Latest 30 Comments

Quoting: LoftyThanks for the info. Not to be lazy but i do sometimes wish Linux had more native apps with an actually decent GUI for doing cool stuff like this.

You know I had almost the same discussion 6 days ago on Reddit so here is a verbatim copy:

There is not really a way to do this even on e.g. Windows. This will always require tinkering with the game. Each is different, each uses different head tracking systems (if any at all and it doesn't require mapping to virtual gamepads or even mouse input) and almost no game ships with native SBS support.

When ReShade is involved you have a list of supported games but when it's missing you have to start tweaking and configuration your own config. That's worthy of an extended article in itself.

This is really exactly what VR solved (and even here it's YMMV) handling various devices and making data available via a well known and unified API. This is where Monado is a nice alternative but afair they don't support Vitures [yet].

Oh and don't get me started why there is no unified API for head tracking at all. Can probably thank Naturalsoft threatening everyone with a law suit for years while trying to protect sending 6 digits to a game for decades 🤢

tl;dr: some things users have to understand the basic concept. Too many moving parts.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: doragasuNow Nintendo needs an AI tool to automate Cease & Desists.

Lawsuit slop.

I'm fairly sure that's what law companies will do to each other in the future.
I guess there are positive outlooks as well 😂

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: LeprottoThis won't block Google AI to intrude into your searches.

I don't use Google for searches, I stopped doing that many years ago, or anything actually, except watching some videos from Youtube with third-party clients.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: SzkodnixSo far the only good thing in Epic is that they got regional pricing right for me (or at least in Poland).

I still don't trust that clown Sweeney.

maybe i will play devil's advocate here, but when epic games shut down their Paragon MOBA game, they refunded all donations made by players. Killing games sucks, but at least epic games did a really honourable gesture with these refunds.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

I actually came across this game just the other day while looking into something else. The GOG.com version does not have the patch yet but they usually take longer to get it so.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Now Nintendo needs an AI tool to automate Cease & Desists.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

...the what?

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: tohur

Quoting: Eike

Quoting: tohur

Quoting: Eike

Quoting: tohur

Quoting: williamjcm

Quoting: Egonaut

Quoting: williamjcmThe reason the third-party sale numbers increased by that much is because they now include VAT, while previous years didn't include it to my knowledge.

That makes no sense, where in the world do we have 57% VAT?

I mean, it would still have increased compared to the previous year, just *much less* than what Epic's claiming. For example, if we assume that everyone on the EGS paid a 20% VAT, then the "before VAT" spending would have been around 333M$, which would seem much less impressive.

Not everyone pays a VAT and the largest gaming market outside of China is the USA.. the USA alone is the largest market by a long shot compared to any country that pays a VAT. Point is that math don't math.

The math doesn't math. But the US is a small part of the world's game market.

The USA is the SECOND largest market at around $50 billion.. the next closest market is Japan at $17 billion.. like I said the math he put up does NOT math for obvious reasons

I agreed with you that the math doesn't math?!?

It doesn't matter if they're the second largest or the largest or the third largest. What matters is their size compared to the sum of the others. Well, in the end to the others that take VAT, but I won't try to figure that out.
My point was that the US is a minority in the whole PC gaming market. Depending on whom you ask it may be below 20 or around 30 percent, but either way a minority.
(I had deleted my post because I decided not to go into this deeper, but you were too fast. ;) )

The only Europe countries that even show up in the top ten is Germany, UK, and France.. and those 3 combined are less then Japan.. the rest are MUCH less then one of those 3. like I said the vast majority of gamers that spend money do NOT pay a VAT

It seems I misunderstood you on what maths and what not.

(*sigh * I did not want to be pulled into this...)

According to what I read, most US states do have sales taxes:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States

... and so does China:

https://globaltaxnews.ey.com/news/2025-0133-china-officially-enacts-vat-law-ushering-in-a-new-era-of-tax-governance

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: Eike

Quoting: tohur

Quoting: Eike

Quoting: tohur

Quoting: williamjcm

Quoting: Egonaut

Quoting: williamjcmThe reason the third-party sale numbers increased by that much is because they now include VAT, while previous years didn't include it to my knowledge.

That makes no sense, where in the world do we have 57% VAT?

I mean, it would still have increased compared to the previous year, just *much less* than what Epic's claiming. For example, if we assume that everyone on the EGS paid a 20% VAT, then the "before VAT" spending would have been around 333M$, which would seem much less impressive.

Not everyone pays a VAT and the largest gaming market outside of China is the USA.. the USA alone is the largest market by a long shot compared to any country that pays a VAT. Point is that math don't math.

The math doesn't math. But the US is a small part of the world's game market.

The USA is the SECOND largest market at around $50 billion.. the next closest market is Japan at $17 billion.. like I said the math he put up does NOT math for obvious reasons

I agreed with you that the math doesn't math?!?

It doesn't matter if they're the second largest or the largest or the third largest. What matters is their size compared to the sum of the others. Well, in the end to the others that take VAT, but I won't try to figure that out.
My point was that the US is a minority in the whole PC gaming market. Depending on whom you ask it may be below 20 or around 30 percent, but either way a minority.
(I had deleted my post because I decided not to go into this deeper, but you were too fast. ;) )

The only Europe countries that even show up in the top ten is Germany, UK, and France.. and those 3 combined are less then Japan.. the rest are MUCH less then one of those 3. like I said the vast majority of gamers that spend money do NOT pay a VAT

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: tuubi

Well, I have to admit, I'm a little confused. The video game business since its inception was built on the back of machine learning and artificial intelligence. We create our games in computers with technology.

Give yourself some credit, won't you Mr. Zelnick? You're not just "a little" confused. You're either very confused or very stupid.

How do these idiots end up leading corporations?

Considering the last phrase you cited, I wonder if he wants to run for president.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

I love that the first instinct when something wholesome expires from trademark or copyright is just to make it cursed and shit on everyone's fond memories. /s

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: tuubiHow do these idiots end up leading corporations?

I just have to assume all the other idiots with money see their fellow idiots and give them money, perpetuating the cycle of C-suite decay.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: tohur

Quoting: Eike

Quoting: tohur

Quoting: williamjcm

Quoting: Egonaut

Quoting: williamjcmThe reason the third-party sale numbers increased by that much is because they now include VAT, while previous years didn't include it to my knowledge.

That makes no sense, where in the world do we have 57% VAT?

I mean, it would still have increased compared to the previous year, just *much less* than what Epic's claiming. For example, if we assume that everyone on the EGS paid a 20% VAT, then the "before VAT" spending would have been around 333M$, which would seem much less impressive.

Not everyone pays a VAT and the largest gaming market outside of China is the USA.. the USA alone is the largest market by a long shot compared to any country that pays a VAT. Point is that math don't math.

The math doesn't math. But the US is a small part of the world's game market.

The USA is the SECOND largest market at around $50 billion.. the next closest market is Japan at $17 billion.. like I said the math he put up does NOT math for obvious reasons

I agreed with you that the math doesn't math?!?

It doesn't matter if they're the second largest or the largest or the third largest. What matters is their size compared to the sum of the others. Well, in the end to the others that take VAT, but I won't try to figure that out.
My point was that the US is a minority in the whole PC gaming market. Depending on whom you ask it may be below 20 or around 30 percent, but either way a minority.
(I had deleted my post because I decided not to go into this deeper, but you were too fast. ;) )

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: eggroleI don't get the hate for Epic. I've never bought from them because I didn't want to have more launchers, but now that I use Steam and Heroic I have no real reason not to if the price is right. I get all their free games and have played plenty of them with no issues.

I am glad Epic is doing better. More competition means that Steam (and GOG) won't be able to sit around.

Now, I'm not saying everyone should start buying on Epic - you do you - but clearly enough people are buying that Epic isn't failing, and that IMHO is a good thing.

Well said! Steam is a monopoly, however benign, and competition is essential. I am also happy that Epic is doing better.

I've gotten pretty much every free game Epic has given away and have played quite a few - there's very little effort involved in getting them to run on Linux, either through Wine or through Steam/Proton or with launchers like Heroic, especially since most of them are DRM-free. I've even purchased a couple of games on Epic because they were great deals at the time compared to Steam: Subnautica: Below Zero and Outer Wilds.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

I'm disappointed by the lack of double entendres in the headline. Consider this post a sternly worded letter to the editor.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: Eike

Quoting: tohur

Quoting: williamjcm

Quoting: Egonaut

Quoting: williamjcmThe reason the third-party sale numbers increased by that much is because they now include VAT, while previous years didn't include it to my knowledge.

That makes no sense, where in the world do we have 57% VAT?

I mean, it would still have increased compared to the previous year, just *much less* than what Epic's claiming. For example, if we assume that everyone on the EGS paid a 20% VAT, then the "before VAT" spending would have been around 333M$, which would seem much less impressive.

Not everyone pays a VAT and the largest gaming market outside of China is the USA.. the USA alone is the largest market by a long shot compared to any country that pays a VAT. Point is that math don't math.

The math doesn't math. But the US is a small part of the world's game market.

The USA is the SECOND largest market at around $50 billion.. the next closest market is Japan at $17 billion.. like I said the math he put up does NOT math for obvious reasons

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: williamjcm

Quoting: Egonaut

Quoting: williamjcmThe reason the third-party sale numbers increased by that much is because they now include VAT, while previous years didn't include it to my knowledge.

That makes no sense, where in the world do we have 57% VAT?

I mean, it would still have increased compared to the previous year, just *much less* than what Epic's claiming. For example, if we assume that everyone on the EGS paid a 20% VAT, then the "before VAT" spending would have been around 333M$, which would seem much less impressive.

Not everyone pays a VAT and the largest gaming market outside of China is the USA.. the USA alone is the largest market by a long shot compared to any country that pays a VAT. Point is that math don't math.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Well, I have to admit, I'm a little confused. The video game business since its inception was built on the back of machine learning and artificial intelligence. We create our games in computers with technology.

Give yourself some credit, won't you Mr. Zelnick? You're not just "a little" confused. You're either very confused or very stupid.

How do these idiots end up leading corporations?

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: SzkodnixI'm still worried about the price. Even the most pessimistic scenario of $1,000 is becoming less and less realistic option.

They claimed "mid range pc" pricing ... which is totally fine by me for what it is. So as long as they stick to that, I'm all good.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

I remember having fun with the game when I played it back in 2018. Definitely worth the measly 3.75€ it's going for on Steam currently, if you enjoy the genre.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

most cursed game name of all time?

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: Egonaut

Quoting: williamjcmThe reason the third-party sale numbers increased by that much is because they now include VAT, while previous years didn't include it to my knowledge.

That makes no sense, where in the world do we have 57% VAT?

I mean, it would still have increased compared to the previous year, just *much less* than what Epic's claiming. For example, if we assume that everyone on the EGS paid a 20% VAT, then the "before VAT" spending would have been around 333M$, which would seem much less impressive.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

I don't get the hate for Epic. I've never bought from them because I didn't want to have more launchers, but now that I use Steam and Heroic I have no real reason not to if the price is right. I get all their free games and have played plenty of them with no issues.

I am glad Epic is doing better. More competition means that Steam (and GOG) won't be able to sit around.

Now, I'm not saying everyone should start buying on Epic - you do you - but clearly enough people are buying that Epic isn't failing, and that IMHO is a good thing.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

I'm curious to see what the future holds for the Epic Games Store. It's well known that Tim Sweeney is very anti-Linux and with more and more people leaving Windows behind, sooner or later he will have major problems with that attitude.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: GustyGhost

Quoting: scaine[Duckduckgo did a survey](https://voteyesornoai.com/) asking their userbase if they wanted AI features. They closed the poll after a week or so, 175K votes counted, and 90% said no, they don't want AI.

Yes, it's very skewed - DDG's userbase is privacy-focused. But "tiny but super vocal butt-hurt minority" is a shitty and antagonistic way to describes people's perfectly valid dislike of this planet-burning technology.

Asking in good faith: If non-local AI features were able to operate in an ecologically viable way, would you then not dislike AI? Are there other aspects about ML/AI that keep you from engaging with it?

I've already answered the bulk of this here, so no point repeating it: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2026/01/valve-tweak-steam-ai-disclosure-form-for-developers-to-clarify-its-for-content-consumed-by-players/?comment_id=288587.

To answer you more specifically, a few of those issues I outlined could definitely be addressed, yes. Will they? Probably not. I suspect the ship has sailed on most of them, such as plagiarism / non-attribution. We'll see.

Quoting: NociferAI is selling like hotcakes, so Mozilla have decided that they need to provide these cool new trendy AI features out of the box

I don't actually think that's the case. Which is why they're adding adverts to ChatGPT, for instance, and also see Satya Nadella's plea that more people need to use it. Perhaps it's selling better in the Enterprise/Corporate world, and maybe that will fuel the AI growth that Nadella is desperate for - but you should be going into any AI tool with eyes wide open here - this technology is front-loaded. It is NOT paying for itself, and so it will either become heavily subsided by adverts, or sustained by a significant monthly subscription.

And the advertising element gives me serious concerns. It's bad enough that I'm profiled by Google via email, calendar appointments or searches... imagine what insight ChatGPT would get if it had all my "private" conversations with a chatbot over years of use. Does ChatGPT have an incognito mode? Yes, it does. Do you trust it? I don't.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

I seriously hope all the AI enthusiasts just hook up to that thing and stay there. 😝

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: QuadrantThreeA sizable portion of it is probably from Unreal Engine. UE5 is currently the industry standard game engine, being used by both indie and AAA. Unfortunately, UE5 being the popular engine also means more money goes to Tim Sweeney.

It's just the third party purchases from the store - licensing fees for the engine would be extra.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

It probably means new AMD GPUs are also not going to come out until 2027.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Ripped from the headlines of tomorrow: "xAI revealed Project Grokie - their new experiment to have generative AI create exploitable interactive worlds"

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment

Quoting: kuhpunktI'd be curious how much of those $400 million even ended up in Epic's pockets.

Technically they take 12% - so 48 million would be the maximum. But they don't charge for the first million at all. And then they have that reward system as well where you get money back for your next purchase. Wasn't that like 20%?

How much money have they lost running the store this year?

A sizable portion of it is probably from Unreal Engine. UE5 is currently the industry standard game engine, being used by both indie and AAA. Unfortunately, UE5 being the popular engine also means more money goes to Tim Sweeney.

View this comment - View article - View full comments - Report this comment