Valve

The current big challenge for virtual reality technology is to work in large rooms. The next dream for the future, however, is likely to be multi-room experiences, where users can wander between rooms or other connected spaces without issue. This is probably still a couple of years away, but HTC has shown off a small example of how it could work, with a demonstration featuring a Vive Pro, multiple base stations, and a beta of SteamVR 2.0.

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This week it's happened, a machine beat humans at a complex esports game, and we're all doomed. The game is Dota 2, and the machine goes by the name OpenAI Five. The machine is a set of five neural networks, and they've begun beating amateur human teams at Dota 2 without breaking too much of a digital sweat. In the near future, the machines will attempt to beat the real professionals.

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Back in 2016, Valve debuted its vertically oriented "Knuckles" controller for use with SteamVR. The device remains exclusive to developers, but a new EV2 model has just been unveiled with a number of refinements that translate to improved controls in a VR environment, including new sensors that detect finger movement and grip strength.

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With an ever-increasing number of games offered through Steam, Valve can sometimes have a tricky time with discovery. Highlighting new and updated games on Steam's homepage or encouraging players to look at their discovery queues are a couple of ways Valve has tried to get games in front of people who might be interested in playing them, but the company can always do more. This week, we're seeing Valve launch a new feature it calls Creator Homepages, which could help further fuel discovery.

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In keeping with the strict General Data Protection Regulation laid down by the European Union, Valve has rolled out a new data portal to Steam users that can only be described as "exhaustive." This portal puts pretty much every piece of information about your Steam account in one place, serving up boatloads of data you probably never even cared to look at in the first place. While some of this data was accessible in one way or another before GDPR became law, this new portal organizes it and makes it easier to find specific information.

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Apple has very strict rules for what apps are allowed on its iOS app store. One of those is that the app shouldn't offer its own marketplace, be it for other apps or even digital content. That is the reality that Amazon has faced with its Kindle app and that is the same reality Valve will now have to face. That is, if it wants its Steam Link game streaming app to be allowed back into the App Store for good.

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The Just Cause series has proven to be a successful one for Avalanche Studios, and considering that it's been nearly three years since Just Cause 3 launched, it's time to start thinking about what's next for the franchise. Square Enix is expected to reveal Just Cause 4 during its E3 press conference, and a slip-up from Valve seems to confirm those plans. For a brief period of time last night, an advertisement for Just Cause 4 was featured on Steam's home page, suggesting that a reveal is indeed on the way.

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Steam has been the subject of a lot of controversy lately, with concerns from players over what Valve will and will not allow on the store. The company's decision to remove some games from Steam while keeping others that seemingly exist to offend has led to outcry from some segments of its player base. Valve figures the solution to this problem is to loosen the Steam store rules, even if the games that end up being listed might make some users upset.

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Valve's announcement that it would be bringing Steam Link to mobile device is one that garnered a lot of attention and excitement. The Android release of Steam Link went off seemingly without a hitch, but it was a different story on iOS. As it turns out, Apple didn't take too kindly to the idea of Steam Link on iOS, and the app was denied when it was submitted for approval.

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In light of Facebook's most recent and biggest scandal, Apple has often touted its more direct and human-curated system of screening apps that go into its app stores. While that does leave little room for malicious apps to get through, it does have one drawback. It subjects apps and developers to what may at times seem like whimsical standards. That's exactly what Valve's team have run into when the Steam Link app for iOS was, at first, approved but ultimately rejected, preventing iOS users from remotely playing their Steam PC games on their iPhones or iPads.

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This morning the Steam Link app was released for Android devices in BETA mode. A release in Beta on Android means there'll probably be a few bugs left to work out. If you're alright with a few tiny insects, now might be the best time for you to download the app.

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Valve seems to be cooking up quite the treat for mobile users while still clinging to is PC gaming focus. It recently announced the expansion of its Steam Link system that would allow Steam games to be streamed to Android and iOS devices. Now it has revealed a crucial piece of that puzzle by announcing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support for its Steam Controller. While Valve explains that this is an important requirement for its Steam Link plans, it also makes it possible to use the wireless controller directly with mobile devices.

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