Valve has broken ten months of silence on the Mann vs. Machine update for Team Fortress 2, confirming the cooperative overhaul remains in active development. The studio cites an overwhelming volume of community map and mission submissions as the primary reason for the extended delay.
Valve has announced its themed sale events for the first half of 2027 on Steam, promising a slew of discounts and promotions. From horror games to indie titles, multiple themes will drive the sales schedule. Gamers can expect significant savings across various genres throughout the first six months of the year.
Steam achieved a record-breaking $11 billion profit in the first half of 2026, largely attributed to the enduring popularity of older games. A staggering 79% of purchases were for titles from 2025 or earlier. This trend underscores the platform's reliance on its vast catalog of established games.
Steam users can now check compatibility of games with Steam Machine and SteamOS directly on store pages, though not all titles have a rating yet. Games like Black Myth: Wukong are listed as "unknown" due to intense GPU/CPU demands. Compatibility checks vary, with some games verified on Steam Machine but not Steam Deck.
Steam has achieved its highest half-year revenue on record, generating $11.1 billion in H1, a 14.5% year-over-year increase. The surge is driven by back-catalogue sales, strategic promotions, and viral co-op games. Notable performers include Resident Evil Requiem and Forza Horizon 6, highlighting the platform's reliance on established franchises and discounted classics.
Steam is on track for its most lucrative year ever, generating $11 billion in gross revenue in the first half of 2026, driven in part by high-priced new releases like Resident Evil Requiem and Forza Horizon 6. The platform's success also stems from its thriving back catalogue and growing adoption in Asian markets, particularly China. Despite the industry's challenges, Valve's platform continues to thrive.
Valve's $1,000 Steam Machine was put through its paces with 25 diverse games, from AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring to indies such as Mouse: P.I. for Hire and Vampire Crawlers. The device showed promising performance, especially with less demanding titles, but its high price raises questions about its value. Highlights included seamless play on Overwatch and The Last of Us Part II Remastered, though some games like Control Ultimate Edition and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart struggled with default settings.
The Steam Machines' "Red Line of Death" is not as ominous as its name suggests. Instead, this feature serves as a helpful performance indicator for gamers, providing clear feedback on system limits. For Steam Machine users, this line is more about optimization insights than a cause for alarm.
Valve's latest SteamOS update, version 3.8.14, significantly improves WiFi download speeds by fixing an issue with routers advertising incorrect MCS requirements. Available now for non-Valve machines and in beta for Steam Deck owners, this update promises smoother downloads. The public Steam Deck release is expected within days.
The Steam Machine, Valve's ambitious PC-console hybrid, has launched to mixed reviews and a troubling issue reminiscent of the Xbox 360's "Red Ring of Death"—a "Red Line of Death" indicating GPU failure after just 20 minutes of use. This critical flaw, combined with a significantly higher price tag and reported performance steps back, has divided the gaming community. Despite its promising HAL 9000-style LED displays, the device's reliability and value proposition are under scrutiny.
