Valve's new achievement sets aim to simplify trophies on Steam, while industry insiders express concerns over development costs.
This week in PC gaming brings a significant update from Valve, new content releases, and some industry-level concerns about game development sustainability.
Valve Introduces Steam Achievement Sets
Valve is rolling out a new feature for Steam that could bring some relief to completionists everywhere. The introduction of Achievement Sets is currently in beta and allows developers to organize achievements into distinct groups. According to RockPaperShotgun and PCGamesN, this initiative enables the segmentation of achievements tied to DLC or seasonal content, differentiating them from the main game’s progress. It’s a move designed to help players track their progress more easily in games that continuously receive new content.
Content Updates: ATOM RPG and Caves of Qud
Meanwhile, two significant content updates are on the horizon. GamingOnLinux reports that ATOM RPG, a post-apocalyptic indie game inspired by the Fallout series, has just released a major update along with the Plague Island DLC. This marks a continuation in the game’s post-launch support since its release in 2018.
Additionally, the popular roguelike Caves of Qud is gearing up for its first expansion. As noted by GamingOnLinux, the Caves of Qud: Diaspora expansion enters Early Access on December 9, giving players more to explore in its sprawling, procedurally generated world.
Industry Challenges: High Costs and Development Risks
In industry news, Mark Darrah, Anthem’s former executive producer, has issued a cautionary note about the challenges facing big budget game development. As detailed by RockPaperShotgun, Darrah highlights how the ever-escalating costs and resource requirements for AAA titles have pushed developers like CD Projekt into precarious positions. His remarks underscore the growing concerns in the industry about sustainability and the risks of “hyper-fragility” due to overspecialization.
Additional Highlights
- Valve’s Top Steam Releases for September 2026 have been released, shedding light on current popular titles and their compatibility with SteamOS and Linux.
- World of Warcraft enthusiasts have a one-time opportunity to engage in a public stress test before the launch of WoW Forever, their upcoming iteration of the MMORPG.
- Substructure, an automation game drawing comparisons to Factorio, is making waves with its unique mechanics, though opinions are divided among players.
