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Breached: Valve warns Steam hardware buyers to watch for scams

PCWorld

Valve has warned European Steam hardware customers that a data breach at CEVA Logistics exposed personal details including names, addresses, and phone numbers. According to PCWorld, payment information and Steam account passwords were not affected, but scammers may use the stolen data for highly targeted phishing attacks. Customers are advised to stay cautious of unexpected messages, even if they appear legitimate by referencing real personal details. The more a scammer knows about you, the more convincing the scam can become. They don't need your most sensitive information to pull it off, either.


Steam Machine vs. PS5 Pro and Xbox: Valve's edge isn't performance

PCWorld

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Considering Valve's living-room PC? Here's how it really compares to a PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X, and a traditional gaming PC. The Steam Machine brings PC gaming into the living room -- compact, quiet, and connected to your TV. Read on to find out what Valve's new device can do, how it stacks up against the PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X/S, and a traditional gaming PC, and whether it's the right choice for you -- though one of our colleagues is rather disappointed with his new Steam Machine . What is the Steam Machine?


Soft robotic heart offers new way to study disease and test life-saving devices

Robohub

UNSW researchers have developed a soft robotic model of the human heart that can mimic disease and provide a realistic environment for testing the next generation of cardiac devices. Researchers at UNSW Sydney have developed a fully synthetic soft robotic heart that reproduces the complex movements and internal structures of the human heart, opening the door to better treatments, safer medical devices and more personalised care. Published in Nature Communications and Advanced Science, the research introduces a beating model of the left side of the heart that includes artificial valves, papillary muscles and chordae tendineae - structures that are critical to healthy heart function and are frequently affected by disease. The device is able to accurately reproduce the process in a real heart where cardiac valves leak and blood flows backwards, which increases the risk of heart failure and other life-threatening complications. In that way, the research team say the new soft robot can eventually help provide a better understanding of heart conditions, reduce reliance on animal testing and provide doctors with patient-specific models to plan treatments before procedures are performed.



MSI's 1,800 gaming handheld feels like a warning for PC gaming's future

PCWorld

PCWorld examines MSI's $1,800 Claw 8 EX AI+ gaming handheld alongside Valve's $1,049 Steam Machine, highlighting escalating costs in PC gaming hardware. Rising component prices and console increases like Xbox Series X jumping to $799 signal affordability concerns for gaming enthusiasts. Testing shows DIY alternatives can save nearly $200 while matching performance, though high storage and memory costs remain challenging. I don't know about you, but I can't remember the last time it was so expensive to surf the cutting edge of PC hardware. I've been thinking about the ongoing pricepocalypse engulfing the computing industry all week, because here at PCWorld we've been testing the remarkably fast (and remarkably expensive) MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ in order to see how it stacks up against other handheld gaming PCs.


Before you buy a Steam Machine, you need to know about its RAM issue

PCWorld

PCWorld reports that Valve's Steam Machine ships with a single 16GB DDR5-5600 SODIMM, leaving one memory slot empty and causing a 10% performance loss compared to dual-channel configurations. Users can upgrade to 32GB by adding another 16GB SODIMM for around $200, but the process requires complex disassembly as demonstrated in teardowns. The Steam Machine's high price combined with its single-stick RAM limitation makes it a questionable value proposition for gamers seeking optimal performance. Valve will sell you a Steam Machine starting today, at least if you signed up earlier this week and you have a little bit of luck. Early supplies are expected to be extremely limited, as Valve is dealing with the same hardware issues as the entire industry. It comes with just 16GB of RAM, which is a little light for a gaming desktop. But there's something you should know about it that isn't on the spec list. The Steam Machine is using semi-standard parts, at least for RAM and storage, including familiar SODIMM sticks that go into laptops.


SteamOS is coming for Intel handhelds -- if Intel can keep up

PCWorld

PCWorld reports that Valve's SteamOS is now available in beta for Intel-based handhelds, starting with the MSI Claw, potentially challenging Microsoft's Windows dominance in PC gaming. Intel's new Arc G3 processors are debuting in handhelds from MSI, Acer, and OneXPlayer, aiming to compete with AMD in the portable gaming market. Early benchmarks show SteamOS performing slightly behind Windows 11 on Intel devices, but this expansion could establish SteamOS as the unofficial standard for PC gaming handhelds. The Steam Deck didn't invent the handheld gaming form factor, or even debut it for PC hardware, but it's certainly the iPhone equivalent for this particular moment. And the vast, vast majority of the Steam Deck-inspired market has been underpinned by AMD's integrated chips.


Is VR gaming now dead in the water?

PCWorld

PCWorld examines whether VR gaming is declining, highlighting challenges from Meta's failed Metaverse push and lack of compelling new content. Rising AI-driven hardware costs are making Valve's upcoming Steam Frame headset potentially unaffordable, while Apple's Vision Pro lacks gaming presence. Only Valve remains committed to VR gaming among major companies, making the technology's future uncertain despite continued development efforts. Meta is looking a lot less meta lately, reportedly pivoting from the virtual reality Quest brand and the ghost of Oculus to double down on pervert glasses. After a decade of work, Sony's VR ambitions over on the PlayStation seem to have made little progress. And I've barely heard a mention of Samsung's Galaxy XR headset--allegedly the flagship launch device for Android XR--since it arrived six months ago. While the idea that Apple is abandoning its Vision Pro headset might be overblown--the company is still actively hiring for the division--Michael Simon over at Macworld tells me the platform has basically zero gaming presence for the hardware. Hope for renewed interest in VR gaming with a big injection of Cupertino branding power has evaporated. Is virtual reality gaming, to borrow a term from, cooked?


Valve's 85 Steam Controller divides gamers ahead of May launch

BBC News

Valve's £85 Steam Controller divides gamers ahead of May launch Valve has announced its new Steam Controller will be available to order from 4 May, and will cost £85 in the UK and $99 in the US - prices that have raised eyebrows among some gamers. The second generation of the gamepad, it will be compatible with PCs and Valve's handheld console, the Steam Deck. It is also designed to work with the company's own upcoming gaming PC, the Steam Machine. The Steam Controller may be more expensive than the standard controllers from Nintendo, Xbox and PlayStation, but we do live in a time where companies including Sony and Microsoft are selling premium controllers for £150-£200, said Chris Scullion deputy editor of Video Games Chronicle. There has been a negative reaction from some gamers on social media though.


Valve's Steam Machine is now late and more expensive. Thanks, AI

PCWorld

PCWorld reports that Valve's Steam Machine launch faces delays and increased costs due to industry-wide memory and storage shortages affecting component availability. RAM prices have surged significantly, potentially increasing PC costs by 20%, forcing Valve to consider subsidizing the device to remain competitive. The Steam Machine targets 4K/60FPS performance using AMD's FSR technology and will feature user-upgradeable SSD and RAM for flexibility. I had a feeling this was coming. While Valve has never confirmed the price of its hotly anticipated Steam Machine revival, the specs of the tiny, console-style PC indicated something cheaper than a full gaming desktop--and its exact price will be crucial to its success . But a bit of info hidden in a new FAQ page indicates that even Valve is sweating about the price as much as the rest of us are. "When we announced these products in November, we planned on being able to share specific pricing and launch dates by now," says the FAQ . "But the memory and storage shortages you've likely heard about across the industry have rapidly increased since then."