Steam will not accept bitcoins as a payment method for now

For those who make use of the cryptocurrency to buy games off of Steam, you don’t have that option available for you now. Steam just announced it’ll no longer accept bitcoin as a payment method. Valve made the announcement in a blog post saying the decision is a result of the cryptocurrency’s “high fees and volatility.” In the post, it talks about how bitcoin transactions have gone up to almost US$20 per transaction in the past week, which is huge compared to what Valve says was the $0.20 value it had when they initially enabled bitcoin.

The fees are being shouldered by the gamers who make the purchases, which means costs of the games could be higher if the bitcoin value dips. And if value does go up while the user completes a purchase, for example, Steam will have to refund the difference and then the user will have to pay the transaction fee again. As Valve says in the post, “This year, we’ve seen increasing number[s] of customers get into this state,” making it a pretty impractical way to pay for games. Steam says it might reconsider this decision in the future, if the currency becomes more stable.

Source: The Verge

Tri-Coastal Games introduce ‘Dystoria,’ a retro-inspired 3D shooter

Love the retro-looking games? A new sci-fi arcade shooter is now available on Steam. Tri-Coastal Games launched Dystoria on the service. Dystoria is a 360-degree axis shifting space shooter. You will need to navigate a precise route to capture or destroy your enemies. At the same time, you will be collecting orbs. The game features moving platforms, switches for doors, deadly moving lasers, destructible blocks with hidden areas of valuable pickups, and many more. It has an ‘80s game feel to it that those growing up in that age would appreciate. If you want to try it out, the game retails for US$14.99 but is currently on sale for US$10.04 (approx. CA$13).

Steam’s beta client now supports PS4 controller

Getting the PS4 controller to work with Windows is a bit tough. Steam hopes to ease the process, at least for its beta testers. The beta client adds PS4 controller support. Once you set up the controller, it should let you map out things like the buttons as well as the trackpad to anything you want. Some might need to get the dongle for Sony to have this work. But games can also directly support the controller if the developers want. The controller event gets access to everything done by the Steam Controller. So, if you’re not a fan of the official controller, you can opt to use this. Opt into beta if you want to try this feature out.

Source: Lifehacker

Formula E’s VR race highlights changes how you experience the sport

Formula and Virtually Live have found a new immersive way for fans to experience the FIA Formula E Championship. Announced back in March, highlights of the 2015/2016 season are now available on Virtually Lives platform and can be seen on the Oculus, Steam, and Viveport virtual reality stores. The app features 20 minutes of race content from the Long Beach, Berlin, and London ePrixs. You can view things from the driver of your choice or different positions around the track, including the VIP club. It shows you real-time stats from the cars and the TV feed as well as being able to hear the audio broadcast from the race. This preview is the lead-up to Formula E and Virtually Live’s plans to having a live VR experience in the upcoming third season.