I’m a sucker when it comes to racing games. Not so much the simulation type, but more so the arcade-y racers with weapons. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, PocketCars, and GRIP are just a few examples. It’s thrilling action that’s almost akin to fighting games. The Wipeout series is another example. It was certainly an excellent IP at its’ core. Anit-gravity racing machines loaded with turrets, mines, EMPs, the whole nine yards, set in a futuristic era.

As if it wasn’t enough for a Steam Deck/SteamOS update today, Valve also pushed an update to the Steam desktop client. Again, the list of patch notes is far too much to cover here, but here are some of the highlights: a Games to Play Together section has been added with your friends who have the same games in common the “updated purchase approval dialog” has been added specifically to Linux and Mac OS reduced network usage on startup CEF has been updated to 85.

A new Steam Deck client update has been pushed to the stable branch, with the simultaneous release of a new SteamOS beta update. To start, let’s go over the changes for the client. The page that make up the patch notes is quite big. Slider controls are more precise when it comes to large ranges. Fixes have been added for scrolling on the home recommended screen and the What’s New section not properly being populated.

Yesterday’s Deck client beta update mostly focuses on improving the on-screen keyboard, fixing a couple of issues it had, as well as fixes for Steam Input and Remote Play. Patch notes are as follows: General Improved the responsiveness of On-Screen Keyboard Fixed missing keystrokes when touch typing on the On-Screen Keyboard in desktop mode Fixed the in-game On-Screen Keyboard text entry dialog sometimes having buttons cut off Steam Input Fixed issue where command settings would not save Fixed an issue where Mouse Edge Spin would be more sensitive on the left-side of the trackpad than the right Remote Play

ChimeraOS 35 marks a pretty big release for the SteamOS-like distro. The biggest feature is probably the addition of a desktop environment. Previously, you were stuck in Big Picture Mode, the Steam Deck UI, or the CLI. Now, similar to SteamOS, you can use your living room console or Deck for work or other production purposes, thanks to the addition of a desktop. Unlike SteamOS 3, however, ChimeraOS makes use of GNOME.

Today’s Proton Experimental update mostly focuses on adding a few bug fixes for specific titles, but also enables NVAPI for several others. For bug fixes, this is what’s changed: BeamNG.drive should no longer have black textures videos should no longer be upside down in VRChat and “many other games” CoD: Black Ops II Zombies/Multiplayer should no longer hang on exit Bail or Jail demo shouldn’t crash when opening the ToS In addition, NVAPI has been enabled for the following games:

About a week-and-a-half ago, Valve opened up Steam Deck repair centers. My close acquaintence, Matthew Anderson (ChimeraOS contributor, based in the US), made good use out of them when the fan in his Deck was making loud grinding sounds. I’m documenting this in case you’re curious how long it takes to get your Deck back or what exactly happens after it’s been sent out, should you decide to send it for repair.

The Thelio product family from System76 is a series of desktops “that’s powerful, compact, quiet, beautiful, upgradable, backed by liftime support, and manufactured in the United States.” First launched in December of 2018, the Thelio has received several revisions based on customer feedback. It’s now gone through another revision in the visual department, starting today. The wood veneer on the front of the chassis has been replaced with a “slimmer, sleeker accent panel.

Rare, the Linux frontend for the Epic Games Store, has now reached a stable 1.9.0 release following a few release candidates. Codenamed “Magnolia Catnip,” this update contains over 50 pull requests and as a result packs quite a few new features, UI enhancements, and bug fixes. Here’s just a few of the changes: games are now run as a second process; this will keep them running should Rare close desktop shortcuts are now a thing kinetic scrolling for touch devices (Steam Deck, anyone?

Steam Deck Pierre-Loup Griffais has posted some pictures of prototype Decks GOL did a short overview of the DeckMate accessory new Deck client beta adds improvements pertaining to screenshot management, as well as a virtual menu overhaul Hideo Kojima has been seen using a Deck at TGS Boiling Steam has a video recap of this year’s TGS, most of which pertains to the Deck Native Games Project Heartbeat 0.16 adds new song, audio improvements, and Project DIVA Mega Mix+ loader Left 4 Dead 2 is still getting updates a decade later (presumably because of improving the experience on Deck) Valheim gets crossplay support Golf With Your Friends is free-to-play this weekend, plus a new update adds a sports-themed DLC cosmetic pack 25 new Steam games this week Hardware the Oryx Pro by System76 is a excellent gaming laptop; just know that the screen is 1080p Software Updates GE-Proton 7-33 pulls in the latest Wine fixes for GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2, and BioShock Collection Godot 4 beta adds a crapton of features, improvements, and bug fixes Yuzu adds LDN support (local wireless multiplayer) Other I reviewed Destroy All Humans!