Valve’s Steam Deck is now available for purchase without any reservation.
As spotted by Twitter user @Lbabinz, visiting the Steam Deck page gives you the option to ‘Buy now,’ with deliveries estimated to occur within one to two weeks.
It’s a significant move from Valve, which has been operating under a reservation system since last year. Previously, people would have to place a small deposit and then wait any number of months before receiving an email that gave them a small window in which they could complete their purchase and await shipping soon thereafter. For example, a friend and I pre-ordered our Steam Decks in June and just received them within the past week.
Now, though, the supply constraints seem to have improved enough for Valve to do away with this reservation system. That said, it’s unclear how long this might last — it’s always possible Steam could revert to reservations down the line — so you may want to purchase a Steam Deck sooner rather than later if interested.
The base Steam is priced at $499 CAD and comes with a 64GB Embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC) and carrying case. However, you’ll likely want to go with one of the other two models, as they’re SSD-powered and, therefore, a lot faster. The middle Deck costs $659 and comes with a 256GB NVMe SSD, carrying case and exclusive Steam Community profile bundle, while the most expensive model is priced at $819 and comes with a 512GB NVMe SSD, premium anti-glare etched glass, exclusive carrying case, exclusive Steam Community profile bundle and exclusive virtual keyboard theme.
Despite releasing yesterday, Overwatch 2 players haven’t been able to get into matches due to an ongoing DDoS attack on the title’s servers.
According to dozens of social media posts, eager Overwatch 2 players are stuck behind a queue with hundreds and sometimes thousands of players in front of them. In a recent tweet, Blizzard president Mike Ybarra tweeted that the title is experiencing server issues and said the developer is currently working to fix the problem.
However, Ybarra followed up with another tweet explaining that the game is suffering from a “mass DDoS attack” on its servers. Overwatch 2 director Aaron Keller says that the studio will “work throughout the night” to get Overwatch 2 back up and running.
Unfortunately we are experiencing a mass DDoS attack on our servers. Teams are working hard to mitigate/manage. This is causing a lot of drop/connection issues. https://t.co/4GwrfHEiBE
We’re steadily making progress on server issues and stability, as well as working through a second DDoS attack. We’re all hands on deck and will continue to work throughout the night. Thank you for your patience – we’ll share more info as it becomes available.
While Overwatch 2 is very similar to its predecessor, it reduces the team size from six to fix (removing one tank character), features new maps, heroes and other additions like a ping system. Beyond the ongoing DDoS attack, the title also suffers from glitches tied to items and in-game currency disappearing.
Free-to-play shooter Overwatch 2 is available on PlayStation, Xbox and desktop. For more on Overwatch 2, check out Dean Daley’s hands-on with the title.
It should be noted that Activision Blizzard is facing ongoing legal action related to reported work culture issues. Specifically, the gaming giant was accused in a July 2021 lawsuit of fostering a toxic “frat boy” culture at its U.S. studios in which many employees, particularly women, dealt with harassment, gender discrimination, unequal pay and other forms of mistreatment. Bobby Kotick, the company’s CEO, has specifically come under fire for allegedly working to cover up these reports and has faced calls to resign, yet he still leads the company. Recently, Axios reported that Activision Blizzard has also been hit with two setbacks related to its legal battle with California over these workplace misconduct allegations.
PlayStation has elaborated on how long it intends for its games to remain exclusive to consoles before they are ported to PC.
Speaking to YouTuber Julien Chieze, PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst said “I think going forward we’ll see at least a year between releases on PlayStation and on the PC platform.” However, he noted live service games could be an exception, as they require a “strong community, strong engagement right away, right when you go live.”
Single-player games like God of War, Spider-Man and Ghost of Tsushima have traditionally been PlayStation’s bread and butter, so the company has been looking to expand its business strategy to include ongoing multiplayer games. Earlier this year, the company revealed that it plans to release at least 10 live service titles by 2026. One of these is confirmed to be the long-gestating iteration ofThe Last ofUs‘ multiplayer mode, Factions, while rumours indicate Guerrilla Games is making a Horizon multiplayer game and Sony’s recently acquired Bungie is toiling away at a new IP.
For now, though, PlayStation has been bringing many of its single-player games to PC, including Days Gone, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn and Marvel’s Spider-Man. However, all of these have landed on PC at least two years after they were released on PlayStation. It’s worth noting that PC ports of Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and The Last of Us Part I are also in development.
Every month, Xbox brings new titles to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
Normally, these come in two waves and now, the company has revealed what’s hitting Game Pass in the first half of October.
Chivalry 2 (Cloud, Console and PC) — October 4th
Medieval Dynasty (Xbox Series X/S) — October 6th
The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season (PC) — October 6th
The Walking Dead: Season Two (PC) — October 6th
Costume Quest (Cloud and Console) — October 11th
Eville (Console and PC) — October 11th
Dyson Sphere Program (PC) — October 13th
Scorn (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S) — October 14th
A Plague Tale: Requiem (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S) — October 18th
It’s worth noting that Chivalry 2 was made by Toronto’s Torn Banner.
Meanwhile, here’s what’s leaving Xbox Game Pass on October 15th:
Bloodroots (Cloud, Console and PC)
Echo Generation (Cloud, Console and PC)
Into The Pit (Cloud, Console and PC)
Ring of Pain (Cloud, Console and PC)
Sable (Cloud, Console and PC)
The Good Life (Cloud, Console and PC)
As always, Game Pass subscribers can take advantage of an exclusive 20 percent discount to purchase any game in the catalogue and keep playing even after it leaves Game Pass.
To clarify, the reason for this pause is so our distributor can make it through the backlog of paid orders (in Canada), before we resume sending emails to folks in this region.
“Our distributor has hit a processing backlog for orders to Canada, so folks in this region will see a (very) temporary pause on order emails,” writes Valve. “We’re working on it, and are optimistic we can resume emails to Canada soon. This doesn’t impact emails or shipments to other regions.” That said, the company noted that it still anticipates being able to fulfill all reservations before the end of the year.
In a follow-up tweet, the company clarified that it’s made this temporary pause in Canada so its distributor can make it through the backlog of paid orders here. Once that’s done, it will resume sending emails to Canadian customers.
For the uninitiated, the Steam Deck purchasing process begins by making a reservation for the system with a small deposit via Steam. Later, you’ll get an email saying “your Steam Deck is now available,” at which time you pay the remaining balance and complete the purchase. While there’s no set time frame for when you’ll get the Steam Deck shipped, people online have said it’s generally been between 10 and 14 days from purchase to actually receiving the device.
However, it’s unclear what this backlog means for Canadians who have already completed their purchase. For example, MobileSyrup contributor Andrew Mohan and I both got our availability emails on Monday, September 19th and paid off the system that same day. We’re now awaiting a shipment email. Presumably, we and others in similar situations will be safe since we’re past the reservation stage, but that remains to be seen.
We’ve reached out to Valve for confirmation on who, exactly, is affected by these delays and will update this story once a response has been received.
Online games retailer Fanatical has a big Star Wars bundle for quite a low price.
The ‘Star Wars Collection’ includes 14 games set in the galaxy far, far away for $24.19 CAD, down from the regular $109.99.
Here are the bundled games:
Star Wars: Battlefront II (Classic)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — Republic Heroes
Star Wars: Dark Forces
Star Wars Empire at War: Gold Pack
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II — The Sith Lords
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Star Wars: Starfighter
All told, there are quite a few gems in there. BioWare Edmonton’s Knights of the Old Republic is widely considered to be one of the greatest games ever made, and its sequel, as well as the likes of Battlefront II, Jedi Outcast and Republic Commando, are also especially well-regarded.
The sale runs until September 28th and will give you a code for Steam or Windows PC. It’s worth noting that the Star Wars Collection also includes a five percent off coupon towards your next Fanatical purchase.
Microsoft has begun rolling out its September update for the Xbox app on PC.
While the list of changes is relatively smaller, it does add a few pretty neat things.
To start, the update allows the Xbox PC app to launch 15 percent faster, on top of other areas of improved performance. Xbox says this includes the rate of crash-free sessions reaching 99.9 percent and the reports of failed downloads or installs dropping by nearly half. Further, Xbox says its improved relevance for search results to bring them up 20 percent faster.
Additionally, Xbox has added HowLongToBeat (HLTB) integration into its PC app. For the uninitiated, HLTB is a community-driven website that provides estimates on how long it will take to complete a game. Users submit their completion times and HLTB will provide an average accordingly. HLTB has specific metrics for the main story, the main story with some side quests/collectibles, completionist (doing everything in the game) and combined (all playstyles considered).
Every month, Xbox brings new titles to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
Normally, these come in two waves and now, the company has revealed what’s hitting Game Pass in the first half of September.
The highlight of this batch is Disney Dreamlight Valley, a mix between a life sim and adventure game that was developed by Canada’s Gameloft Montreal.
See below for the full list of new titles coming to Xbox Game Pass in early September:
Disney Dreamlight Valley: Founder’s Edition (Cloud, Console and PC) — September 6th
Opus Magnum (PC) — September 6th
Train Sim World 3 (Console and PC) — September 6th
Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation (PC) — September 13th
DC League of Super-Pets: The Adventures of Krypto and Ace (Cloud, Console and PC) — September 13th
You Suck at Parking (Cloud, Console and PC) — September 14th
Despot’s Game (Console and PC) — September 15th
Metal: Hellsinger (PC and Xbox Series X/S) — September 15th
Additionally, here’s what’s leaving Game Pass on September 15th:
I Am Fish (Cloud, Console and PC)
Aragami 2 (Cloud, Console and PC)
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling (Cloud, Console and PC)
Craftopia (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Final Fantasy XIII (Console and PC)
Flynn: Son of Crimson (Cloud, Console and PC)
Lost Words: Beyond the Page (Cloud, Console and PC)
Mighty Goose (Cloud, Console and PC)
A Plague Tale: Innocence (Cloud, Console and PC)
SkateBird (Cloud, Console and PC)
The Artful Escape (Cloud, Console and PC)
As always, Game Pass subscribers can take advantage of an exclusive 20 percent discount to purchase any game in the catalogue and keep playing even after it leaves Game Pass.
8Bitdo has unveiled new versions of its 8BitDo Ultimate Controller, a Nintendo Switch Pro-esque gamepad, which are set to release on October 28th.
While many previous 8Bitdo Ultimate gamepads feature Bluetooth at default, the Ultimate Controller will come in three variants — one Bluetooth, one 2.4Ghz and one wired.
The Bluetooth and wired models have the most utility, as the can be connected to a Switch, PC or Android/iOS device. The 2.4 Ghz-exclusive controller, meanwhile, can be used with all of those platforms besides the Switch.
All three controllers will be available in black, white and pink and come with their own charging dock. Additionally, they’ll allow you to remap your controls on PC, Android and iOS and save them to three unique profiles that will be saved on the controllers themselves.
The Bluetooth controller will cost $69.99 USD (about $91 CAD), the 2.4Ghz will cost $49.99 USD (about $65 CAD), and the wired will be priced at $34.99 USD (about $46 CAD). Specific Canadian pricing and availability has not yet been revealed, but the controllers are available for pre-order on Amazon U.S.
The end of August is fast approaching, meaning there are, effectively, only four months left of 2022. Time flies, eh?
Naturally, this last third of the year is always a big one for entertainment, as companies plan all kinds of releases out in time for the holidays. In the world of gaming, specifically, we have such major upcoming 2022 titles as Splatoon 3 (September 9th), the Canadian-made Gotham Knights (October 21st), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (October 28th) Sonic Frontiers (November 8th), God of War: Ragnarök (November 9th) and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (November 18th).
But while those games are undoubtedly exciting, it’s safe to say most people already know about them. Instead, then, we want to highlight some other titles that are still on the way this year — those that you likely aren’t familiar with. Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that any of these could, in theory, get delayed, but for now, here are 10 lesser-known games set to release in late 2022 that are worth keeping your eye on.
Atomic Heart
Platforms: PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC (also on Xbox Game Pass day one) Release date: TBA late 2022
While we’re still who-knows-how-many-years away from the next BioShock, developer Mundfish has a new action-RPG that should hopefully fill that void. Enter Atomic Heart, a retrofuturistic adventure set in an alternate USSR in 1955. In the game, players assume the role of a mentally unstable KGB agent who must investigate a facility overrun by robots and other freakish experiments. The appropriately creepy atmosphere gives off BioShock vibes, as does the first-person combat, which mixes traditional gunplay with a special glove that gives you the ability to shoot the likes of fire, lightning and ice.
The Chant
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release date: November 3rd, 2022
Good horror games don’t seem to come by too often nowadays, but The Chant, the first game from Vancouver-based Brass Token, certainly looks promising. Jess Briars (The Quarry‘s Siobhan Williams) heads to an island for a spiritual retreat, only to discover a deadly cult and all kinds of cosmic horrors. To survive, Jess will have to explore the interconnected areas of Glory Island, manage resources for crafting and use both melee weapons and supernatural abilities. Oh, and Mike Skupa, the lead designer on fan-favourite games Bully and Sleeping Dogs, is the creative director and CEO at Brass Token, which just sweetens the deal.
Harvestella
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC Release date: November 4th, 2022
Sims have become increasingly popular in recent years thanks to the likes of Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and now, Square Enix is offering its own unique take on the genre. Notably, the game isn’t just about farming, although that’s certainly a key part of it. In addition to gathering crops, Harvestella has you venturing out to find resources, and you’ll occasionally battle enemies through an MMO-esque combat system. All told, it looks like Stardew Valley meets Final Fantasy, which certainly makes for an intriguing mix-up.
Immortality
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac, Android, iOS (also on Xbox Game Pass on day one) Release date: August 30th, 2022
Sam Barlow (Her Story,Telling Lies) is back with a new interactive FMV game, which features screenwriters Allan Scott (The Queen’s Gambit), Amelia Gray (Mr. Robot) and Barry Gifford (Lost Highway). The game is about a missing film star named Marissa Marcel, who made three films that were never released. As the player, you’ll have to explore lost footage from each film, carve your own path in the mystery and, ultimately, discover what happened to Marcel.
Pentiment
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC (also on Xbox Game Pass on day one) Release date: November 15th, 2022
Josh Sawyer is a big name in gaming thanks to his work on Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity. Now, he’s leading a small team at Xbox-owned veteran studio Obsidian on a fascinating and unique adventure game, Pentiment. Set in 16th-century Bavaria, the game follows journeyman artist Andreas Maler as he investigates a prominent murder for which his friend has been accused. But instead of presenting any gameplay challenges, Sawyer is instead focusing on an open-ended narrative, wherein the game will never outright identify the murderer, but players will have to come to their own conclusions through branching dialogue. Throw in a striking painterly aesthetic that enhances the historical setting and Pentiment looks like a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch (cloud only), PC (also on Xbox Game Pass on day one) Release date: October 18th, 2022
A Plague Tale: Innocence was one of the most pleasant surprises of 2019, and soon, developer Asobo will put forth the sequel. Picking up after the first game, young siblings Amecia and Hugo must find a cure for the latter’s blood disease while fleeing from both French Inquisition soldiers and deadly plague rats. While there’s still a heavy emphasis on stealth, Amecia is a much more capable fighter this time around and can wield a knife and crossbow on top of her handy sling. The first game’s novel historical setting was gripping, and the sequel’s significant gameplay improvements should only make for an all-around tighter experience.
Tactics Ogre Reborn
Platforms: PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, PC Release date: November 11th, 2022
Although Yasumi Matsuno is best known for his “Ivalice” games (Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy XII), his original work on the Ogre Battle strategy series remains a cult favourite. Therefore, it’s exciting to now be getting a modern remaster of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, the PSP remake of Matsuno’s SNES classic of the same name. In particular, Reborn features enhancements like HD characters and backgrounds, an updated UI, improved sound, a new unit-by-unit levelling system and other quality-of-life tweaks. Not to mention the well-regarded politically-charged civil war story — branching paths and all — remains intact. Fans of Final Fantasy Tactics, Fire Emblem or, most recently, Triangle Strategyshould pay attention to this one.
Scorn
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC (also day one on Xbox Game Pass) Release date: October 21st, 2022
Ebb Software looks to be cooking up something delightfully twisted in Scorn. This first-person game has you controlling a skinless humanoid who must explore a nightmarish alien planet. Areas are interconnected but can be explored in a non-linear fashion, and you’ll need to use various biomechanical weapons in order to survive. However, Scorn isn’t a traditional shooter, so each and every encounter, even with a single enemy, is intended to be tense and challenging. The world itself is also quite mysterious with little context directly given to the player, so you’ll need to parse things together through environmental storytelling instead.
Session: Skate Sim
Platforms: PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release date: September 22nd, 2022 (full release — has been in early access)
The next (Canadian-made) Skate game is still far out, so Montreal-based Crea-ture Studios has its own spiritual successor to the EA skateboarding series. Made by a team of self-described skaters, Session: Skate Sim features a dual-stick control scheme and real-life iconic skate spots to create an authentic experience. Customize your skater with gear from the top brands, rack up high scores and use a robust video editor to capture your best moments.
Somerville
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC (also on Xbox Game Pass on day one) Release date: TBA 2022
If you liked indie darling Playdead’s Limbo and Inside, this one’s definitely for you. Dino Patti, the co-founder of Playdead, has a new studio called Jumpship, and its debut work is an adventure game called Somerville. Like Playdead’s games, Somerville uses the world to tell its story — about a father, mother, son and their dog surviving the post-apocalypse — in place of dialogue. However, Playdead says the game isn’t strictly a 2D puzzle-platformer like those other games as some have believed and is instead focused more on exploration in a 3D space.
Which of these games are you looking forward to? Are there others you’re excited for? Let us know in the comments!
