Steam Deck

The author prefers Valve's Steam Machine over their PS5 and Xbox Series X due to Steam library compatibility and cloud saves, despite acknowledging its drawbacks. They would purchase the $1,049 Steam Machine for its integration with Steam's ecosystem.

Tech firms are attributing recent price increases for devices and consoles to AI developments. Xbox consoles, Nintendo's new Switch 2, and Valve's Steam Deck are among the products experiencing significant price hikes.

The article highlights new indie games such as a sidescrolling roguelite platformer and a Steam Deck air hockey game, alongside the ongoing Steam Summer Sale.

Gaming costs are rising across consoles, subscriptions, and games due to memory shortages and industry pressures. Microsoft, Valve, Nintendo, and Sony are increasing prices for hardware and software, pushing gaming into luxury territory.

Moves of the Diamond Hand is an unfinished dice-based RPG in Early Access, developed by musician and game designer Cosmo D. It features grimy, blocky environments reminiscent of 2000s-era first-person RPGs and emphasizes strange conversations and dice-rolling mechanics.

Valve increased the Steam Deck's price by over 40% due to AI-driven memory shortages and geopolitical factors. A Blue Origin rocket explosion could delay NASA's Artemis mission significantly.

The Steam Deck sold out in North America within 24 hours after a price hike, despite the increased cost. The article from Ars Technica highlights this development, and Hacker News comments reflect user engagement.

Acer is launching the Nitro Blaze Link, a Linux-based handheld designed for streaming PC games rather than local play. It features a 7-inch display, Wi-Fi 6, 1GB RAM, and 8GB storage, with a Q4 2026 release. The device is compared to Logitech's underperforming G Cloud handheld.

Intel is entering the handheld gaming PC market with two new Arc G-series processors, designed to utilize the company's Arc B-series integrated GPUs. The processors will power upcoming devices from MSI, Acer, and OneXPlayer, starting in June 2026. Unlike previous Intel-based handhelds, these chips are specifically marketed for gaming handhelds and integrate CPU, GPU, NPU, and other components under the Arc brand.

Valve has increased the price of Steam Deck by over 40%, citing rising costs as the primary reason for the adjustment.

Valve has increased Steam Deck prices due to rising component costs and global logistical challenges, with the 512 GB OLED model now $789 and the 1 TB model $949. Similar price hikes by Raspberry Pi and Microsoft highlight industry-wide shortages linked to AI infrastructure demand, which analysts suggest may persist until 2027.

Valve increased Steam Deck prices by over 40%, citing rising component costs as the reason. The company emphasized that the handheld device itself remained unchanged, with the price adjustment reflecting current supply chain challenges.

The article discusses the end of the golden age of affordable handheld gaming, highlighting the Steam Deck's price increase from $399 to $789 and the Nintendo Switch's rise from $299 to $499. These price hikes are attributed to market conditions and hardware upgrades, making portable gaming less accessible compared to its 2022 affordability.

Valve's Steam Deck is back in stock after months-long shortages but has seen significant price increases: the 512GB version now costs $789 (up $240) and the 1TB version $949 (up $300). The base model has been discontinued, and competitors like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally remain cheaper.

Valve has increased the price of the Steam Deck by up to $300, making future purchases significantly more expensive for consumers who have not yet bought the device.

Valve has increased the price of its Steam Deck gaming device by more than $200, sparking discussions on platforms like Hacker News. The article details the price hike and includes a link to user comments debating the change.

Valve has raised the price of the Steam Deck by over $200 for both the 512GB OLED ($789 from $549) and 1TB ($949 from $649) models, citing rising memory/storage costs and global logistical challenges. Despite the increase, both models are now in stock with a 3-5 business day delivery window.

Viture's refurbished Luma Pro smart glasses are available at eBay for approximately $271 with a promotional code, representing a significant discount from the regular $499.99 price. The smart glasses feature a 52-degree field of view, 1080p resolution support, and built-in diopter dials for vision adjustment. The article also highlights several other gaming-related tech deals including Nintendo Switch 2 accessories and gaming handhelds.

The article reviews protective cases for the Nintendo Switch 2, with the Dbrand Killswitch identified as the best overall option for both handheld and docked play. The reviewer has tested multiple case types since the Switch 2's 2025 launch and recommends the Killswitch despite its higher price point due to its superior protection and versatility.

The EasySMX S10 is a Switch 2 controller that offers excellent HD rumble and amiibo support, making it a great alternative to Nintendo's own Pro Controller. It features swappable joysticks and can work with PC, Steam Deck, and mobile devices. The controller is $30 cheaper than Nintendo's option at $59.99.

AMD will bring improved FSR 4 upscaling to older Radeon GPUs, starting with RDNA3- and 3.5-based GPUs in July. This includes the Radeon RX 7000 series and integrated GPUs like the Radeon 890M and Radeon 8060S. The rollout is an expansion of the technology previously limited to Radeon RX 9000-series GPUs.

AMD is expanding its FSR 4.1 upscaling tech to older graphics cards, starting with RDNA 3 GPUs in July and RDNA 2 chips in early 2027, allowing access to over 300 supported games. This update will enable Radeon RX 7000-series chip owners to use the tech. The expansion will also include devices running RDNA 2 architecture, such as the Steam Deck.

Valve's new £85 Steam Controller, compatible with PCs, Steam Deck, and an upcoming gaming PC, has sparked mixed reactions among gamers ahead of its May launch.

The Steam Controller's significance lies in its customizable control schemes via Steam Input, allowing users to tailor controls for different game scenarios. While existing controllers like the Sony DualSense and Nintendo Switch Pro are already supported, the Steam Controller offers unique flexibility not found on consoles. The article compares it to a 'Steam Deck without the screen' but emphasizes its software-driven advantages.

The article discusses Valve's new Steam Controller, highlighting its customization and functionality similar to the Steam Deck, which the author prefers for TV gaming despite its imperfections. The controller has changed the author's gaming habits, leading them to dock their Steam Deck for TV use.