In a nutshell: December's Steam survey results have arrived. The last month of the year is always an interesting one as it indicates popular Christmas gifts while also setting the stage for what's ahead. The most obvious takeaway from December? 2024 really was AMD's year – at least when it came to CPUs.
The big picture: Valve is one of the most important and influential companies in the PC gaming market. It's also one of the most unique due to its private nature and unusually small workforce relative to its impact and competitors. A recent analysis of data uncovered through an ongoing lawsuit against the company highlights how Valve starkly contrasts with the world's biggest tech giants.
Something to look forward to: Steam users have long wondered about when Valve might make the Steam Deck's custom Linux distro available for other devices. While the company hasn't disclosed its software roadmap, new internal guidelines provide the latest evidence that these plans are progressing. Interestingly, this development coincides with a new patent for a Linux-based handheld gaming device from Samsung.
Valve releases new two-hour documentary, Raising the Bar reprint coming in 2025
What just happened? Valve is celebrating Half-Life 2's 20th anniversary with a massive update, a temporary free giveaway of the full game, and a bundle including the two episodic expansions and new developer commentary. Additionally, a two-hour YouTube documentary sheds light on the canceled third expansion, revealing new details for fans.