Linux / Unix

The latest StatCounter numbers show Linux gaining 5.03% of the US desktop OS market share. This continues the trend of Linux gaining traction among desktop users and gamers, a likely side effect of cessation of Windows 10 support in October and Valve's gaming push with the Steam Deck alongside Linux distros becoming increasingly more user-friendly over the years.

Zen Browser is a recent fork of Firefox that focusses on privacy, aesthetics, and workflow optimisation. With its latest Twilight beta update, Zen has improved on a bunch of features that differentiate it from Firefox and added a number of bug fixes and features for both Linux and Windows users.

Gradually, more Windows titles with kernel-level anti-cheat protection are becoming compatible Steam Deck games. Umamusume: Pretty Derby may soon become verified for the handheld gaming PC. Aided by the Proton compatibility layer, the popularity of Linux gaming is on the rise.

The Anbernic development community remains alive and well. While the company continues to focus on new devices, several community members have managed to get GameCube games working on RG34XX and RG35XX series devices running the humble Allwinner H700 chipset.

A new plug-in brings real-time frame generation to the Steam Deck, boosting FPS in demanding games and aiming to stretch the handheld’s capabilities further than ever before.

The Gunk is on sale on Steam for 93% off, bringing the atmospheric sci-fi puzzle platformer down to just $1.74. The puzzle platformer has Very Positive reviews on Steam and is known for its stunning visuals, fun satisfying gameplay, and compelling storytelling.

Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft's most recent Assassin's Creed game, was discounted by 25% during the Steam Summer Sale, and Ubisoft has kept up this pricing despite the end of the Summer Sale. AC Shadows has quite a positive review rating on Steam, and it features a unique take on the Assassin's Creed gameplay, allowing players to switch between two characters with vastly different play styles.

New kernel patch brings native power controls to Legion Go S on Linux for much more convenient performance profile switching and more.

Outer Wilds, a 3D adventure puzzle game that won multiple Game of the Year awards, including the BAFTA Best Game of 2020 award, is available for a new low price of $14.99, which is a 40% discount from the regular price. Search for answers about an ever-changing solar system stuck in a time loop and solve the mysteries about its previous inhabitants.

Mycopunk is a mission-based co-op shooter that is launching on Steam Early Access today, July 10. The launch comes after the game's free Next Fest demo attracted over 120,000 players earlier this year. No pricing has been announced yet, but the developer previously teased a launch price under $20.

The XF43 is a new retro gaming handheld with an affordable price tag. Available for under $50 at launch, the Game Console XF43 combines a 4.3-inch IPS display with a 3,000 mAh battery, dual joysticks and an alleged 4 GB of DDR3 RAM.

The Keychron K2 HE is the smaller brother of the best wireless Hall-effect keyboard we've tested so far for gaming and general productivity. The Keychron Prime Day deal drops the price on the Keychron K2 HE to just $102.99 and $109.99 for the Special Edition with wood trim.

Anbernic is running a summer sale across all of its line-up, with significant discounts on its older products, and minor savings available on the newly released RG Slide.

Green Hell is on sale for just $6.24 during the Steam Summer Sale, thanks to a 75% discount. The challenging open-world survivalcraft staple drops you into the Amazon rainforest and tasks you with survival as you search for your missing wife in a 25+ hour story campaign. Encounter everything from hostile tribes, snakes, boars, and even adorable capybaras.

A security flaw in the boot-up process of major Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and Fedora, allows an attacker with temporary physical access to bypass full-disk encryption and install persistent malware, according to a new report from security research firm Ernw.

StarRupture is a promising new co-op base builder survival game, from Green Hell developer Creepy Jar, pits players against a hostile environment on an alien planet constantly battered by calamities. It is up to you and your crew to explore the planet, find resources, fend off hordes of aggressive alien fauna, and turn this hellscape into a functional industrial outpost.

The Linux-based System76 Meerkat is a powerful mini PC that can now be configured with the powerful 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU. The mini PC also sports up to 96 GB of memory, 8 TB of storage, and a plethora of connectivity options.

Palworld's Terraria collaboration, along with a sizeable Steam Sale, has resulted in a massive spike in the game's concurrent player count, bringing it back up to a six-month player high. The new update added a wealth of content, including new weapons and armour, a new dungeon, fishing, and three new islands.

The Anbernic RG35XX H remains a popular option for retro gamers. In response, Game Console has started selling the XF35H with broadly the same features as Anbernic's 3.5-inch gaming handheld but at a significantly cheaper price.

CheckMag Avoid the rattly stabilisers, scratchy switches, and clunky bloatware that come with gaming keyboards from giants like Razer, Logitech, and Corsair with these five excellent wireless mechanical keyboards that pack everything from Hall-effect gaming prowess to excellent browser-based customisation and flawless Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz performance.

Revenge of the Savage Planet, a wacky co-op 3D platformer game with split-screen co-op and very positive Steam reviews has received its first ever Steam Sale discount a mere two months after launch, and the discount has slashed a whopping 50% off the game's original price.

Star Wars Battlefront II has something for every Star Wars fan, from lightsabre battles and ground assaults to space skirmishes in X-Wing fighters and tactical multiplayer gameplay. Take command of the Sith lord Vader, fight as Luke Skywalker, or go with the ever-popular Mandalorian hero. For a limited time, Star Wars Battlefront II is 90% off, coming in at just $3.99 on Steam.

The MagicX Zero 40 is one of the more unusual gaming handhelds announced lately. Unfortunately, its launch this week has not gone ahead as planned. Instead, MagicX has now outlined the details behind the delay and when its Nintendo DS-focused gaming handheld should be available to purchase.

Keychron has officially launched the M2 8K and the M3 Mini 8K, both featuring the venerable PixArt 3950 sensor, 8 kHz wireless polling, and lightweight designs. Both new gaming mice are available online for just $69.99.

The TrimUI Brick has received another refresh. Called the TrimUI Brick Hammer, the refresh adds a CNC-machined metal housing that should improve heat dissipation while also providing a more premium feel.

Keychron has officially announced twin affordable mechanical gaming keyboards, offering 8 kHz polling, Snap Tap, and a choice between a charming retro aesthetic and an RGB-laden gamer-fest. Both keyboards also support QMK and Keychron Launcher for extensive customisation.

Aska is a highly rated Viking colony sim that leans harder on its base-building, colony simulation, and automation mechanics than the ever-popular Valheim. Instead of building being an optional activity as in Valheim, Aska demands that it players lean on the tribe for success, making it a more tactical experience.

Nioh 2, an action RPG that won the "Best Game You Sucked At" Steam award in its launch year, has hit it's lowest-ever price on Steam. Fight through hordes of yokai by harnessing their power as your own. Nioh 2 gets a lot of high praise for its challenging, yet fair, combat, deep character customisation, and jam-packed player experience.

Tuxedo has released a new and compact laptop. Since the manufacturer uses the term ultrabook, the notebook should offer decent performance. The InfinityBook Pro 14 is equipped with AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors and can be configured with lots of memory.

Don't Starve Together is discounted to just $5.09 on Steam, after a sizeable discount slashed the price. The co-op survival game pits players against the wilderness, themselves, and each other and tasks them with exploring, crafting, farming, and fighting their way through a highly stylised world filled with spooky creatures and varied environments.

The Lofree Flow 2 packs a host of upgrades, from redesigned keycaps with a "more ergonomic profile," to improved customisation with VIA, and now a more compact 65% version for those who value desk space. It features the same all-aluminium build as the original Flow, but now packs flip-out feet, too.

Two YouTubers have teamed up to provide insights into the Steam Deck prototype that sold earlier this year on eBay. Dubbed Engineering Prototype 34, the device is older than originally thought and appears to run a modified version of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U that unsurprisingly delivers less than stellar in-game performance.

The NuPhy Air75 V3 is officially available to pre-order, and the wireless, low-profile mechanical keyboard packs some interesting new features, including redesigned long-travel switches, a proper gasket mount, and immense battery life promises.

With multiple 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi 7 and software that includes Docker, Tailscale, Wireguard and Adblock, the GL-iNet Flint 3 will give even the best routers a run for their money at a significantly reduced price.

The RG35XX Pro is now available to order after several teasers. Available for less than $50 at launch, the RG35XX Pro costs much less than recent Anbernic gaming handhelds while adding two joysticks to the tried and tested RG35XX platform.

The Liberux NEXX is a unique smartphone that prioritizes privacy, longevity and versatility. This is reflected in the kill switches, the 32 GB of RAM and the option of expanding storage up to 2 TB, and its desktop-capable features.

The release of the RG35XX Pro is almost upon us. With pre-orders set to open next week, Anbernic has teed up fans with a new 10-minute that unboxes the new 3.5-inch gaming handheld ahead of time.

CheckMag Full-fledged Linux on smartphones is far from mainstream, but there are plenty of options from Volla, Fairphone, or installing it on an older device. Asking customers to throw down on an Indiegogo campaign at a price that exceeds most flagships might be a step too far, despite the noble intention.

Cubic Odyssey launched on Steam in mid-May as a new co-op 3D survivalcraft game that blends Minecraft with a space colony sim, FPS gunplay, and a Star Wars-like land speeders. There is currently a free Steam demo to try Cubic Odyssey before you buy.

The PlayStation 4 emulator for Windows and other desktop OS, ShadPS4, has been updated to the version 0.9.0. While the PS4 emulation tool is still not stable, the new update brings a major improvement in terms of game compatibility.

The V90S is Powkiddy's counter to recent clamshell retro gaming handhelds from Anbernic and Miyoo. With the V90S' pre-sale period now coming to an end, Powkiddy has decided to bring the device to AliExpress for those who prefer to avoid buying directly from manufacturers.

Anbernic has now revealed hardware specifications for the RG35XX Pro, which does not seem that 'Pro' on the face of things. Effectively, a RG35XX Plus rework, the RG35XX Pro adds a pair of joysticks while missing out on key upgrades like a new chipset or more RAM.

Anbernic has revealed early details about the RG35XX Pro, shortly after releasing the RG34XX SP and RG557 globally. Showcased in three colours, the RG35XX Pro is the spitting image of the BatleXP G350 that landed at the start of the year.

Mortal Sin is a first-person hack-n-slash roguelike with a strong emphasis on skills-based melee combat with a bit of spectacle fighter DNA added to the mix. Players carve through endless hordes of monsters in this heavily stylised first-person slasher, abandoning their humanity and embracing the dark side — a premise befitting of the game's graphic novel-inspired visuals. For the duration of the Steam deal, Mortal Sin is discounted to $11.99.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is "slow-life RPG" that drops players into a fantasy world. After that, the world is your oyster, with plenty of activities to engage in, from fishing and farming to monster hunting, questing, and even a bit of city building.

The HackberryPi_CM5 is a new project builds on the older HackberryPi that debuted last year. Replacing the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W with the more powerful Compute Module 5, the HackberryPi_CM5 creates a portable Linux computer thanks to components like a 4-inch display and BlackBerry keyboards.

Valve has finally released SteamOS 3.7 to its stable software branch. Available as SteamOS 3.7.8, the new update adds official support for the Lenovo Legion Go S while also offering integration across the Legion Go and the Asus ROG Ally.

Earlier this week, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 was released, sporting a Linux 6.12 LTS core, Wayland instead of X11, AI-driven admin tools, enhanced security features, microarchitecture optimizations, and various other changes. A RISC-V Developer Preview is also available.

The Planet Crafter is an open world survival craft game that tasks players with terraforming distant alien worlds, gathering resources, and even seeding life across the galaxy. As part of a new Steam deal, The Planet Crafter is discounted by 45%, making it just $13.19.

Valheim, a massively popular open-world survival game, has reached a record-low price, with a Humble Bundle deal cutting the price of the sandbox game by a massive 50%. The survival-craft game still attracts over 30,000 players a day, despite launching almost five years ago.