Steam’s revamped chat client makes it easier to game with friends
Steam's overhauled chat client has exited beta and is available now for all users. The client adds group chat, channels, encrypted voice chat, and sharing of inline GIFs and videos. The overall user interface is drastically improved and resembles Discord, the leading gaming chat app.
New Steam chat system adds group chats, video, and GIF support
Valve has made its first major update to the Steam chat client in a long time and has taken big strides in modernizing the experience. New encrypted voice chat and group chat functions are welcome, but with stiff competition from the likes of Discord, you have to wonder whether it's too little too late.
Valve VR knuckle controllers can squish, track fingers, navigate with thumbstick
Valve has released a new demo called Moondust to show off the capabilities of its knuckle VR controllers and give developers a chance to play around with its new capabilities. They can squish, track fingers, and allow navigation via a thumbstick input, all while sporting better ergonomics and battery life.
Apple rejection means you can’t play Steam games on your iPhone after all
Apple has rejected Valve's Steam Link game streaming application as part of its approval process for App Store inclusion. That means that for the time being, if you want to stream your Steam library to your mobile handset or tablet, you will have to have an Android device, as the Steam Link app is not available on iOS.
Start saving up: Steam’s Summer Sale will reportedly begin June 21
The start date for Steam's annual Summer Sale appears to have been leaked. If correct, the sale will begin on June 21 and run until July 5. It typically offers steep discounts on a wide selection of games, including indie titles, as well as AAA releases from several different publishers.
Valve acquires ‘Firewatch’ developer Campo Santo in rare move
Valve has acquired Campo Santo, the indie studio behind the critically acclaimed game Firewatch. Campo Santo's 12-person team will relocate to Valve's headquarters and continue its work on In the Valley of Gods, which is expected to launch sometime in 2019. The acquisition is a surprising move for Valve.
Steam privacy changes make purchase-tracking service Steam Spy useless
Changes to privacy settings for Steam users have automatically hidden their game libraries from the public by default, effectively putting an end to the purchase-tracking service Steam Spy. Previously, this data was available to the public and could be used for calculating a game's sales.
Steam Machines quietly disappear from Valve’s home page
In a move that likely signals the end for the Steam Machine experiment, Valve has removed the third-party boxes from its hardware dropdown.
Gabe Newell says Valve currently has multiple games in development
Valve has spent years focusing on hardware and Steam, but co-founder Gabe Newell says the studio now has several games in development including the Dota 2-themed card game Artifact.
‘Bridge Constructor Portal’ review
Bridge Constructor Portal is no Portal 3, but it’s a great, unexpected new experience for Portal fans, and will also satisfy puzzle gamers.
You’ll need to sell your Bitcoin if you want to buy games with it on Steam
Valve has cut off Bitcoin as a payment method for Steam, meaning you'll need to sell your coins if you want to use them on the platform.
Return to Aperture Science and anger GLaDOS in ‘Bridge Constructor Portal’
Bridge Constructor Portal is a mashup of the popular civil engineering game and Valve's puzzle series Portal.
Steam hits 17 million concurrent users, with nearly 7 million playing in-game
Valve's PC gaming service Steam set a new record with 17 million users simultaneously signed in, and nearly 7 million playing onine games.
Quality over quantity: Steam’s review system is trying to be more ‘helpful’
Valve has updated its Steam review system to make it harder to abuse and put helpful reviews front and center for the average gamer.
Valve overhauls Steam Curators, gives community more control
Valve has announced major changes to its Steam Curators program, including new customization options and new tools for developers.
You can now buy Valve gift cards for friends on Steam
Steam Gift Cards are now available, adding yet another way to send friends a treat via the digital download service.
Concept art seems to reveal yet another canceled Valve project
An online art portfolio has offered up a glimpse of yet another Valve prototype that never made it past the early stages of development.
'Half-Life 3' may be made by fans in the Epistle 3 Game Jam
Epistle 3 Jam is a Half-Life 3 game jam that is looking to create some humorous and serious interpretations of Marc Laidlaw's story.
Ex-Valve writer's 'fan-fiction' reads an awful lot like the plot of Half-Life 3
Marc Laidlaw, a former Valve writer, has revealed a new "fan fiction", which reads very much like the story for Half-Life 3.
OpenAI bot crushes top players at Dota 2 tournament
An AI bot from Elon Musk’s OpenAI venture decisively beat several of the best pro players in the world at the Dota 2 tournament.
Valve patches ‘Team Fortress 2’ bug that could install a trojan when you died
Valve has fixed a bug discovered in various Source games that made it possible to install exploits using custom map downloads.
Valve fixes ‘Half-Life’ bugs nearly 19 years after its release
Valve has patched the original Half-Life and its alternate viewpoint expansions with an update that fixes a number of crash bugs.
Let the gaming begin: The Steam Summer Sale has finally arrived
Valve will begin this year's Steam Summer Sale on June 22, as confirmed by the company itself and PayPal U.K.
Valve's SteamVR knuckle controllers make flipping the bird possible in VR
Capacitive sensors in Valve's developer kit knuckle controllers for SteamVR users, should be able to track you flipping the bird.
Decorate your personal VR space with new SteamVR collectibles
SteamVR has a bunch of new game-themed collectibles to unlock and decorate your personal virtual home with.
Make your SteamVR home screen much more comfortable with latest beta update
Valve has updated its SteamVR home screen with new, customisable environments that you can invite your friends too.
Steam’s changes target ‘fake’ games and trading cards to combat bots
Valve has announced changes to the way Steam issues trading cards to stop nefarious actors from gaming the system with fake games.
Steam no longer supports sending gifts to another user’s inventory or via email
Valve has announced some major changes to the way video games are gifted between users via the Steam storefront.
Steam statistics reveal 50,000-plus support requests a day
Valve receives as many as 75,000 support requests a day on its Steam platform, a stat it now details on a new graphed page.
One of main Valve’s mainstay writers, Chet Faliszek, is leaving after 12 years
Chet Faliszek, writer of games like Left 4 Dead one and two and Half Life 2: Episode Two, has announced he is leaving Valve after 12 years.
International 2017 esports event to run from August 7-12 in Seattle
Valve has confirmed that this year's edition of The International will take place in Seattle, Washington in early August.
Quark VR releases video teaser for wireless HTC Vive kit
Quark VR has released footage of its solution for a truly wireless HTC Vive, developed in collaboration with Valve.
Valve changes Steam user ratings system for the second time in six months
Valve has announced changes to the Steam user rating system, intended to increase the influence of paying customers.
Valve is working on adding eye-tracking support to OpenVR interface
Valve is collaborating with computer vision firm SensoMotoric Instruments to bring support for eye-tracking to its OpenVR API.