Steam News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

Hades 2, the roguelike action-RPG from Supergiant Games, was released in early access on Steam and Epic Games Store Monday. The much-awaited sequel has since climbed the charts to become one of the most played games on Valve's platform this week. In fact, the game has already more than doubled the all-time peak concurrent player count of its predecessor, Hades. Supergiant Games has not yet revealed the timeline for complete v1.0 launch of the game, but Hades 2 is expected to arrive on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo consoles later.

While tens of thousands of gamers are enjoying Hades 2’s recent early access release, thousands more are looking back to indie developer Supergiant Games’ previous titles. While Hades 2 has quickly become the indie developer’s most-played game of all time, the first installment of the Hades franchise has also just broken its all-time peak concurrent player record, four years after launch.

Mark Hamill will return to voice The Joker in Multiversus.

The newly-released early access co-op survival crafting game Abiotic Factor is proving to be a big hit on Steam. Steam and its early access program have been huge for the survival genre, with all kinds of early access survival games finding a great deal of success on the platform. 2024, in particular, has been a big year for early access survival games on Steam, with multiple titles proving to be big hits.

Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco has just announced a new competition, tasking fans to create their own trailers in an attempt to win a variety of prizes, including a massive statue of Messmer the Impaler. Fans are challenged to show off their directing and editing skills by putting together a comprehensive, short-form video showcase of the game ahead of the highly anticipated release of Elden Ring's Shadow of Erdtree DLC later this year.

Developer Madfinger Games has released a new update, Hotfix 3, for Gray Zone Warfare. The hotly anticipated tactical first-person shooter MMO game launched in early access on April 30. Many features announced for the full release of Gray Zone Warfare are the result of community feedback. These include customizable player bases and gear, a dynamic weather system, a trading system, and a dynamic NPC AI system that alters behaviors based on weather conditions, time, and the situation players are in.

Ubisoft officially announced the Steam and PlayStation release date for its music-learning app. The game is already available on iOS and Android as well as on PC via Ubisoft Connect. However, it comes to Steam, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on June 6, and players can wishlist it now.

Ubisoft will release Rocksmith+ for PlayStation consoles and Steam on June 6, 2024.

Arrowhead Game Studios has rolled out Helldivers 2 patch 1.000.302, focusing on key areas like damage-over-time effects issues, weapon and enemy balancing, social menu issues, and more. This update also introduces a range of fixes to enhance the overall gaming experience for Helldivers 2 players.

Less than 24 hours after launching on Steam, the early access version of Hades 2 has already doubled the all-time peak concurrent player account set by the original Hades. While Supergiant Games certainly found success with its earlier titles like Bastion, Pyre, and Transistor, the studio really took off after it released the roguelike action title, Hades. Although Hades was originally an Epic Games store exclusive, it eventually launched on Steam a year later in 2019 through Early access, releasing Version 1.0 on September 17, before eventually launching across most other platforms like the Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles.

A new life simulation inspired by the Studio Ghibli movies has been spotted on Steam.

The Early Access release of Hades 2 has already more than doubled the all-time peak concurrent player count of the first game on Steam.

User reviews for the Steam version of Helldivers 2 have been seeing a huge turnaround, as fans change their negative ratings to positive ones.

Supergiant Games’ Hades 2 is available in early access for PC via Steam (currently rated “Overwhelmingly Positive”) and the Epic Games Store. While there’s currently no end date for early access, there’s more than enough content to make it worthwhile for the time being.

, the sequel to Supergiant Game’s action roguelike, is available now in early access. Fans who want to play early can pick it up for $30 from Steam and the Epic Games Store. While the current version is still missing a few essential pieces, it still has plenty of content for players to explore.

Following the news that Sony no longer plans to move forward with its controversial Helldivers 2 PlayStation Network account-linking update, reviews are skyrocketing in a positive direction. The Helldivers 2 community has been up in arms over the recently announced update, which would have forced players to create and connect to a PlayStation Network account in order to access the game. Massive backlash ensued, with Helldivers 2 being review-bombed on Steam. This decision was ultimately reversed, with reviews immediately shooting up as a result.

After winding up its technical test for Hades 2 last week, Supergiant Games has confirmed that early access is now live for PC via Steam and the. It even released a snazzy new trailer to showcase all the content players can expect. Check it out below.

A newly announced Steam game called Starsand Island has strong Stardew Valley and Studio Ghiblivibes, and it has unveiled its first trailer. Announced for a late 2025 release on Steam, Starsand Island will take players to a Ghibli-esque island paradise they can explore and live in.

In response to the recent negativity surrounding Helldivers 2 and PlayStation Network account requirements, Sucker Punch issued a statement in an attempt to clarify its use in the upcoming PC version of Ghost of Tsushima. It's been a rough few days for Arrowhead Game Studios, who took the brunt of the controversy surrounding a recent announcement that would require Helldivers 2 players to link to a PSN account. The backlash was so severe that Helldivers 2 was actively review bombed on Steam, the refund policy was changed, and ultimately, Sony issued a statement abandoning its PSN plans.

Ghost of Tsushima studio Sucker Punch says a PSN account won’t be required for the upcoming Steam version, at least in single-player mode.

PlayStation has delivered a U-turn and scrapped its plans to require Helldivers 2 players on Steam to sign in with a PlayStation Network account.

Amidst widespread backlash, Sony has walked back on its decision to make PlayStation Network logins mandatory for Helldivers 2 on PC.

Sony has walked back on its decision that mandated new and existing Helldivers 2 players on Steam to link their PlayStation Network accounts to Valve's service after severe backlash over the weekend. On Friday, Sony had announced that users would need to link their Steam account to their PSN account to continue playing Helldivers 2. The PlayStation parent and Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios received widespread criticism over the move, leading to the game being review bombed on Steam.

Arrowhead's popular co-op shooter Helldivers 2 has been delisted from Steam in over 170 regions. This drastic step follows a controversial decision by publisher Sony, mandating Steam players to connect their accounts to a PlayStation Network (PSN) account before June 4 to continue playing Helldivers 2.

Helldivers 2 is now unavailable for purchase in over 150 regions, and Steam is issuing refunds for the game, regardless of playtime.

The PC version of Persona 5 Royal has been rendered temporarily unplayable in early May due to a major Denuvo server outage. While a partial workaround allowed fans to circumvent the issue and access the game with some features disabled, this turn of events still angered many Persona 5 Royal players.

To celebrate its second launch week anniversary, Moon Studios releases its first Early Access patch for No Rest for the Wicked, a massive update that addresses performance concerns, bug fixes, quality of life updates, and much more. It has been a busy couple of weeks for Moon Studios, after launching its ARPG title in Early Access on Steam. The release of No Rest For the Wicked wasn't as smooth as many had hoped, however, with various issues both on the technical side and certain gameplay mechanics as well.

The developer of Helldivers 2 has apologised after fans barraged the game’s Steam page with negative reviews over news of a mandatory PlayStation Account requirement.

Johan Pilestedt has responded to review bombing of Helldivers 2. Helldivers 2 is one of the most popular releases of 2024. Fans have enjoyed the way the game iterates on the online multiplayer format with interesting objectives and challenging team-based gameplay. In the opinion of many gamers, Helldivers 2 excels in part because of developer Arrowhead Game Studios' attentiveness to player feedback.

Gray Zone Warfare, a new tactical first person shooter MMO that popped up on Steam at the end of April, is already drawing in big player numbers despite being just a few days old. Although Gray Zone Warfare is still in Early Access, it has already managed to sell more than half a million copies in its first four days since release.

Helldivers 2 is being review bombed by Steam users who are upset about the game's requirement to link with a PlayStation Network account. Helldivers 2 is unique in that it is a PlayStation-published game that launched simultaneously on PC and PS5. While PlayStation exclusives have been making their way to PC in recent years, it's usually quite some time between the launch of the PS5 version and its eventual PC port.

Next week’s free Epic Games Store title has been revealed.

Helldivers 2 has brought more success for Sony and developer Arrowhead Game Studios than they could ever have imagined, and a large portion of that success has come through the co-op shooter’s sizeable audience on PC. Soon, however, Sony will be implementing a new requirement on that audience in order to be able to play the game.

The Steam version of Helldivers will soon require all players to sign in with a PlayStation Network account.

Developer LocalThunk has officially released a brand-new update for Balatro, which has now gone live for all players. This patch was released in beta earlier in the year and includes a few changes that players will want to check out. Among stability improvements, updates have been made on how various Joker cards work during rounds, as well as other changes that may throw even the more experienced Balatro players for a loop.

THQ Nordic will host its fourth annual digital showcase this summer.

Indie video game publisher V Publishing has released a new trailer for Mirthwood, an upcoming RPG that draws inspiration from acclaimed titles such as Stardew Valley and Fable. Mirthwood was just announced last year, but the promising indie has already excited audiences and garnered more than 100,000 wishlists on Steam.

Bethesda has detailed the next Starfield update, which includes improved surface maps and new performance options, among other features.

The future of Kerbal Space Program 2 studio Intercept Games appears uncertain amid ongoing restructuring at owner Take-Two Interactive.

Despite how acclaimed Ironclad Games’ Sins of a Solar Empire is, you could be forgiven for not knowing about the existence of its sequel. Thankfully, publisher Stardock Entertainment has announced that Sins of a Solar Empire 2 is coming to Steam this Summer. Check out the latest trailer below.

Funko Fusion will be released on September 13, 2024, it’s been announced.

Paradox Interactive has told players not to expect any further delays to its upcoming life simulation game Life by You.

Life By You is releasing in early access on June 4. Developed by Paradox Tectonic and published by Paradox Interactive, Life By You is a highly anticipated life simulation game that's often compared to The Sims, with some fans dubbing it a worthy competitor to the popular franchise.

Depending on when you read this, Steam Family sharing is either in beta or finally released to the public. Either way, if you're going to share your Steam library with family members after years of building your library, you might want to limit which games they can actually see!

Hotfix 0.179.1 for Palia has just dropped, delivering a number of fixes for issues that have been causing game crashes and freezes. This follows the recent release of a patch for the MMO that introduced new content, features, and quality-of-life improvements.

Starfield’s Shattered Space story expansion will be released this fall, Bethesda has confirmed.

Manor Lords entered early access and quickly achieved a major sales milestone in a single day, selling over 1 million copies. After topping Steam's wishlist, Manor Lords proved it wasn't just a flash in the pan and has been attracting more and more players.

Early footage of Bushiroad Games and Eighting's upcoming Hunter X Hunter: Nen X Impact has shown off its character select screen, suggesting that the game will have a rather small roster of 16 characters. Hunter X Hunter: Nen X Impact was first revealed at the start of 2024, with many fans excited about seeing a licensed 2D fighting game based on the long-running manga. The reveal trailer confirmed that a mix of fan favorite heroes and villains would be playable in the upcoming game, along with the game being a tag team fighter like some of Eighting's past works.

In a rare move, Manor Lords publisher Hooded Horse has promised to frequently discount the game. The pledge was offered as part of the company's reflection on Manor Lords' launch.

Bloober Team has said it’s “very confident” in its upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake.

Supergiant Games’ technical test for Hades 2 will be coming to an end on April 29th. As promised, it went on for longer than a week and less than a month, but appears to have been successful. The team has identified and addressed “a number of key issues we weren’t able to find before.” After it ends, early access will launch “relatively soon” after.

Bushiroad Game and Eighting have released a brand-new trailer for Hunter X Hunter: Nen X Impact, confirming two more playable characters for its roster: Machi Komacine and Uvogin. This licensed fighting game was first announced last December, with a reveal trailer for Nen X Impact released at the start of 2024. The reveal trailer gave a brief look at the game's roster, confirming six playable characters off the bat, along with a sleek anime art style.

Manor Lords has started its early access launch to a very warm reception. Manor Lords is a release that comes with years' worth of anticipation, as the game's announcement trailer was posted to YouTube on July 4, 2020. The game offered visuals that many gamers found impressive, along with the promise of realistic city building and large scale tactical battles. Appearing large in scope, complex, and demanding in skill, the game found an audience that eagerly anticipated more.

Alien: Rogue Incursion, a brand-new game set in the Alien universe, has been announced and will be launching later this year. The Alien franchise has had a number of wildly different games over the years, with titles ranging from stellar to critical flops. While games like 2013's Aliens: Colonial Marines are considered to be some of the worst licensed games made with the IP, others like Aliens: Dark Descent are decent enough entries that offer a fun experience. One game that most fans argue has yet to be surpassed in terms of horror is Alien: Isolation.

Marvel Rivals is the highly anticipated 6v6 hero shooter developed by NetEase games, and a recent dev diary has revealed the many characters, maps, and features Closed Alpha participants can look forward to. The Closed Alpha for Marvel Rivals is fast approaching, and the list of iconic Marvel faces players will be able to choose from is exciting.

Bethesda’s next-gen update for Fallout 4 has made the experience of playing the game on Steam Deck worse, as it removed the option to change graphics. The next-gen update for Fallout 4 was eagerly expected by many gamers, but its release introduced new problems to multiple platforms.

Publisher Capcom is delisting three games on Steam next month.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has added Manor Lords to its thriving content library. This is the fifth day-one release on Microsoft's subscription service in April 2024, as well as the 56th title to reach Xbox Game Pass Ultimate since the turn of the year.

The most recent games from the long-running Like a Dragon franchise, including Infinite Wealth, are discounted on Steam for a week. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth was released back in January to critical acclaim. Many fans praise it as one of the franchise's best entries, with its incredible writing and characters, new setting of Hawaii, and updated turn-based combat system. It's also the largest game in the franchise by far, as Infinite Wealth is jam-packed with tons of side activities across multiple different locations.

Developer Zen Studios has announced that a new table is on its way to the long-running digital arcade. The new table launches as DLC on March 16.

The brand-new MMO Age of Water has released in early access, giving fans the opportunity to experience a game that is reminiscent of the cult classic 1995 film Waterworld. Ocean-faring video games have grown in popularity in recent years, and Age of Water looks to build upon the aquatic craze with gameplay straight out of an action movie.

Bethesda has released Fallout 4’s long-awaited next-gen update.

Nintendo's latest takedown order is a huge blow to Steam players, particularly fans of the physics sandbox title,. When launched back in 2006 — after starting as a mod for — the idea was to give players a world in which they can freely manipulate objects and create their own stories. As time went on, other developers began adding downloadable content to the game via the Steam Workshop, including characters, items, and even new game modes such as and.

The studio behind sandbox game Garry’s Mod says it will be removing all Nintendo-related uploads after receiving DMCA takedown requests that appear to be from Nintendo.

Steam has changed its refund policy, with pre-release playtime now factored in when considering eligibility for a refund.

Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection has received a new update focused on fixing many of the issues the game launched with. Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection is a remastered collection of the first two releases in the Battlefront series, something that fans have been requesting for a long time. Although there were Star Wars fans who enjoyed the Battlefront reboot, many of these gamers have cited nostalgia for the classic Star Wars Battlefront games, and developer Aspyr released the collection on March 14, 2024.

Nintendo is known to be highly protective of its IPs, and its latest takedown request has targeted Garry's Mod, forcing the sandbox game to remove 20 years worth of content that contains Nintendo related workshop assets. Fans of the Super Smash Bros. gaming circuit and various sandbox titles are highly familiar with Nintendo shutting down games with DMCA takedowns. With Nintendo now requesting all of its assets to be removed from the Garry's Mod section of the Steam Workshop, fans are lamenting the impending loss of community content.

The standard two-hour playtime refund window for games bought at the Steam Store will now also apply to titles marked «Early Access» or «Advanced Access,» according to the service's creator, Valve. Such games haven't technically been released yet, so under previous rules, it was possible to play them for dozens or hundreds of hours and still request a refund. It's unknown how many people may have taken advantage of the loophole, which would've been available for high-profile titles as recent as Palworld and Lethal Company.

Bandai Namco has released the launch trailer for Sand Land, which is viewable below.

Users looking to return a game on Steam may have a slightly more difficult time, as Valve recently updated the service’s refund policy to close a popular loophole involving “advanced access” titles. Steam is one of the biggest digital game retailers, offering customers a massive selection of PC titles that run the gamut from the latest triple-A releases to smaller indie fare. Of course, not everyone is going to be happy with their purchases, and Steam allows users to refund their games within 14 days of buying them, as long as they have only been played for less than two hours.

Players that put more than two hours into pre-purchased or advanced access games will now be exempt from Steam's refund policy, says Steam, the maker of said policy and thus the final word on how it is implemented. As spotted by the Verge, this change is intended to combat a loophole where filthy time criminals could fill their stolen boots with ill-gotten fun pre-release, then get their money back.

Bit.Trip Rerunner, the remastered version of Bit.Trip Runner, is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Fallout games have seen renewed interest since the release of the Fallout TV series on Amazon Prime Video earlier this month. Just as the show has received acclaim and attracted new viewers to the world of Fallout, new and returning players have been flocking to the role-playing games from Bethesda. Now, the studio has confirmed that Fallout titles have received almost five million players in a single day, including one million in Fallout 76 alone.

Given that arcades have declined in popularity in recent years, you’d be forgiven for completely missing this game the first time around.

The recent review statistic for Tekken 8's Steam page has dropped to «Mostly Negative» following weeks of controversy. The changes introduced to the game's monetization system caused a widespread outcry from the community, contrasting with the warm reception delivered by fans at the time of the game's release back in January. Now, three months after its debut, public sentiment towards Tekken 8 has hit another major snag.

A new update patch has just been released for the PC version of Horizon Forbidden West that corrects some problems players have been having with the Nvidia Reflex On+Boost feature, among other things. The second Horizon game launched on PlayStation consoles back in 2022, earning mainly positive reviews for its stunning visuals and impressive vocal performances, even if some found the story to be lacking. Last month, Horizon Forbidden West became one of the latest Sony-published titles to make the jump to PC courtesy of Nixxes Software, the developer behind ports like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut.

An independent UK developer says it’s been forced to announce and postpone its game on the same day, and lay off more than half of its staff, due to the sharp downturn in investment in the games industry.

Nintendo has rolled out a new Switch system update designed to address a pesky online connection issue.

Microsoft has announced details of its next ID@Xbox Digital Showcase.