Steam Machine delay, Overwatch 2 Renaming, Ashes of Creation debacle + more!

Duration: 10:04

Timestamps:

0:00 im sorry they made me

00:14 Valve delays Steam Machine, Frame, Controller

1:59 Overwatch 2 now just 'Overwatch'

3:36 Ashes of Creation debacle

5:50 QUICK BITS INTRO

6:05 Tim Sweeney supports Valve lawsuit

7:08 Apex Legends donezo on Switch 1

7:51 MindsEye wants another chance

8:35 Pokemon Wind & Wave leaks

9:18 Sony patents AI game character podcasts

NEWS SOURCES:

MAINS

UNDER PRESSURE

Feb 4th - Valve’s Steam Machine has been delayed, and the RAM crisis will impact pricing

https://www.theverge.com/games/874196/valve-steam-machine-frame-controller-delay-pricing-memory-crisis

Newsweek (this is an alternate source in case you don’t want to use the vergE OR if you just need a different source, just FYI): https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/video-games/steam-machine-release-date-announcement-delayed-due-to-memory-shortages-11471466

Original Source: FAQ from Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/45479024/view/625565405086220583?l=english

Valve had suggested to Q1 2026 to digital foundry in November: https://archive.md/TUG3M#selection-615.0-617.211

Moving from Q1 to Q2

How much will it cost though?

Still no word on that but back in november they told toms hardware the market was being pretty weird: https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/console-gaming/valve-brings-back-steam-machine-and-steam-controller-hands-on-with-valves-new-amd-based-living-room-gaming-hardware

Specific Link to the weird line: https://archive.md/RD4Kf#selection-6521.0-6521.63

AMD’s leaky Earnings call on Tuesday also said that it will still release in early 2026: https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/02/03/amd-amd-q4-2025-earnings-call-transcript/

IGN Article: https://www.ign.com/articles/amd-says-valve-is-on-track-to-ship-steam-machine-early-this-year-but-we-still-dont-know-the-price

Link for the 70% Stat quote: https://www.ign.com/articles/amd-says-valve-is-on-track-to-ship-steam-machine-early-this-year-but-we-still-dont-know-the-price#:~:text=The%20conversation%20began%20with%20software%20engineer%20Pierre%2DLoup%20Griffais%20confirming%20that%20Steam%20Machine%20is%20more%20powerful%20than%2070%25%20of%20gaming%20PCs%20that%20Valve%20registers%20on%20its%20hardware%20survey

Link to Quote in the OS for the earnings call: https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/02/03/amd-amd-q4-2025-earnings-call-transcript/#:~:text=We%20also%20introduced,early%20this%20year.

OVERWATCH: FIRST BLOOD

Feb 4th - Overwatch 2 is just Overwatch now. Blizzard drops the 2 for the 10th anniversary.

https://www.polygon.com/overwatch-2-name-change-blizzard/

Engadget: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/overwatch-will-drop-the-2-as-jetpack-cat-and-four-other-heroes-arrive-on-february-10-184500327.html?src=rss

IGN: https://www.ign.com/articles/overwatch-2-is-ditching-the-2-amid-launch-of-new-story-driven-era-with-10-new-heroes

Game informer: https://gameinformer.com/preview/2026/02/04/overwatch-2-is-just-overwatch-again-and-five-new-heroes-arrive-next-week

Reddit Rumors: https://www.reddit.com/r/Competitiveoverwatch/comments/1qro4n1/overwatch_2_invasion_bundle_renamed_to_overwatch/

Blog post: https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24246206/overwatch-spotlight-the-reign-of-talon-begins

Historical Context - 2023 PvE Mode cancellation

https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/19/23730369/overwatch-2-pve-hero-mode-cancellation

ASHES TO ASHES

Feb 1st - MMORPG Ashes of Creation Suddenly Implodes 52 Days After Steam Early Access Launch

https://wccftech.com/mmorpg-ashes-of-creation-suddenly-implodes/

MMO AND Kira TV put the pieces together: https://www.mmorpg.com/news/ashes-of-creation-turmoil-continues-as-sharif-responds-over-the-weekend-urging-patience-2000137182

Timeline of how it fell apart: https://www.mmorpg.com/news/ashes-of-creations-former-comms-director-releases-statement-giving-brief-timeline-of-intrepids-shut-down-2000137195

OS: KiraTV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0ewbHYWL7s

Sharif’s discord messages claiming it was the board: https://wccftech.com/mmorpg-ashes-of-creation-suddenly-implodes/#:~:text=I%20can%20make,by%20the%20situation

The board is him and his husband tho: https://www.reddit.com/r/AshesofCreation/comments/1qsm3r2/the_board_composed_of_me_and_my_husband/

People are not receiving final paychecks: https://www.pcgamesn.com/ashes-of-creation/layoffs-final-paychecks-margaret-krohn

Margaret Krohn post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/margaretkrohn_i-waited-until-today-to-share-this-because-activity-7424559850921279489-9q_T

Steam has quietly withdrawn it from sale: https://www.ign.com/articles/steam-quietly-withdraws-under-fire-mmo-ashes-of-creation-from-sale-as-fans-wonder-whos-left-to-maintain-the-servers

Players are trying to get refunds. https://www.ign.com/articles/ashes-of-creation-crisis-continues-as-devs-are-reportedly-denied-final-paycheck-and-disgruntled-players-ask-valve-for-steam-refunds

Margret Krohn’s twitter post: https://x.com/MargaretKrohn/status/2018794224276377819

Warn Act: https://www.reddit.com/r/AshesofCreation/comments/1qvqe3n/warn_info_updated/

Evidently there will be a development update for the game accompanying a twitch livestream on Feb 13: https://gameinformer.com/2026/02/02/report-ashes-of-creation-developer-intrepid-studios-shuts-down-weeks-after-the-mmos#:~:text=Intrepid%20Studios%20hasn%27t,will%20actually%20happen

Original Ashes of Creation Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1791529601/ashes-of-creation-new-mmorpg-by-intrepid-studios

The thing about them refunding if it doesn’t launch: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1791529601/ashes-of-creation-new-mmorpg-by-intrepid-studios#:~:text=*%20And%20finally%2C%20in%20the%20case%20that%20Ashes%20of%20Creation%20does%20NOT%20launch%2C%20we%20promise%20to%20refund%20all%20backers%20in%20full.

This is the line where the amount they made gets estimated: https://wccftech.com/mmorpg-ashes-of-creation-suddenly-implodes/#:~:text=This%20means%20the%20game%20earned%20between%20%2411%20and%20%2416%20million%20on%20Steam%2C%20although%20with%20Valve%27s%2030%25%20cut%2C%20the%20money%20that%20actually%20went%20to%20Intrepid%20ranges%20between%20%247.7%20and%20%2411.2%20million.

QUICK BITS

SWEENEY’S A MEANEY

Jan 30th - Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney voices support for $900 million Steam lawsuit: 'Valve is the only major store still holding onto the payments tie and 30% junk fee'

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/epic-games-boss-tim-sweeney-voices-support-for-usd900-million-steam-lawsuit-valve-is-the-only-major-store-still-holding-onto-the-payments-tie-and-30-percent-junk-fee/

Windows Central: https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/epic-ceo-tim-sweeney-takes-aim-at-one-of-valves-steam-policies-as-that-massive-uk-lawsuit-looms

Games Radar: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/epic-games-ceo-tim-sweeney-supports-the-usd900-million-lawsuit-against-valve-arguing-steam-is-the-only-major-store-still-holding-onto-payment-ties-and-30-percent-junk-fee/

Twitter posts (Editor, please note that the top replies from Tim are all relevant for the story): https://x.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/2017028895875195171

SWITCHING THE DROPSHIP

Feb 1st - Apex Legends won't be playable on Nintendo Switch after its next season

NOTE: Just the original Switch. Still playable on Switch 2

https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/apex-legends-wont-be-playable-on-nintendo-switch-after-its-next-season-214153353.html

Game Spot:

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/apex-legends-for-switch-shutting-down-this-year-but-switch-2-edition-lives-on/1100-6537809/

Blog Post: https://www.ea.com/en/games/apex-legends/apex-legends/news/update-on-nintendo-switch-support

Fragment image from Apex Legends (Editor can we get a Nintendo switch crashing into this image like a meteor): https://apexlegends.wiki.gg/images/thumb/S17_monument_1.jpg/1920px-S17_monument_1.jpg?74c7f6

THEY FORGOT ABOUT THE ROCKET

Feb 5th - MindsEye Reboot Attempt:

https://www.polygon.com/mindseye-update-7-patch-notes/

Mp1st: https://mp1st.com/news/mindseyes-major-update-1-017-brand-reset

Mindseye plans to rebuild but not sure if they will get past these epstein allegations, prospects dont look great

Thankfully, since the new update, they hit a whopping 37 player 24 hour peak

https://steamdb.info/app/3265250/charts/

Feb 2nd - MindsEye CEO Threatens YouTuber With Legal Action Following Epstein Video (cease and desist demand in a Discord message) https://kotaku.com/mindseye-ceo-threatens-youtuber-after-epstein-video-2000665097

The Gamer:

https://www.thegamer.com/epstein-files-mindseye-cease-and-desist/

GOTTA LEAK ‘EM ALL

Feb 5th - Pokemon Wind and Wave Gen 10 Leak Reveals Entire Region, Gyms, and More

https://gamerant.com/pokemon-generation-10-leaks-wind-wave-region-gyms/

Vice: https://www.vice.com/en/article/pokemon-gen-10-map-allegedly-leaked-and-its-enormous/

Twitter post: https://x.com/CentroLeaks/status/2019263474929451487

Alleged Heightmap of the region loaded into blender: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HAXdbZIXcAEjZ2F?format=jpg&name=medium

Worth taking this all with a grain of salt, but Pokemon day is right around the corner so we might find out soon

THIS COULD BE A PODCAST

Sony tries to patent using LLM to create individualized podcasts for players

VGC Noticed the patent initially: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-patents-ai-generated-podcasts-voiced-by-characters-from-its-games/

Actual Patent: https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=US471594142

IGN Report: https://www.ign.com/articles/sony-patents-system-to-generate-ai-podcasts-in-the-voices-of-your-favorite-playstation-characters

“some examples, if the gaming platform wants to highlight specific games for players to experiment with, the podcast can suggest different games to different players based on a cluster to which the relevant player is assigned," the patent's paperwork explains. "These game recommendations can also be provided in the generative AI podcasts, in game-specific character voices no less. Recommendations may be prioritized and jump out a little more to the listener to get the listener to note the recommendation. Prioritization may be based on where the recommendation is placed in the podcast (e.g., the first one mentioned) and the length of the audio for the recommendation compared to the length of audio for other aspects of the podcast”

Link to that quote: https://www.ign.com/articles/sony-patents-system-to-generate-ai-podcasts-in-the-voices-of-your-favorite-playstation-characters#:~:text=%22In%20some%20examples,of%20the%20podcast.%22

So it’s used for Ads and generic notifications

Also it makes fun of you? Like the podcasters are talking about the player

Specific link to the line about it making fun of you: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-patents-ai-generated-podcasts-voiced-by-characters-from-its-games/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIn%20certain%20instances%2C%20the%20audio%20may%20include%20a%20joke%20at%20the%20video%20game%20player%E2%80%99s%20expense%2C%E2%80%9D%20it%20adds.

Which isn’t at all what podcasts are