Tag: Valve

  • Steam Deck 2 Rumors: AMD ‘Aerith Plus’ APU Leaks Speculation

    Steam Deck 2 Rumors: AMD ‘Aerith Plus’ APU Leaks Speculation

    Key Takeaways

    1. Rumors about a Steam Deck 2 are circulating, but there’s no solid proof yet.
    2. AMD is working on a new APU called ‘Aerith Plus,’ featuring enhanced specifications.
    3. Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais dismissed the idea of a Ryzen Z2-powered Steam Deck, suggesting a new APU is more likely.
    4. The ‘Aerith Plus’ APU may be intended for the upcoming Deckard VR headset, expected to be expensive.
    5. Ongoing speculation about the Steam Deck 2 continues, with no major announcements yet.

    Rumors about a possible successor to the Steam Deck have circulated online several times over the past year, even if there’s no solid proof to support those claims. Nevertheless, it’s clear that a Steam Deck 2—or whatever Valve decides to call it—is being worked on, and the company has mentioned that it will offer a ‘generational leap’ in performance while maintaining efficiency.

    New APU Leak

    A recently uncovered shipping document, highlighted through tweets by @Olrak29_, shows that AMD is working on a new APU known as ‘Aerith Plus’ with some intriguing specifications. The details reveal that the Aerith Plus APU will feature a boost clock reaching 3.8 GHz, a 1.8 GHz integrated GPU, and a thermal design power (TDP) of 20 watts. For those who might not know, ‘Aerith’ is the code used for the APU in the current Steam Deck, and the ‘Plus’ variant seems to suggest that enhancements are on the horizon—or maybe not?

    Speculation and Doubts

    Pierre-Loup Griffais, who previously dismissed the rumors about a Ryzen Z2-powered Steam Deck, has once again squashed the speculation regarding this leak. His comment on BlueSky simply says “Not happening,” offering no additional context. Given that Valve has made it clear that the next Steam Deck will feature significant performance upgrades, it seems likely that AMD will create a completely new APU rather than just updating the existing ‘Plus’ version.

    The VR Connection

    It’s also plausible that the ‘Aerith Plus’ APU is meant for the rumored Deckard VR headset, anticipated to launch later this year at a staggering price that could exceed $1000. As with all rumors and leaks, it’s wise to approach this information cautiously. We have yet to see any major disclosures regarding the Steam Deck 2, and it’s safe to say that speculations will keep flowing for the time being.

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    Steam Deck 2 Rumors: AMD 'Aerith Plus' APU Leaks Speculation
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  • Zombie Shooter on Steam: Over 700K Positive Reviews Under $1

    Zombie Shooter on Steam: Over 700K Positive Reviews Under $1

    Key Takeaways

    1. Enduring Popularity: Left 4 Dead 2 remains popular after 15 years, reaching over 40,000 concurrent players on Steam and boasting a 97% positivity rate from over 710,000 reviews.

    2. Engaging Narrative: The game follows four survivors navigating zombie-infested areas in the southern U.S., set just weeks after a devastating outbreak.

    3. Teamwork Focus: Players can team up in cooperative gameplay or compete in Versus mode, enhancing the multiplayer experience.

    4. Diverse Combat Options: The game features fast-paced combat with a variety of firearms and melee weapons, requiring careful ammo management.

    5. Limited-Time Discounts: Left 4 Dead 2 is currently available at a 90% discount on Steam, priced at $1 until February 17, as part of a cooperative gaming promotion.

    Released back in November 2009 for PC and Xbox 360, Left 4 Dead 2 has now been around for over 15 years yet it still remains beloved by many. Recently, it reached a peak of more than 40,000 players at once on SteamDB, and its reviews are impressive – boasting over 710,000 with a 97% positivity rate.

    A Thrilling Zombie Adventure

    In Left 4 Dead 2, gamers are thrown into a chaotic world plagued by a vicious virus that has transformed much of humanity into zombies. While the original game took place in the Pacific Northwest, this sequel takes players on a journey through the southern U.S., from Georgia to Louisiana. Set just weeks after the outbreak, the narrative follows four survivors who navigate through perilous settings, desperately looking for safe places to evacuate.

    Cooperative Gameplay at Its Best

    This game centers around teamwork, requiring players to join forces as one of four survivors. You can tackle the campaign alone with AI partners, or team up with up to three other players, either online or sitting side by side. Besides the traditional co-op experience, Left 4 Dead 2 includes a competitive Versus mode where one group plays as survivors while the other takes on the role of the infected. For those wanting a tougher challenge, the Survival mode pits players against continuous waves of zombies.

    Intense Combat and Weapon Variety

    Left 4 Dead 2 offers fast-paced and thrilling gunplay, featuring a blend of standard and special weapons. Players can choose from pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, and submachine guns, as well as powerful choices like machine guns and grenade launchers. However, ammunition is limited, so managing it wisely is crucial. When bullets run out, melee combat becomes vital. Unlike its predecessor, which allowed only basic melee attacks, Left 4 Dead 2 introduces a range of melee weapons – including axes, machetes, baseball bats, and even chainsaws, ideal for slicing through hordes of zombies.

    Big Discounts for Enthusiasts

    As part of the Steam Couch Co-Op Fest, featuring demos and deals on co-op games playable both on the couch and online, Valve is currently offering Left 4 Dead 2 at a whopping 90% discount until February 17. This drops the price to a mere $1, down from its usual $10.

    Prices may change. The offer was valid at the time this article was written but might be limited in duration or availability. All information is provided without guarantee.

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  • Valve Updates Guidelines to Control Predatory Advertising Practices

    Valve Updates Guidelines to Control Predatory Advertising Practices

    Key Takeaways

    1. Valve has introduced new guidelines to regulate how developers use the “Early Access” label.
    2. Developers are prohibited from hiding game content behind advertisements or rewarding users for watching ads.
    3. Valve encourages developers to use microtransactions and create additional content post-launch instead of ad-based monetization.
    4. Developers can still promote products within their games, despite regulations on ads.
    5. Valve’s guidelines aim to prevent money-hungry practices common in mobile gaming from spreading to PC games.

    After taking action against developers who improperly use the “Early Access” label, Valve has introduced important new guidelines to keep money-hungry free-to-play creators under control. According to GamingOnLinux, the company’s website now outlines clear rules regarding how developers should market their games.

    Key Guidelines on Advertising

    A major point is that developers are not allowed to hide game content behind ads. Furthermore, users shouldn’t be rewarded for watching advertisements to earn in-game items. These practices are common in many mobile games and have become a regular part of the industry.

    New Monetization Strategies

    Instead, Valve suggests that developers should focus on using microtransactions and creating additional content after launch, which is another issue that the gaming industry continues to deal with. Although this isn’t a major issue on PC, it’s reassuring to see Valve addressing it early on. However, developers who prefer to use these tactics can always turn to other platforms or choose to self-host their games.

    Advertising in Games Still Allowed

    Sadly, developers still have the option to promote products within their games. For example, Death Stranding incorporated Monster Energy branding subtly, while EA took a more blatant approach with full-screen ads in UFC 4. Thankfully, this type of advertisement hasn’t become popular, but if it ever does, Steam seems to be okay with it.

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  • Valve Addresses AMD RDNA 4 Rumors and SteamOS Gaming Project

    Valve Addresses AMD RDNA 4 Rumors and SteamOS Gaming Project

    It’s widely known that Valve is making strides in enhancing the AMD Mesa drivers for Linux. However, some news reports from earlier this week suggested that the latest driver updates could indicate that Valve might be developing a competitor to the Xbox Series X or the PlayStation 5 (currently priced at $449 on Amazon).

    Rumors vs. Reality

    As we talked about back then, these speculations seem to be misinterpreting Valve’s real goals in improving Linux drivers for AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture. Even though Valve collaborated with AMD for the Steam Deck, Pierre-Loup Griffais, a prominent developer for the Steam Deck, provided some clarity regarding the recent enhancements to the RDNA 4 drivers:

    …we’ve [Valve] done pre-release Mesa Vulkan work on every AMD architecture since Vega because they have kindly lent us hardware, so there’s not much to read into that.

    What’s Next?

    To put it simply, the rumors surrounding AMD RDNA 4-based devices can be placed in the same category as last month’s assertion that AMD had verified a Ryzen Z2 update for the Steam Deck. At this moment, there’s no solid proof of new hardware from Valve that would operate on SteamOS. Instead, there have been some suggestions about a device with the codename ‘Fremont’, along with potential images showing designs for a Deckard controller and a Steam Controller 2.

    In summary, Pierre-Loup Griffais’ comments suggest that while Valve is actively working on driver improvements, the speculation about new gaming hardware is premature and lacks substantial backing.

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    Valve Addresses AMD RDNA 4 Rumors and SteamOS Gaming Project

     

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  • Conflicting Reports on New Valve Steam Hardware with AMD RDNA 4

    Conflicting Reports on New Valve Steam Hardware with AMD RDNA 4

    YouTuber eXtas1s has recently shared his thoughts on what might be Valve’s upcoming Steam console. He, alongside HandleDeck, has noticed connections between AMD and Valve in the latest Linux driver updates for the Radeon RX 9070 and other RDNA 4 desktop graphics cards.

    Speculations About Valve’s Console

    This has led them to speculate that Valve could be working on a home console that might compete with the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 Pro (currently priced at $699 on Amazon). It’s important to mention that neither of them has offered any solid proof to back up their assertions, even though the drivers are open-source.

    For now, it would be wise to regard any hints about Valve creating a new Steam Machine with caution. eXtas1s has a somewhat patchy track record regarding leaks of this nature, having missed the mark several times after initially detailing last year’s Xbox Games Showcase.

    Counterarguments from GamingOnLinux

    In response, Liam Dawe from GamingOnLinux completely denies the claims made by eXtas1s and HandleDeck. He points out on GamingOnLinux that Valve has been hiring developers for many years to update AMD Mesa graphics drivers to maintain Linux compatibility for both current and future AMD hardware.

    Dawe argues that eXtas1s and HandleDeck have misread the recent driver modifications, likely influenced by earlier rumors about the Valve ‘Fremont’ linked to the so-called AMD Lilac platform. To support his argument, a senior member of Valve’s Linux graphics driver team noted in the documentation for a recent Mesa driver patch regarding AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture that:

    This initial support should be good enough but it’s missing two features (cooperative matrix and video decode/encode) compared to GFX11 (RDNA3) because lack of time.

    DCC is still under active development but it might be possible to finish it during the RC period.

    The Validity of the Rumors

    In summary, this new rumor seems just as credible as the one about an AMD Ryzen Z2 refresh for the Steam Deck that VideoCardz discussed. For context, Pierre-Loup Griffais, a well-known designer of the Steam Deck, publicly dismissed this rumor. While the future of new Steam hardware is still uncertain, some third-party hobbyists have successfully transformed the Steam Deck into a home console experience.

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    Conflicting Reports on New Valve Steam Hardware with AMD RDNA 4
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  • Steam Deck 2: Valve Designer Talks Rumored AMD Ryzen Z2 Update

    Steam Deck 2: Valve Designer Talks Rumored AMD Ryzen Z2 Update

    Rumors about Valve possibly launching new hardware have been floating around for the past month or so, partly due to some leaks from databases. To summarize, information about the rumored Steam Controller 2 came out in late November. In addition, new details about Valve’s much-speculated ‘Deckard’ VR headset also surfaced, quickly followed by a leak regarding a gaming device codenamed ‘Fremont’.

    AMD Confirms Steam Deck Update?

    Today, VideoCardz published an article that claimed AMD had ‘confirmed Valve Steam Deck update’ as part of the Ryzen Z2 series announcement. This lead to various news outlets resharing the information, even though there was no clear reference to a new Steam Deck in the leaked documents shared by VideoCardz. Instead, the Steam Deck was mentioned alongside other devices like the Legion Go and ROG Ally, which use older Ryzen Z1 and Ryzen Z1 Extreme APUs.

    Valve’s Clarification

    However, Pierre-Loup Griffais, a key figure in the Steam Deck’s design, has stepped in to clarify Valve’s stance. He directly stated that ‘there is and will be no Z2 Steam Deck’, putting an end to the speculation right there.

    As for Valve’s official position, they have only mentioned plans for a next-generation Steam Deck to be released in ‘a few years’. Since the Steam Deck performs similarly to the Radeon 890M in benchmarks, it seems unlikely that the Ryzen Z2 series would be used for a device that Valve wants to deliver with ‘a significant bump in horsepower’.

    Upcoming Devices

    Meanwhile, there is solid evidence indicating that a SteamOS-powered Legion Go gaming handheld is nearing its launch. Lenovo has strongly suggested that this device will be revealed later this week at CES 2025. However, it won’t be a direct successor to the original Legion Go gaming handheld that Lenovo launched last year (currently priced at $619.99 on Amazon). Instead, it may come as a more affordable option with fixed controllers and a lower price point, aimed at meeting lesser performance targets.

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  • New Valve Index Controller Designs Found in SteamVR Code

    New Valve Index Controller Designs Found in SteamVR Code

    Rumors about Valve potentially replacing its Index virtual reality (VR) headset with a new version have been circulating for several years now. Currently, there’s a lot of evidence suggesting that the company is making progress towards launching a headset codenamed Deckard.

    New Developments in Controller Design

    Following the Blade Runner motif, Bradley Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) and others have unearthed new references to ‘Roy’, which could be the name for Deckard’s controllers. To give some background, a patent filed two years ago indicated that Valve was working on controllers featuring motion-tracking rings.

    In light of this, data miners have discovered that these controllers are present in the SteamVR code. However, Lynch’s latest finding implies that Valve has shifted its focus to tracking methods without rings, a technology that Meta is currently using in its budget model, the Quest 3S (currently priced at $299 on Amazon). According to the XR enthusiast, recent updates to SteamVR include models for the new Roy controllers, which we’ve provided images of above and below.

    Features of the Roy Controllers

    From the images, it appears that Deckard’s Roy controllers are equipped with a sizable d-pad, ABXY buttons, and two Steam shortcuts. Additionally, these controllers include comparatively large joysticks along with oversized triggers and side-mounted triggers. Interestingly, there’s also a new image circulating online that might be linked to the much-anticipated Steam Controller 2.

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  • Valve’s Steam Controller 2: New Leak Confirms Upcoming Release

    Valve’s Steam Controller 2: New Leak Confirms Upcoming Release

    A recent leak has indicated that Valve is working on a new version of the Steam Controller, which was originally launched in 2015. The new gamepad, known as the Steam Controller 2, is said to be getting ready for large-scale production.

    Source of Information

    This news comes from Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley), who shared details on X about the new controller. He mentioned that the Steam Controller 2 is being developed under the codename Ibex, and it’s distinct from another controller, which is codenamed Roy. The controller named Roy is intended for Valve’s upcoming standalone VR headset, referred to as Deckard.

    Production Status

    According to Brad’s post on X, both Ibex and Roy are currently in the tooling phase, aiming for mass production. There’s no information yet regarding the appearance or features of the Steam Controller 2, but more information is expected to emerge in the weeks or months leading up to its launch.

    VR Headset Controller Details

    In a different post, Brad provided some insights into the VR headset’s controller. The controller is expected to include a D-pad, bumpers, triggers, grip buttons, ABXY buttons, a system button, and a strap. This information was gathered through datamining and from sources that wish to stay unnamed. Since both controllers are close to mass production, it’s likely that they will be announced together.

    Pricing Speculations

    While there’s no specific info on pricing at this time, the original Steam Controller launched at a price of $49.99, and it was later sold for just $5 during a fire sale before its discontinuation. The Steam Controller 2 might be priced similarly or could be a bit more expensive.

    Competition Ahead

    When the Steam Controller 2 is released, it will face tough competition from several other controllers, including the Xbox Wireless Controller, DualSense Wireless Controller, as well as options from brands like 8BitDo, GameSir, and CRKD.

    Source: Link,Link

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  • Valve to End Steam Legacy Library Sharing Feature in Early 2025

    Valve to End Steam Legacy Library Sharing Feature in Early 2025

    The Steam legacy library sharing feature is set to end in early 2025, making way for the newly introduced Steam Family feature. Valve rolled out this updated game-sharing option to all users in September, presenting several enhancements compared to the previous system.

    Key Features of Steam Family

    One of the standout benefits of Steam Family is that it allows multiple users to enjoy shared games at the same time, a feature that the legacy library sharing lacked. However, it’s important to note that members cannot play the same game at once; for that, you’ll need to purchase multiple copies.

    Another advantage of Valve’s Steam Family is the ability for members to access shared games even when offline. This new feature allows you to add up to five family members, although Valve specifies that it’s intended for those who are part of your "immediate family." Each member within a family sharing plan will have individual save files and achievements, adding to the overall user experience.

    Transition to Steam Family

    When Valve first announced Steam Family, they hinted that the legacy game-sharing feature would eventually be phased out. Now, they have confirmed that the old method will cease to function after early 2025. The new feature has been accessible to all users since September, and you can set it up by visiting the "Family Management" section found under "Account details." For those needing assistance, Valve provides a detailed guide to help you through the setup.

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  • Steam Deck Now Available in Australia for Gaming Enthusiasts

    Steam Deck Now Available in Australia for Gaming Enthusiasts

    Gamers in Australia have some exciting news: Valve will start selling the console in their region on November 19. As of now, it seems that pre-orders are not yet available, but this should change soon. The shipping for the consoles will commence at 10 AM AEDT on November 19.

    Variants and Pricing

    Valve is offering both the LCD and OLED versions of the Steam Deck. The LCD variant comes with 256 GB of storage and is priced at A$649 (US$428). If you’re looking for more storage, the 512 GB Steam Deck OLED will cost A$899 (US$593), while the 1 TB model will be available for A$1,049 (US$691).

    Discontinuation of LCD Variant

    As previously mentioned, Valve has basically stopped producing the Steam Deck LCD variant, so it will eventually run out of stock. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the OLED version has several quality-of-life improvements that makes it a better choice. These enhancements include a bigger battery, Wi-Fi 6E support, and a smaller 6 nm SoC.

    The Future of Handheld Gaming

    Moreover, a new Steam Deck isn’t expected to release in the near future. However, the handheld gaming market has become more diverse with big names like Asus, MSI, Acer, and Lenovo getting involved. There are also many options from Chinese companies such as Ayaneo, AYN, OneXPlayer, and Aokzoe to consider.

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