Uncertainty Around Causes

    At this point, it’s unclear if Nvidia’s drivers are behind the chaos or if it’s related to Windows updates. However, it seems likely that the drivers are the culprits since some previous-generation cards are also misbehaving after the recent GeForce Game Ready 572.16 driver update.

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  • Monster Hunter Wilds Open Beta Sees High Player Count Despite Issues

    Monster Hunter Wilds Open Beta Sees High Player Count Despite Issues

    If the recent open beta for Monster Hunter Wilds is intended to test Capcom’s servers, players are certainly pushing them to the limit. On its first full day, the beta saw a peak of more than 250,000 players on Steam. Even though the company had tempered expectations ahead of time, gamers are still expressing worries about performance issues.

    Beta Schedule and Platforms

    The new Monster Hunter Wilds beta kicked off on Thursday, February 6, and is set to continue until Sunday, February 9. A follow-up test is planned for February 13 through 16. The exact start times will differ based on the player’s location. Players on PS5, Xbox, and PC are welcome to experience the game’s updated combat and mount systems.

    Return to Open World

    Monster Hunter Wilds is bringing back the expansive open-world design reminiscent of Monster Hunter: World. Unfortunately, the large environments are proving to be a challenge for both PCs and consoles alike.

    In response to potential worries about frame rates, Capcom recently introduced a benchmarking tool. Many players were pleased to find their rigs met the PC requirements with ease. After optimizing the graphics, Capcom lowered these demands. Sadly, the current open beta for Monster Hunter Wilds does not showcase these improvements. While the final product should be easier on systems, the game is set to launch on February 28, which is just a few weeks away.

    Player Frustrations

    Players who can’t keep up a steady 60 fps, even with high-end Nvidia GPUs, are sharing their frustrations on Steam forums. The servers are managing the high player count well, but many PCs are finding it hard to handle the expansive, creature-filled environments. Although the monsters and hunters are rendered in great detail, some players feel that the desert map appears overly blurry or pixelated. The clarity drops even more when players are forced to reduce graphical settings.

    Despite any stuttering issues, Monster Hunter Wilds is expected to continue drawing in players throughout the weekend. While its Steam player count currently falls short of the over 460,000 seen during the initial open beta, this is not unexpected, as the element of curiosity has diminished.

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  • Nintendo Announces Three Major First-Party Switch Games for 2025

    Nintendo Announces Three Major First-Party Switch Games for 2025

    With the anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2 in the latter part of 2025, current hardware sales are already feeling the impact. Sales for the existing Switch, which is priced at $299 on Amazon and has been around for eight years, have dropped by roughly one-third as many consumers are choosing to hold off on buying it.

    The Ongoing Importance of the Switch

    Even with the new console on the horizon, the Nintendo Switch continues to be an important element in Nintendo’s gaming offerings. Recent financial updates indicate that three major first-party games are confirmed to be launching on the Switch in 2025. Gamers can be excited for:

    This announcement is particularly noteworthy for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which has encountered delays and even a shift in development teams. Additionally, Pokémon Legends: Z-A has sparked worries since there hasn’t been much news since its reveal on February 28, 2024, prompting speculation about potential delays.

    Anticipation Around Upcoming Events

    While specific release dates for the new Metroid and Pokémon games remain unannounced, two key events may provide further insights: Pokémon Day on February 27 and the upcoming Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2. Until those dates arrive, it’s uncertain whether Nintendo has more surprise titles planned for the current Switch or if they will turn their full attention to the new console after the Direct event.

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  • New Co-Op RPG Features Seamless Crafting and Flying Turtle HQ

    New Co-Op RPG Features Seamless Crafting and Flying Turtle HQ

    Cloudheim marks the first venture by Noodle Cat Games, a studio created by ex-developers from companies like Epic Games, BioWare, and Electronic Arts. The team carries impressive experience from popular games such as Fortnite, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Infinity Blade, ensuring they have the skills to create a remarkable game.

    Gameplay Features

    This cooperative RPG allows up to four players to team up. It emphasizes quick-paced combat, ever-changing dungeons, and a one-of-a-kind crafting system that doesn’t rely on menus. Players can create weapons and gear directly within the game world, allowing for seamless action. The first look at gameplay was shared in the announcement trailer on February 6.

    Visual Style and Narrative

    Cloudheim boasts a charming aesthetic reminiscent of the Zelda series. Its world, inspired by mythology, has also been likened to Immortals: Fenyx Rising. Although there is limited information about the storyline, the main plot focuses on bringing together separated realms.

    Unique Base and Community Reactions

    Rather than a fixed headquarters, the game presents a mobile base known as the Odin Shell, which is a giant flying turtle that acts as the players’ hub. This base can be customized and expanded, with early indications suggesting modular upgrades like workshops and living spaces.

    Discussions surrounding Cloudheim are gaining traction on Reddit, eliciting mixed responses. Many enthusiasts commend its lively art style and Nordic-themed environment, while the crafting system without menus has garnered positive feedback. Yet, some express concerns that it might not offer enough innovation to differentiate itself from well-known titles such as Valheim. A delightful revelation for fans is that Cloudheim will be released as a fully finished game instead of going through Early Access.

    Cloudheim is anticipated to launch in the third quarter of 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Although a specific release date is still under wraps, eager players can already add this cooperative RPG to their Steam wishlists.

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