Gaming

Valve no longer automatically fulfilling key requests from devs

Published

7 years ago

August 18, 2017

Update: Since this screenshot leaked, a Valve representative has given the following response, clearing up once and for all the reason behind this policy.

“Steam keys have always been available for free to our partners to help them sell PC games at physical retail and on other digital stores. In return, we’ve asked that partners offer Steam customers a fair deal, similar to what they’re offering on other stores. None of that is changing.

But over the last few years, new features and additions to Steam have changed the way Steam keys were being used, for instance as a means for game-shaped objects to monetize on Steam through methods other than actually selling fun games to customers. Most notably, this meant farming Steam Trading Cards. We shared a lot of info about that issue, and our response to it, here.

While our changes did impact the economics of trading card farming for new products coming to Steam, there are still a lot of games and game-shaped objects using Steam keys as a way to manipulate Steam systems. As a result, we’re trying to look more closely at extreme examples of products on Steam that don’t seem to be providing actual value as playable games-for instance, when a game has sold 100 units, has mostly negative reviews, but requests 500,000 Steam keys. We’re not interested in supporting trading card farming or bot networks at the expense of being able to provide value and service for players.

It’s completely OK for partners to sell their games on other sites via Steam keys, and run discounts or bundles on other stores, and we’ll continue granting free keys to help partners do those things. But it’s not OK to negatively impact our customers by manipulating our store and features.” (Source: Gamasutra)

So bundle sites such as Humble Bundle and even marketplaces like Green Man Gaming have nothing to fear. It seems this is aimed more at devs taking advantage of the Trading Card System, effectively stopping card farming and the profit that can come with that.

Phew.

Original Post: Valve could be looking to implement a new policy that limits how many keys will be available to developers, removing the automatic fulfillment process entirely.

In a screenshot that was leaked to Reddit and appeared on Twitter, Sean Jenkin, a software engineer at Valve, implies that Valve may soon start denying requests for keys by developers.

It reads, “If we are denying keys for normal size batches it’s likely because your Steam sales don’t reflect a need for as many keys as you’re distributing, and you’re probably asking for more keys because you’re offering cheaper options off Steam and yet we’re bearing the costs.”

“For example, say you’ve sold a few thousand copies on Steam but have requested/activated 500k keys, then we are going to take a deeper look at your games, your sales, your costs, etc.”

This has apparently leaked from a private Steam group so it’s important to take it with a pinch of salt. It does, however, fall in line with Valve’s attempts at dealing with illegitimate key sellers and gray markets.

Whether this is an attempt at dealing with shady key dealers, combating developers taking advantage of the key generation system or an aggressive tactic in a market they pretty much dominate is unsure.

It also makes sense that Valve would move in this direction if they’re having to shoulder a huge amount of cost when it comes to their infrastructure but only seeing limited returns directly.

What is definitive is that if this change is forceful in its implementation, it could have an effect on everyone from bundle sites to grey market sellers and more. The promising take from the screenshot is that the numbers used in the hypothetical situation have a massive disparity, (‘few thousand sold’ vs ‘500k keys requested’) meaning if Valve continues to follow this logic, indie developers should be relatively unaffected.

It’ll be interesting to see Valve’s official line on this as the story progresses.

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Gaming

Shift Up unveils the intriguing details behind the physical packaging of Stellar Blade for the PS5

Published

11 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Zach Riley

It appears that many

are eagerly anticipating the launch of the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade. Shift Up, the developer, has shared a lengthy video showcasing the “secrets” found in the physical box of the game for PS5. From what we can gather, these secrets include a reversible cover/dust jacket and a download code for cosmetic items.

We must clarify that while we do appreciate the variant cover, it may be more appealing than the game’s standard art. However, it is not something we would typically classify as a “secret.”. However, what’s interesting is that Shift Up has confirmed through the comments section that this will be the case in all regions. Additionally, the visually striking action RPG will remain uncensored worldwide.

「Stellar Blade」 Physical Package Secrets⚠️#StellarBlade #PS5 #Disc pic.twitter.com/WQSzKUSDQ4

— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) April 22, 2024

It’s refreshing to witness a developer going the extra mile for physical collectors, and it’s evident that the developer is determined to leave a favorable mark in the console realm. Stellar Blade is set to make its highly anticipated debut this Friday, April 26th, exclusively on the PS5.

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Gaming

Here are all the patch notes for the new PS5 firmware update that adds the community game help feature

Published

11 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Zach Riley

Sony has recently launched the newest PS5 system software update, which is always an exciting occasion for avid PlayStation fans. With a size of slightly over 1GB, you can download and install it right away. As always, the question remains: What exactly does the update bring to the table?

According to the official patch notes, there have been some notable improvements, particularly in the area of game help. We are introducing an exciting addition to our platform: the Community Game Help feature. This feature enhances the PS5’s Game Help system by providing you with gameplay videos from fellow players. Players have the option to choose whether or not they want their gameplay videos to be shared using this feature.

If you’re concerned about it, you can now hide your Remote Play connection status as well.

Presenting the complete patch notes:

Game Help has been enhanced with the addition of Community Game Help features
Within Game Help, players can find Community Game Help hints in supported games. These cues come from gameplay videos that other players have shared.
If you’re up for it, you have the option to contribute to Community Game Help by giving permission for your gameplay video to be automatically recorded and included in the feature after it’s been reviewed
If you want to join in, navigate to Settings, then Captures & Broadcasts, followed by Captures, Auto Captures, and finally Community Game Help. From there, simply choose the option to participate. Users have the option to unsubscribe whenever they choose
During Remote Play, players now have the option to hide the persistent message “Remote Play connected.” that appears on their game screen. To ensure a seamless gaming experience, navigate to the Settings menu, then proceed to the System section. From there, locate the Remote Play option and activate the Hide Remote Play Connection Status feature
The system’s software performance and stability have been significantly enhanced
The messages and usability on some screens have been enhanced

While not the most groundbreaking update, the Community Game Help feature has the potential to be intriguing, contingent upon the number of games that offer support for it. What are your thoughts on the latest update? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Gaming

New PS5 Patch Introduces Rare 40FPS Mode for Avatar Game

Published

1 day ago

April 23, 2024

Zach Riley

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has received an exciting update that introduces a new graphical mode, elevating the game’s visual experience. With a smooth frame rate of 40 frames per second and enhanced resolutions, players can now immerse themselves in even more stunning and detailed environments. Now downloadable on PS5 with the latest patch 3.2, this mode is compatible with 4K TVs that can handle up to 120 Hz. Before this update, Avatar PS5 only offered quality and performance modes. However, with this new option, players can now enjoy the benefits of both modes after downloading the 2.4GB update.

Throughout the PS5 era, 40fps modes have been a rarity, much to the disappointment of the hardcore community. Insomniac Games first introduced them in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and later added the feature to Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. They also included it in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Other PS5 titles, such as Hogwarts Legacy, Lies of P, and God of War Ragnarok, also offer 40fps modes.

In addition to that, Patch 3.2 for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora brings along the following:

Worldwide:

Research Station Alpha now features a convenient Fast Travel option
The issue of controller re-mapping and resetting on game restart has been resolved
Addressed multiple instances of crashes
I corrected a few spelling errors
Addressed the issue of voice lines overlapping during dialogue

Primary Objectives & Optional Objectives:

[Main Quest: Shadows of the Past] This main quest is an intriguing journey into the depths of history. Addressed a bug that previously hindered quest progression in co-op mode

More bug fixes have been implemented.

[Available on all platforms] The rescued human characters no longer return to the Resistance HQ wearing masks
Available on all platforms. There is a noticeable improvement in the visibility of NPCs when they are at the edge of the Player’s vision

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