If you're struggling with today's puzzle, don't worry, as we've got you covered with hints, clues, and the answer for today's Wordle (Thursday, April 30).

What is the difficulty level for Wordle today? (April 30)

Today, the difficulty level for Wordle #1776 is moderate, due to being relatively uncommon.

What is the meaning of today’s Wordle?

Today's word refers to an earthenware pot or jar. Colloquially, it may refer to something that is complete nonsense.

What’s the starting letter for today’s Wordle?

The word you need to guess today starts with the letter “C”.

Does today’s Wordle feature the same letter twice?

One letter is repeated twice in today's word.

How many vowels are in today’s Wordle? (A E I O U)

Today's word has one vowel.

What is today’s Wordle answer? (April 30)

As you can see above, we’ve shared a few hints and clues to help you solve today’s #1776 Wordle faster. However, if you still can't figure it out, then you can check out the answer for today's Wordle below:

CROCK

Does Wordle get harder with time?

Wordle doesn't inherently get harder, but the variation in difficulty is what Wordle is all about. Some days, you'll be able to guess it instantly, but on others, you'll be stuck for hours. In short, the challenge isn’t always the same, so every puzzle is different and unique. While the game itself doesn’t get harder each day, players who want a tougher challenge can turn on Hard Mode in the settings.

What are the last 10 Wordle answers?

The last 10 Wordle answers are RURAL, QUACK, EERIE, GLOSS, WOMEN, DRUNK, TWEET, SNORE, CLUMP, and STAND. It’s important to keep them in mind, as Wordle doesn't repeat recent words, so there’s no point in guessing these again.

While the game previously used a unique word every day, it should be noted that on February 2, 2026, the New York Times began reintroducing older words into the mix. The first being 'CIGAR' (the first-ever solution on Wordle, and the first answer when the NYT took over the game). Even still, don't expect to see any of the last 10 to be repeated so soon.

The same is the case for the DJI Lito 1 and Lito X1 drones. They're available directly from DJI UK, EU, and AU, but no official retailer is carrying these products in the US. According to DJI spokesperson Daisy Kong, a "pending FCC authorization" is why the Pocket 4 hasn't made it to the US yet, and the new drones remain banned by an FCC decision in December 2025.

DJI Osmo Pocket 4 giveaway

Entering the giveaway is simple. All you have to do is follow the official DJI Power account (@djipowerglobal), then you must like, comment, and repost. Entries are valid until May 14, and the winner will be announced the next day. The most intriguing part of this giveaway is the fact that it is "Open worldwide" to participants.

It's not immediately clear if this 'worldwide' giveaway includes the United States, due to a lack of terms and conditions available right now. We're still waiting for DJI to confirm whether the region is included. In the meantime, though, we suppose there's no harm done if you wish to enter despite being located in the US.

Anyone in the US trying to view the Pocket 4 product page on the official DJI store will still be met with a 404 error and be redirected to the store's homepage. Elsewhere in the world, Standard and Creator combos are openly available to purchase.

Now, GALAX has put out a statement to remind everyone that the brand has been a member of the Palit Group since 2007, and the recent transition is all about integrating brand management for "better efficiency and synergy". The statement reiterates that it's "business as usual" for GALAX, confirming that it won't be ceasing operation of its GPUs.

GALAX will continue to make graphics cards

It has come to our attention that recent reports have inaccurately suggested that GALAX is exiting the graphics card market. We would like to officially clarify the facts:

We thank our community and partners for their continued support. The GALAX, KFA2, HOF and our legendary GPU lineups aren’t going anywhere we are just getting started for the next generation.

An additional statement published by Palit aims to "address and clarify recent inaccurate media reports" surrounding the situation. It says the product roadmap will continue as planned, and essentially, the two statements mimic each other in their content. Palit confirms that GALAX, KFA2, and HOF brands are not centralized at the Palit Group headquarters.

These "legendary GPU lineups" aren't being phased out or canceled in any way.

Introducing Ambiscape, a brand new feature designed to fully immerse you within your setup with synchronised lighting at no additional cost (on the software side of things). With smart lights and other compatible devices installed, it uses AI-enhanced technology to automatically and dynamically adapt your ambient lighting.

Press release in full

Amsterdam, 29 April 2026 – Philips Evnia is expanding its ambient lighting ecosystem for gamers who use lighting to enhance atmosphere, pace, and immersion beyond the screen. Building on its established AI-Enhanced Ambiglow technology and Windows Dynamic Lighting support, Evnia now introduces AmbiScape; a new feature designed to extend synchronised lighting from the display into the surrounding room.

Together, Ambiglow, AmbiScape, and Dynamic Lighting integration enable a more unified setup where on-screen action can influence both the monitor's ambient lighting and compatible devices across the gaming environment. The experience is enabled via USB upstream and configured through the Philips Evnia Precision Center.

A room that reacts

As games shift from calm exploration to fast-paced action, the space around the player often remains visually unchanged. Philips Evnia’s ambient lighting features are designed to translate on-screen changes into responsive light, helping the environment reflect what is happening during gameplay and media.

By aligning lighting behaviour across compatible devices, Evnia supports a more cohesive experience where the display feels connected, rather than isolated from the rest of the setup.

AI-Enhanced Ambiglow

AI-Enhanced Ambiglow adapts the monitor’s ambient light projection to the content being shown. It tracks overall colour balance and scene transitions, updating emitted light dynamically rather than relying on fixed RGB presets. Users can fine-tune intensity and select preferred lighting behaviours through customisable profiles in the Philips Evnia Precision Center.

AmbiScape: extending lighting beyond the display

Introducing AmbiScape, a new Matter-certified interface designed to extend on-screen action into the surrounding environment by synchronising Matter-compatible smart lights with what is happening on screen. As scenes change, room lighting updates in real time, helping the space reflect the content instead of staying fixed to one preset.

AmbiScape is configurable through the Philips Evnia Precision Center, where users can adjust intensity, behaviour, and room layout to match their setup. As the latest addition to the Philips Evnia portfolio of ambient lighting solutions, AmbiScape marks the brand’s next step toward a more integrated lighting ecosystem. Compatibility and supported configurations may vary depending on software version, region, and connected lighting setup.

Windows Dynamic Lighting

Philips Evnia is the first gaming monitor brand to support the Windows Dynamic Lighting Program. Windows Dynamic Lighting enables Windows 11 users to manage and synchronise RGB lighting across compatible devices using Windows 11 Control. With this integration, lighting behaviour can be aligned across the setup, with display lighting managed alongside other supported devices through Windows settings.

To enable Dynamic Lighting, users connect the display to a PC via USB upstream and configure lighting controls through Windows 11 settings. Available behaviours depend on supported devices and configurations.

Philips Evnia Precision Center

Lighting behaviour and profiles can be managed through Philips Evnia Precision Center, supporting adjustments beyond on-screen controls. Users can create and switch profiles, tune intensity, and adjust lighting responses to maintain consistent setups across games, media, and room environments.

Availability and notes

AmbiScape functionality is freely available to anyone with an Evnia monitor and Precision Center version 1.9 installed. The updated Precision Center will be available for download on 29 April 2026, enabling gamers to build their ideal gaming environment without delay.

The new 12GB RTX 5070 Graphics Module is now available for pre-order at $1,199, which is a massive jump compared to the existing 8GB version that costs $699. That’s a 71.5% increase in price, or about $500 more, for just an extra 4GB of VRAM.

In terms of performance, both versions are nearly identical. They come with the same 4,608 CUDA cores, similar clock speeds, and the same memory bandwidth of around 384GB/s. The only real difference is the VRAM, where the new model uses higher-capacity GDDR7 modules (4x 3GB modules, rather than 4x 2GB). This means the 12GB version will mainly benefit users who run memory-heavy tasks, like modern AAA games at high settings or workloads involving rendering and AI.

For regular gaming, especially at 1080p or even 1440p, the difference between 8GB and 12GB might not be that significant. However, newer titles are starting to push past the 8GB limit, especially when ray tracing is enabled, which is where the extra VRAM could help.

Framework’s move comes at a time when the ongoing memory shortage is affecting the entire tech industry. The company has already hinted that prices for the 8GB version may also increase once current inventory runs out. This means things could get even more expensive in the near future.

In any case, the new GPU module will start shipping in June and will work with existing Framework Laptop 16 systems. If you already own the laptop, you can simply swap out its current module for the new one.

What does the bundle offer?

For starters, this bundle is divided into two tiers, each offering a different number of games. The first one costs $10 and includes four games, which is great for those who are on a tight budget and just want a few titles to try. The second tier, on the other hand, costs $18, and it gives you access to the complete 8-game collection. Considering the original value of games combined is around $195, this is a pretty solid offer.

That said, here’s a complete list of games included in the Sovereign Sandbox bundle, along with their Steam Deck compatibility status. Humble will provide a Steam key for each game, so you won’t have to worry about dealing with any third-party launchers.

Most of the games included in the bundle are marked Playable, which means you may need to tweak the settings to optimize performance. On the other hand, two games are listed as Verified, so they should run smoothly on the Steam Deck right out of the box.

That said, if you’re interested in getting more video game deals, we recommend checking out Humble’s Speak to the Manager bundle, which can help you get $236 worth of Steam Deck-friendly games for only $12. And if you don’t mind buying game bundles outside of Humble, then Fanatical is also running its Adrenaline bundle. This one comes packed with 10 games worth $182, and you can score them for only $8.55.

Shortly after the update went live, players started reporting issues online. Many users on Reddit said that the game simply refuses to launch on their devices. Instead of loading properly, it either crashes immediately or fails to start at all. Players also mentioned that they tried multiple fixes on their end, including verifying game files, switching to desktop mode on the Steam Deck, and tweaking settings, but nothing seemed to solve the issue.

Arrowhead is working on a fix, and there's a workaround

A few hours later, Arrowhead Game Studios responded to the situation. The developers confirmed on the Helldivers Official Discord server that they are aware of the crashes affecting Linux and Steam Deck users. They also said that the team is currently investigating the cause and will share more information once they have a proper update.

In the meantime, the developers have shared a temporary workaround. Players are advised to switch to the Proton Experimental (Bleeding Edge) version through Steam. This involves going into the Proton Experimental settings, selecting the bleeding edge beta, and then forcing Helldivers 2 to use that version. For users with Nvidia GPUs, an additional launch command may also help reduce crashes.

Some players have confirmed that this workaround is helping them get back into the game. However, it’s not a perfect solution. There are still users reporting that the game refuses to launch even after following all the steps. For now, this is just a temporary fix, and we’re hoping that a proper patch will arrive soon to properly address the issue.

When does Saros launch today on PS5?

According to the developers, the Standard Edition of Saros will be released at 9 PM PDT on April 29. Due to time zone differences, most regions around the world will actually get access to the game on April 30. To help you out, we've covered a bunch of different zones in the conversions below.

April 29

April 30

We’ve also added a countdown clock above, which will help you track the exact time remaining until the game launches. It will disappear once expired, so if you don't see a timer, it means Saros is out, and you can dive in now.

The Digital Deluxe version has already been released

It’s also worth noting that players who purchased the Digital Deluxe Edition already have early access. Thanks to a 48-hour early access perk, they were able to jump into the game ahead of everyone else. For those with the standard edition, the release will happen at the regional release times above.

Creative Director Gregory Louden has already celebrated the Deluxe Edition launch, saying he "can't wait" for all players to get access on April 30 (or the 29th if you're Pacific Time).

What does the game offer?

Saros is a story-driven action game set on a mysterious off-world colony called Carcosa. You play as Arjun Devraj, a powerful enforcer searching for answers in a world that is slowly falling apart under a strange eclipse. The game focuses heavily on fast-paced combat, where you use advanced weapons, dodge attacks, and learn enemy patterns to survive.

One of its standout features is a system that lets you come back stronger after death. You get a second chance early on, and over time, you can upgrade your loadout with better weapons and abilities. The world itself also changes after each run, opening new paths and challenges, which keeps gameplay fresh. Between runs, you also return to a central hub where you can upgrade your character and interact with other characters.

After multiple delays, the GTA 6 release date finally seems pretty set in stone - November 19, 2026. It will be immediately available on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. There has been a rumor that suggests the PC launch could happen way sooner than expected, in early 2027, though nothing has been confirmed.

It looks like there will be an extensive GTA 6 marketing campaign

According to Game File, attending a new game industry conference from the organizers of E3, iicon, Strauss Zelnick "would not give" interviewer Jenny Maas of Variety a specific date as to when marketing will begin. Instead, Zelnick only offered a much more vague answer, "soon". That obviously doesn't narrow it down, but if we're remaining positive, it could suggest that the release date will not face any further delays. It would be surprising to see marketing kick off if it wasn't set in stone.

Games don't usually get this kind of fanfare and marketing months in advance of launch, but we're talking about GTA 6 here, perhaps the biggest game releases ever. Marketing for GTA 5 also started popping up months in advance of launch day. We may also get to see a third trailer released by Rockstar, especially since the previous one still advertises the wrong date.

You can now remotely manage downloads on your other Steam devices and switch to Desktop Mode directly from the login screen. Valve has also improved how wireless gamepads are handled, adding a low battery warning and a battery indicator right in the header, so you always know when it’s time to charge. You can find the full patch notes below.

What does the update offer?

General

Chat

Downloads

Game Recording

Remote Play

Cloud

Steam Input

The update also brings some small but helpful improvements to overall performance. The system now runs more smoothly when there are a lot of unread notifications, and WiFi connectivity has been improved, especially for networks that use captive portals like hotels or public WiFi. There are also several bug fixes, including issues with voice chat tabs, spell check in browser views, and layout problems in the Recently Played section.

Chat has received a noticeable upgrade as well. Steam Chat is now easier to access through the Quick Access Menu while gaming. On top of that, Valve has added a new quick chat feature. You can hold a button, move the thumbstick, and send preset messages instantly. These messages can also be customized in the settings, making the overall process smooth.

Another major addition is Remote Downloads Management. This feature lets you manage downloads on other Steam devices remotely. For example, you can start or control downloads on your PC directly from your Steam Deck. It’s a small change, but very useful for people who use multiple devices.

There are also improvements to game recording, remote play, and cloud saves. For instance, Valve has fixed issues with recording clips in non-Steam games and added feedback when remote capture fails. A cloud-related bug that could cause data loss in certain situations has also been fixed. Finally, controller settings have been cleaned up to make them easier to use. The layout is now simpler, and several bugs related to calibration and menus have been fixed.

The goal is to find a selection of hidden words related to a broader theme within a 48-letter grid (6x8). Unlike a traditional wordsearch puzzle, you can string together adjacent letters in any direction, and the goal is to complete the entire board. In addition to the theme words, there's also the "spangram": a word that describes today's theme and touches two opposite sides of the grid (it can also be multiple words). You'll know it's the spangram as it will highlight it in yellow once found.

What is today's NYT Strands theme? (April 29, puzzle #787)

The theme for today's Strands is "Fish or cut bait". NYT rates the difficulty of today's puzzle (#787) as "moderate".

Non-theme hint words for today

Strands has another interesting mechanic. If you make a word that isn’t part of the theme words, you work towards earning a hint. Three non-theme words will earn you a hint that reveals the letters of a theme word. Here are today’s hint words:

How many letters are in today's spangram? And is it one word?

There are 6 letters in the spangram today, and it is one word.

Which sides of the board does today's spangram touch?

The spangram today touches the first column, fourth row, and the last column, fourth row. It starts with T and ends with E.

What are all the answers in today's Strands?

If you've taken advantage of all the hints and still haven't solved the puzzle, you can find the full answers to today's Strands below. There are eight regular theme words, followed by the spangram in bold to make a total of nine.

Is Strands more difficult than Wordle?

Strands and Wordle are similar in the sense that they're both word games, but there's much more to solve in Strands, so we'd say it leans towards being the more difficult of the two. If word searches are more your thing, then you might find Strands to be more enjoyable than Wordle, though that doesn't guarantee it's easier. You need to find words that cover the entire board, which means solving around seven or eight words in the correct pattern, including the spangram. Wordle is just one word every day.

The built-in hints system is one nice thing about Strands - and it's something Wordle doesn't offer. If you can't immediately find any words related to the theme and don't know where to start, you can string together any word and have a decent chance of building towards a hint. Plus, unlike Wordle, there's an unlimited amount of guesses in Strands - so you can't fail in that regard.

Of course, this may vary from player to player, but we'd say that Connections is much more of a brain teaser than Wordle, so the need for clues and hints will come in handy, especially if you're running out of guesses. Below is everything you need to know about puzzle #1053 on April 29.

How difficult is today's Connections? Plus, hints for each group

Like always, there are four groups (or categories) that you need to sort the grid of sixteen words into. It can sometimes be difficult to know where to start with Connections, so to start you off, we can give you a few hints and starter words for each group, along with the four different categories in the #1053 puzzle. NYT rates today's puzzle a 1.7 out of 5 for difficulty.

Group name clues

One word from each group

Today's Connections answers (April 29, puzzle #1053)

If you've run through all the clues for different groups but are still stumped and cannot complete the entire puzzle, the full results are below. As always, there are four groups, each with four words.

Does Connections get harder every day?

No, difficulty doesn't inherently scale each day. Still, some Connections will be harder than others - or be particularly hard if you're missing a frame of reference or lack knowledge in a certain topic. If one or more of the groups is all about linking together, for example, names of baseball players, or a topic you're not knowledgeable about, then you can quickly struggle with where to start. The different colors represent difficulty across groups, from yellow (the easiest) to purple (the most difficult).

We'd say that the game progressively gets easier as you complete a category or two, since you're thinning out the words and can remove any potentially incorrect links (many words in the puzzle may seem to belong to a common theme, but end up acting as red herrings). You can only make four mistakes before it's game over, so if you're on your last guess, it may be worth consulting our hints and clues before you commit to an answer.

ZZZ does actually run on the Steam Deck with some graphics settings tweaks, though it does take some extra effort to install (tutorial here). It's currently available through Epic Games or directly through the HoYoPlay launcher if you want to play it right now, or if you're waiting for its Steam version, you can already wishlist it to make sure you don't miss launch day.

The developers will be assessing feedback from Steam Deck players

According to RPG Site, which reached out to the team at HoYoverse, Zenless Zone Zero won't be getting any more specific Steam Deck optimization to celebrate its Steam launch. However, RPG Site claims the devs say players 'are welcome' to run the game on the popular handheld device, and the developers will be reviewing feedback for future updates.

While this doesn't confirm better optimization in the future, it may suggest that the developers are paying more attention to the Steam Deck now that the game is coming to a platform frequented by Deck owners. ZZZ also doesn't have native Linux support, so will continue to run through a compatibility layer, such as Valve's Proton. Not that we'd consider that a problem given just how successful the Proton project has been (and continues to be).

We still don't know if Zenless Zone Zero will be Steam Deck Verified, but it seems unlikely right now. It should be mentioned that the game utilizes the in-house HoYoKProtect anti-cheat, which runs at kernel level. Despite that, the game has continued to run on SteamOS and other Linux-based operating systems/distributions throughout its life so far, and the unofficial 'Sleepy Launcher' remains a popular option for those facing problems.

As soon as the expansion went live, players were hit with long queue times. This is something Diablo 4 players have seen before, but many were perhaps (wrongly) expecting things to be better this time around. Instead of jumping straight into the new content, players were stuck waiting, sometimes for over an hour, just to get into the game.

Blizzard was quick to respond to the long queue times

Blizzard Entertainment quickly responded and confirmed that they were aware of the problem. The team said they were investigating the issue and working on a fix as fast as possible. While the situation has now been resolved, the rocky launch still left a bad impression on many players. On the other hand, others joked about the similarities with other Diablo launches.

A lot of players took to forums and social media to react. Some were clearly frustrated, pointing out that big launches from Blizzard often face similar problems. Others shared how they were already in-game when they suddenly got disconnected and then had to wait in long queues to get back in. Some players tried to make light of the situation. Some joked about the different error screens they encountered, treating it almost like a collection of “login bosses.”

On Steam, the expansion currently holds a mixed rating, with around 68% positive reviews. Some of the negative reviews mention the launch issues, mainly focusing on not being able to access the game when the expansion went live. But now that things are back to normal, players can finally enjoy what Lord of Hatred has to offer, and ratings will likely improve.

The new expansion brings you to your final stand against the Prime Evil Mephisto, and there are two new classes to master: Paladin and Warlock... which sounds much more Warcraft than Diablo to us, but happy dungeon crawling either way.

In a recent interview with Game File, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed that memory costs are a major concern. She explained that these costs will affect how much the console will sell for and how many units will be available at launch. Simply put, this means Project Helix could end up being more expensive than expected, and stock may be limited during its launch period.

Project Helix isn't safe from the memory crisis

Right now, Xbox is not ready to share a release date. Sharma mentioned that the situation is still changing, and the company wants to take everything into account before committing to a timeline. This includes supply chain issues, production costs, and overall market conditions.

"All of these things are an equation. Memory costs will impact pricing, will impact availability. As we think about being where the world plays, we will take that into consideration. So we’re not ready to share a launch timeline right now. The world’s pretty dynamic. My number one focus, though, is to focus on what's in our control, build a great console to play great games, including your PC games."

The memory shortage isn’t just an Xbox problem. It has been affecting the entire tech industry. GPUs, RAM kits, handheld devices, and even other upcoming consoles have all been impacted. Companies like Valve and Sony are also dealing with similar challenges, which shows how widespread the issue has become.

For Project Helix, this could mean a shift in how Xbox positions the console. Early expectations already suggest that it could be priced much higher than previous generations, possibly closer to high-end gaming PCs. Some estimates even place it in the $900 to $1,500 range, though nothing is confirmed yet.

Despite these challenges, Xbox says its main focus is still on building a strong console experience. Sharma emphasized that the goal is to deliver a system that can handle modern games, including PC titles, while offering a high-quality experience for players. That said, development kits for Project Helix are expected to reach developers in 2027.

If you're struggling with today's puzzle, don't worry, as we've got you covered with hints, clues, and the answer for today's Wordle (Wednesday, April 29).

What is the difficulty level for Wordle today? (April 29)

Today, the difficulty level for Wordle #1775 is moderate, due to a repeated letter.

What is the meaning of today’s Wordle?

Today's word is used to refer to the countryside, country life, or country people.

What’s the starting letter for today’s Wordle?

The word you need to guess today starts with the letter “R”.

Does today’s Wordle feature the same letter twice?

One letter is repeated twice in today's word.

Are there any vowels in today’s Wordle? (A E I O U)

Today's word has two vowels.

What is today’s Wordle answer? (April 29)

As you can see above, we’ve shared a few hints and clues to help you solve today’s #1775 Wordle faster. However, if you still can't figure it out, then you can check out the answer for today's Wordle below:

RURAL

Does Wordle get harder with time?

Wordle doesn't inherently get harder, but the variation in difficulty is what Wordle is all about. Some days, you'll be able to guess it instantly, but on others, you'll be stuck for hours. In short, the challenge isn’t always the same, so every puzzle is different and unique. While the game itself doesn’t get harder each day, players who want a tougher challenge can turn on Hard Mode in the settings.

What are the last 10 Wordle answers?

The last 10 Wordle answers are QUACK, EERIE, GLOSS, WOMEN, DRUNK, TWEET, SNORE, CLUMP, WEAVE, STAND, and TOADY. It’s important to keep them in mind, as Wordle doesn't repeat recent words, so there’s no point in guessing these again.

While the game previously used a unique word every day, it should be noted that on February 2, 2026, the New York Times began reintroducing older words into the mix. The first being 'CIGAR' (the first-ever solution on Wordle, and the first answer when the NYT took over the game). Even still, don't expect to see any of the last 10 to be repeated so soon.

Nvidia has officially announced RTX 5070 laptops with 12GB of VRAM. The company says it had made this decision "in order to maximize memory availability," and confirms a switch to a 4x3GB design to alleviate the demand for regular 2GB GDDR7 modules. Nvidia lists it as 24Gb (Gigabit), which translates to 3GB (Gigabyte), remaining at the GDDR7 standard.

RTX 5070 laptops with 12GB VRAM

These new 12GB RTX 5070 laptops will use the same Blackwell GPU configuration as their 8GB counterparts, featuring 4,609 CUDA cores (down from the 6,144 found in the desktop variant). Currently, the 8GB RTX 5070 laptop GPU offers 384 GB/s bandwidth and a 128-bit memory bus. While not confirmed by Nvidia, the bus width is reportedly the same, meaning the 12GB model offers 50% more memory capacity despite not shifting to a wider 192-bit bus, as you'd find on the 12GB desktop card.

Demand for GeForce RTX GPUs remains strong, and memory supply is constrained. In order to maximize memory availability, we are releasing the GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU 12GB configuration with 24Gb G7 memory. This gives our partners access to an additional pool of memory to complement the 16Gb G7 supply that currently ships with most GeForce GPUs. The 12GB configuration will exist alongside the current 8GB configuration, and allows our partners to bring a broader range of GeForce RTX 5070 laptops to consumers.

RTX 5070 laptops are positioned to be a solid mid-range option for the latest generation of Nvidia graphics on the go. We remember Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang proudly proclaiming that RTX 5070 laptops would offer 4090 performance for half the power, and now, with additional VRAM, they should be able to better utilize the likes of upscaling and frame generation. With the 8GB options remaining in production, this may mean a couple of different price points to consider moving forward, too.

Valve made it clear in its original reveal last November that the 2nd-gen controller is compatible with "anything running Steam," and reviews give us a closer look at how it operates inside and outside of the Steam ecosystem. If you like to dabble with other launchers or platforms, one of the biggest bombshells is the controller's lack of compatibility in these environments.

Steam Controller gamepad requires Steam Input

The controller and its connecting 'puck' do still function without Steam opened or installed, but this is only for trackpad and keyboard operation. For the whole gamepad to be functional, including the two analog sticks, you need to be connected through Steam Input, which is Valve's translation layer - in other words, Steam must be running.

Additionally, according to Gamers Nexus's review, the controller can open the Steam on-screen keyboard, but it only works if the Steam client is open. It also fails to appear over the top of the Windows lockscreen, meaning you won't be able to use it to log in from the comfort of your couch without resorting to Microsoft's on-screen keyboard instead.

If you wish to play non-Steam games while using the Steam Controller, you'll need to launch them through Steam. While adding non-Steam games to your library is not too much of a hindrance, it is still a downside if you were looking for a plug-and-play experience across all your game launchers on Windows.

One notable spot is Xbox's popular Game Pass service, which many players use as their main platform for PC gaming, alongside Steam. It should also be noted that, for the same reason, the Steam Controller is not natively compatible with console devices such as Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch (though someone did get Steam running on a Switch recently).

In its review, PC Mag claims that the Xbox app did provide permission to add its game binaries to Steam, meaning you'd have to own a copy of the game on Steam to play on Valve's controller. Tools like UWPHook exist to add these games to your Steam library, but this doesn't enable Steam Input support alongside.

The good news is that this is a problem that may be solved by the community at some point, especially since the original Steam Controller had the same issue. A program named GlosSI was developed to enable Steam Input at a system level, but it hasn't been updated since 2024 - maybe the community will enable support for the new Steam Controller, too.

Many fans expected all three products to launch together. After all, they are designed to work closely with each other. But that’s not what’s happening, as the Steam Controller is arriving first - and the other two are being left behind, for now. This is something we had come to expect (and even wished for), given the current market situation.

Why are the Steam Machine and Steam Frame still delayed?

Valve previously explained that the ongoing memory crisis has made things difficult. The shortage and rising cost of components like RAM have forced them to change their production plans. And now, in an interview with Polygon, Valve hardware engineer Steve Cardinali has shared more details on why the controller is launching first.

According to Cardinali, the main reason is simple: it "doesn’t have RAM in it". That isn't surprising, but there's another detail in the interview that caught our eye. Interestingly, Cardinali says this staggered release was not completely unplanned. While the three products are connected, they were never strictly tied to a single release date.

"This doesn't have RAM in it, and it's not as complicated to start getting out the door for us. We're ready for it. We wanted to build up quantity so that we could try to address everybody who wants one at launch, but it's possible that the demand for it far exceeds our expectations."

In terms of release order, Cardinali explained that the only real requirement was to release the controller before the Steam Machine. This makes sense, as the controller is a key part of the overall experience. But beyond that, Valve didn’t see any reason to delay the controller just to wait for the other hardware.

"From the beginning, these were all different products. We had always thought, obviously we want them to work together well - especially the Steam Machine and the Steam Controller, they're in a lot of ways a pair made in heaven - but we saw no need to ship the Controller at the same time as the Machine.

The really only hard deadline is we didn't want to ship the Steam Machine before the Steam Controller. We want to have that out for the Steam Machine… It wasn't really ever the plan to ship them together unless it landed nicely that way. So there's no point in holding it back while we work through the other stuff."

For now, the ongoing memory crisis continues to affect the entire tech industry, from GPUs and handhelds to consoles and PCs. At the moment, Valve hasn’t confirmed exactly when they’ll reveal the release date and price for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, but it likely won’t happen until things become stable.

Just like most of the other bundles available on Fanatical, this one boasts a build-your-own theme. This means it is fully customizable, thanks to which you can hand-pick the selection of games you want inside the bundle instead of paying for everything. The new Adrenaline bundle is great for regular PC players, and it's also full of Steam Deck-compatible games.

What does the bundle offer?

The total price of the bundle will also depend on the number of games selected. For instance, three to four games will cost $1 each, while selecting five or more will bring it down to $0.95 per game. If you opt for all 10 Steam Deck-compatible games included in the bundle, you’ll have to pay only $8.55, which is 95% less than the original value of $181.91.

In any case, here’s a complete list of games included in Fanatical’s Adrenaline bundle, along with their Steam Deck compatibility status. There were a few more games in the bundle, but we didn’t include them on our list as their compatibility was unknown.

As you can see in the table above, most of the games are verified on the Steam Deck, so they should run smoothly right out of the box. The ones marked as Playable should also run fine, but an optimal experience may involve making a few settings tweaks along the way. Either way, you should be in a nice handheld experience.

In any case, if you don't mind buying game bundles outside of Fanatical, we recommend checking out Humble's Speak to the Manager bundle. This one comes packed with $236 worth of 8 Steam Deck-friendly games, and you can score them for only $12.