XREAL's a01 smart glasses, released in May, act as an external display rather than a standalone computer, connecting via USB-C to devices like laptops or Steam Decks. Priced around $300, they use dual mini OLED panels delivering 1080p resolution and up to 1,600 nits of brightness, producing vivid images similar to a personal projector experience. The reviewer tested them for movie watching by pairing them with a laptop streaming the Criterion Channel.
A new open-source project called OpenTIE reimplements LucasArts' Star Wars: TIE Fighter so it runs natively on Windows, macOS and Linux. Rather than including game assets itself, it requires players to own the original 1995 Collector's CD-ROM or 1998 Windows release, and lets users mix elements from both, such as pairing 1998 flight visuals with the 1995 adaptive iMUSE soundtrack. A companion project, OpenXWA, similarly ports X-Wing Alliance.
Ubisoft apologized after shipping a digital release of Heroes of Might and Magic III and its expansions that contained no actual game data, just a 23.4-kilobyte file that produced an error on launch. The mistake sparked a wave of negative Steam reviews before Ubisoft issued a fix, which Engadget confirmed now runs properly.
A CNET writer found that an inexpensive attachable milk thermometer solved persistent problems with over- or under-steamed milk for latte art. By monitoring exact temperature instead of relying on touch, the writer could pull the steam wand at the right moment, producing consistently velvety milk rather than scalded or watery results.
Ubisoft launched the original 1999 Heroes of Might and Magic III on Steam this week, but buyers found the install contained only about 23KB of data, including a placeholder executable, instead of the roughly 1GB game. Players flooded the reviews with jokes about the error before Ubisoft fixed the listing and uploaded the correct files the next day.
Poland's Wolsztyn steam-hauled passenger service, billed as Europe's last regular standard-gauge steam train, will temporarily use a diesel locomotive, the SM42 6D, from August 20 to 28, 2026, while its Pt47-65 steam engine undergoes periodic maintenance. Regular steam service runs Monday to Friday between Wolsztyn and Zbąszynek, and on Saturdays to Poznań, with no scheduled steam or diesel substitute service on Sundays and holidays. Tickets remain available through Koleje Wielkopolskie's website, station ticket counters, or the train conductor.
Devolver Digital confirmed its mascot platformer, Volvy's Adventure: Reslimed, will launch on Steam November 19, the same release date as Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 6. Developed by Doinksoft, the game is a remaster of an unreleased action-platformer starring Devolver's mascot Volvy, who battles enemies, collects onions, and transforms into a muscular form called Swolvy to rescue kidnapped friends from warlocks. The game will cost $5, with a 25 percent launch discount.
Nintendo will raise the price of its base 256GB Switch 2 console from $449.99 to $499.99 beginning next Tuesday, September 1st. The company had previously announced the increase, and it also recently unveiled two game bundles priced above $500 that include a slight discount.
Humble Bundle is selling Steam keys for Daniel Mullins' deckbuilder Inscryption at $7.99, down from its usual $20 price, for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The sale comes as Mullins teased a sequel to another of his titles, Pony Island, called Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, at Gamescom 2026.
Nvidia announced that its GeForce Now cloud gaming service will support Valve's Steam Controller and Steam Machine later this year, initially for the Steam Deck and Steam Machine app, with Windows and macOS support coming afterward. The update accompanies other GeForce Now additions, including DLSS 4.5 controls, GOG single sign-on, wider Fire TV Stick availability, and Firefox browser support.
GameSir released GameHub v6.2.0, adding the ability to mod Steam titles and locally imported games directly on Android devices. The update also introduces controller key/mouse mapping with cloud sharing, deeper Steam integration for friends, achievements and Workshop access, plus a redesigned library sorted by platform.
Valve, the studio behind Half-Life and Steam, was founded on August 24, 1996, by former Microsoft engineers Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington. The company released Half-Life in 1998, reshaping first-person shooter design, then launched Steam in 2003, establishing digital game distribution as an industry standard. Today the company celebrates its 30th anniversary with both products still shaping the industry.
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