Technology

Steam is now showing a new disclosure on its store checkout screen that clarifies you don’t actually own a game.

By Umar Shakir, a news writer fond of the electric vehicle lifestyle and things that plug in via USB-C. He spent over 15 years in IT support before joining The Verge.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Valve is now explicitly disclosing that you don’t own the games you buy from its Steam online store. The company has added a note on the payment checkout screen stating that “a purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam,” as reported earlier by Engadget.

Microsoft is expanding its game streaming service to thousands more Xbox games.

By Tom Warren, a senior editor and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.

Microsoft is planning to support the streaming of Xbox game libraries next month. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the company is getting ready to test the ability to stream games that you own that aren’t part of the existing Xbox Game Pass library.

Panic’s Cabel Sasser floored me with an incredible speech about an artist I had never heard of.

By Jay Peters, a news editor who writes about technology, video games, and virtual worlds. He’s submitted several accepted emoji proposals to the Unicode Consortium.

I know there’s a lot to do on the internet, but you really should stop what you’re doing and watch this 19-minute talk about a bespoke mural that once lived inside a McDonald’s.

Sony’s latest flagship console launches November 7th, with the 30th anniversary model following on November 21st.

By Antonio G. Di Benedetto and Quentyn Kennemer

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

We’re inching ever closer to a mid-cycle refresh for the PlayStation 5, as preorders for Sony’s forthcoming console are now available to the masses. Although the $699.99 machine was originally exclusive to the PlayStation Direct storefront, it’s now up for preorder at all major retailers — including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target.

The company says it received feedback that the platform’s moderation policies on mature content had been applied inconsistently.

By Jay Peters, a news editor who writes about technology, video games, and virtual worlds. He’s submitted several accepted emoji proposals to the Unicode Consortium.

Memes on the image-hosting service Imgur “containing references to adult humor” will no longer be considered mature, the company announced in a post addressing changes to its content moderation policies.

Instagram’s head is speaking out about posts and accounts that were deleted and blocked, saying a tool human reviewers used was ‘broken.’

By Umar Shakir, a news writer fond of the electric vehicle lifestyle and things that plug in via USB-C. He spent over 15 years in IT support before joining The Verge.

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri is acknowledging recent mistakes in Meta’s moderation processes on Threads and Instagram. For example, Meta unexpectedly deleted my account this week because it thought I was underage, the company locked my colleague’s account because she joked about dying in a heatwave, and others have seen their posts disappear with no clear reason why. “Threads Moderation Failures” has been trending this week — putting more pressure on Meta’s moderation processes.

The new T598 is compatible with the PS5, PS4, and PCs and introduces a new electric motor delivering smoother wheel turns.

By Andrew Liszewski, a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2011, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.

Thrustmaster has announced a new steering wheel base that makes the company’s direct drive technology available on consoles for the first time. It also introduces a new electric motor design — already in use on high-end hybrid sports cars like the Ferrari SF90 — to the world of sim racing, improving realism while also shrinking the hardware.

MKBHD published a new video addressing the criticisms of his new wallpaper app.

By Jay Peters, a news editor who writes about technology, video games, and virtual worlds. He’s submitted several accepted emoji proposals to the Unicode Consortium.

Marques Brownlee published a video on Friday addressing the criticisms around Panels, his new wallpaper app, saying that he and the team “failed on the price front” at launch. The app received an outpour of criticism from fans, both on the MKBHD YouTube channel and across social platforms. Discussing the app, Brownlee admitted it needed work. “If I was reviewing this app, I would not have been very nice,” he said.

Elon Musk’s X previously claimed that a group of advertisers and brands were participating in an ‘illegal boycott’ of the platform.

By Mia Sato, platforms and communities reporter with five years of experience covering the companies that shape technology and the people who use their tools.

X is dropping claims against Unilever in its lawsuit that accuses advertisers and brands of participating in an “illegal boycott” of the company. The claims against Unilever, which owns household names like Dove and Hellmann’s, were dismissed today.

The CD / DVD drive is sold out or unavailable on Apple’s online store.

By Jay Peters, a news editor who writes about technology, video games, and virtual worlds. He’s submitted several accepted emoji proposals to the Unicode Consortium.

Apple’s USB SuperDrive is showing up in Apple’s online stores as “sold out or unavailable in all countries,” MacRumors reports, which could indicate that Apple has discontinued the CD / DVD player.