News stories tagged with #gaming
Steam Linux Market Share Surpasses 5% in Historic Milestone
In March 2026, Linux surpassed the 5% market share threshold on Steam for the first time, reaching a record high of 5.33%, up from 3.2% in December 2025. The growth was particularly strong among English-speaking users, who now account for 11.3% of Linux users on the platform, while Windows maintains dominance at 92.33%. The surge is attributed to the rising adoption of the Steam Deck and a shift in language preferences within the Steam user base. Hardware trends also show a decline in 32-GB RAM systems and an increase in 16-GB models, alongside changes in storage and graphics memory usage.
Crimson Desert: After Intel Arc Support Backlash, Pearl Abyss Works on Fixes
The open-world action game Crimson Desert faced backlash for initially lacking support for Intel Arc graphics cards. Intel emphasized that it had offered years of hardware optimization, drivers, and technical support to developer Pearl Abyss. Following public criticism and a controversial FAQ recommending refunds, Pearl Abyss apologized and confirmed ongoing work to improve compatibility and performance. While the game now launches on Arc GPUs, issues such as missing textures and black screens remain unresolved.
NVIDIA DLSS 5: Revolution or AI Slop? New Technology Sparks Controversial Reactions
NVIDIA unveiled DLSS 5 at GTC 2026, a new technology described as 3D-guided neural rendering that enables fully AI-driven image generation. The system uses 2D color data and motion vectors to create photorealistic lighting and materials in real time, set to launch in autumn 2026 on the new GeForce RTX 5000 graphics cards. While praised for its technical innovation, DLSS 5 has sparked intense criticism for altering developers' artistic vision and creating a uniform, often unexpected visual style.
Pearl Abyss's open-world action RPG Crimson Desert launches on March 19, 2026, with an impressive 400,000 pre-orders and $20 million in revenue on Steam alone. The game will support Sony's new PSSR upscaling technology on PlayStation 5 Pro at launch, enhancing graphics and performance. PC reviews highlight stable performance at high settings, though the game's difficulty is described as extremely challenging. The PSSR tech, similar to FSR 4, is also being adopted by other major titles including Silent Hill 2 and Cyberpunk 2077.
Microsoft Confirms 'Project Helix' as Next-Gen Xbox with PC Game Support
Microsoft has confirmed the codename 'Project Helix' for its next-generation Xbox, which will support both console and PC games. The device will feature powerful AMD hardware with RDNA 5 graphics and is expected to launch in 2027, though delays are possible due to the DRAM crisis. This marks a shift toward a gaming PC-like console that could signal the end of the traditional Xbox console.
MSI is offering a free Crimson Desert Steam key with the purchase of select X870E and B850 motherboards from March 6 to April 6, 2026. The open-world action RPG, developed by Pearl Abyss, has now launched on PlayStation and Xbox Series X/S, following strong reception on PC, and impresses in PS5 Pro performance tests with 4K/60 FPS. Meanwhile, the indie horror game Order 13 has also arrived on consoles, adding to the growing roster of new gaming experiences.
Resident Evil: Requiem Sets Steam Record and Earns International Acclaim
Resident Evil: Requiem set a new Steam record with 267,509 concurrent players at launch, surpassing the previous series peak and reaching over 320,000 on its first day. The game received overwhelmingly positive international reviews for its clear separation of survival horror and action elements, along with strong technical performance, detailed environments, and stable gameplay. While praised for its atmospheric tension and balance, it also faced criticism for missing customization options and technical issues such as crashes and performance fluctuations. Released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, Requiem marks one of the most successful launches in the franchise's history.
AMD and Gigabyte Launch Crimson Desert Game Bundle with Ryzen and Radeon Hardware
AMD has launched a promotional campaign offering the game Crimson Desert with qualifying Ryzen and Radeon hardware, including RDNA 4 graphics cards and Ryzen 9000X3D processors. The promotion runs from February 10 to April 25 and includes products from partners such as MSI, Acer, ASUS, and Gigabyte. Customers who purchase eligible devices will receive a redeemable game code until May 23. In collaboration with Pearl Abyss and hardware partners, the campaign aims to enhance gaming performance through advanced technology.