Video Game News Roundup – March 25, 2025
Welcome to our daily roundup of the most recent developments in the video gaming world! Here are today’s top stories:
- Noctua is set to introduce its innovative ‘thermosiphon’ liquid cooling unit in 2026. This unique, pumpless design has already provided an insightful lesson in basic thermodynamics.
- A former executive at Valve revealed that the company had difficulties selling Half-Life until they employed a powerful marketing tactic: placing a ‘Game of the Year’ sticker on the box.
- Nvidia’s Ace is reportedly consuming 1 GB of VRAM in Inzoi. If AI Non-Player Characters (NPCs) become more popular in PC gaming, Nvidia will need to enhance its memory capabilities.
Noctua’s Revolutionary ‘Thermosiphon’ Liquid Cooling Unit: A Lesson in Thermodynamics
Source: PC Gamer – March 25, 2026
Noctua, a company renowned for its distinctive brown fans and traditional air coolers, is poised to make a splash in the liquid cooling sector. This past weekend, Noctua’s founder, Roland Mossig, unveiled a prototype of the company’s innovative pumpless thermosiphon cooling unit in Japan. As Japanese tech publication Hermitage Akihabara pointed out, the unit is slated for a 2026 release.
Jacob got a firsthand look at the thermosiphon prototype during last year’s Computex and was thoroughly impressed. The unit ingeniously harnesses heat from the CPU to evaporate a refrigerant, creating a vapour chamber-like effect. The resultant vapour then travels up a tube and into a fan-cooled condenser. Here, it cools down, reverts back to its liquid state, and cycles back to the CPU to be heated once more – all without the need for a pump.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
‘Game of the Year’ Sticker Boosts Half-Life Sales: Insights from Former Valve Executive
Source: PC Gamer – March 25, 2025
At this year’s GDC, Monica Harrington, a founding member and the first Chief Marketing Officer of Valve, delivered a captivating talk about her experiences at the company known for Half-Life and Steam. Harrington recounted various interesting anecdotes, like how her nephew’s thank you note for school supplies money, which he spent on a CD-ROM copier, made her realize the significance of DRM.
In a subsequent interview with PCG’s Ted Litchfield, Harrington shed light on Valve’s challenges in the late 1990s, particularly the struggle to generate interest in a new game called Half-Life.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Nvidia’s Ace Utilizes 1 GB of VRAM in Inzoi, Signaling Possible Need for More Memory in PC Gaming
Source: PC Gamer – March 25, 2025
This year’s GDC event showcased Nvidia’s latest RTX technologies, one of which is Ace—a software suite that simulates human interactions. One of the first games to utilize it, Inzoi, a game akin to Sims, proved quite interesting. In a discussion with Nvidia, it was revealed that the AI model requires a significant amount of VRAM. This raises thought-provoking questions about the memory requirements of future GeForce cards. Incorporating Nvidia Ace in Inzoi, or inZOI as it’s officially titled, is fairly subtle.
For more details, read the full article at PC Gamer →
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Climbs the Ranks: Steam Contributes Significantly to the 2nd Largest AC Launch Ever
Source: PC Gamer – March 25, 2025
Gamers have a clear mission in Assassin’s Creed Shadows: navigate the tumultuous Warring States period and strive to unify Japan under the rule of Lord Nobunaga Oda, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven. The game’s narrative allows players to choose their own path, potentially involving overthrowing Oda. Assassin’s Creed Shadows has, according to data reviewed by VGC, become the second-largest Assassin’s Creed launch of all time, only surpassed by AC Valhalla. This impressive feat can be attributed significantly to the PC gaming community, with a substantial 27% of the game’s activations occurring on this platform. However, it’s worth noting that these activations do not directly equate to 27% of total sales.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Second ‘Clever’ Malware Found on Steam Listing This Year, Hidden in a Fake Demo Link
Source: PC Gamer – March 25, 2025
We’re issuing another reminder for gamers to proceed with caution, as another Steam game has been discovered as a conduit for malware. This marks the second instance of a game on the Steam storefront concealing malicious intent this year. Even though both games have since been removed, it’s prudent to remain vigilant when coming across unfamiliar listings. As reported by The Gamer, the game ‘Sniper: Phantom’s Resolution’, or ‘Phatnom’s’ as indicated by the game’s logo, was marketed as a standard FPS where players must navigate hostile terrains and grapple with ethical predicaments, all in a world where justice and survival are intertwined. In a twisted sense of irony, this could also describe the experience of unsuspectingly downloading and dealing with malware.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Running Steam on Armbian and Single-Board Computer: An Impractical but Possible Feat
Source: PC Gamer – March 25, 2025
Valve’s commitment towards its portable PC SteamDeck has spawned numerous unexpected benefits for the PC gaming community. For those of us who enjoy gaming from the comfort of our couches, the enhancements to the big picture mode have been particularly delightful. However, the most significant inadvertent impact could be credited to Steam’s improved compatibility with Linux through Proton. This improvement has enabled a daring gamer to experiment with installing Steam on their single-board Armbian computer. It’s worth noting that attempting this isn’t advised across the board. As VennStone, the mastermind behind this project, candidly states on Interfacing Linux: “Is this a practical way to play your Steam games? Not in the least.”
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
‘While Waiting’: A Unique Game About Enduring Life’s Mundane Tasks with a Touch of Whimsy
Source: PC Gamer – March 25, 2025
Imagine waiting for your luggage on a sluggish airport conveyor belt. Or staring at your cup noodles, as the five-minute cook time appears to stretch into eternity. Perhaps you’re stuck in heavy traffic with no alternative but patiently waiting for it to clear. Life is full of such mundane, universally shared experiences. And now, a video game encapsulates them all — ‘While Waiting’. If the name doesn’t provide a clue, this game is about waiting in various situations: waiting for the bus, for your mobile game’s stamina to refill, or for the torrential downpour to cease when you’ve left your umbrella at home.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Civilization 7 Battles to Surpass Civ 5’s Player Count: New Patch Promises Further UI Changes and Gameplay Tweaks
Source: PC Gamer – March 24, 2025
A fresh update for Civilization 7 is set to drop tomorrow, offering a sneak peek today at some of the forthcoming features. Among the highlights are a new “quick move” function, options to rename your settlements and commanders, and further UI enhancements and refinements. While Civ 7 has been performing adequately, it hasn’t entirely lived up to the expectations of Firaxis and 2K Games. Despite receiving decent critical reviews, the player response has been lukewarm, leading to a “mixed” Steam user rating. This rating, while improved since its initial February 10 release, still leaves room for improvement.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Caves of Qud’s Creators, Despite Making a Roguelike with Countless Limbs, Believe the Ideal Form is a Limbless Sphere: ‘We Started in Perfection and Only Moved Farther from God’
Source: PC Gamer – March 24, 2025
In 2024, we hailed Caves of Qud as the best roguelike of the year, recognizing its mesmerizing world simulation, engrossing procedurally generated writing, and, notably, its diverse options for creating mutant characters with an ever-increasing number of limbs. At GDC 2025, they had the opportunity to sit down with the game’s co-creators, Jason Grinblat and Brian Bucklew. They discussed the launch of their game, which had been in development for over 17 years. However, the conversation took an interesting turn: What is the ideal number of limbs one should aspire to have? Bucklew’s response was unexpected yet intriguing. “Oh, zero,” he replied. “Isn’t a perfect sphere the ideal form?”
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
New Physics-Based Snowmobile Simulator, Sledders, Receives High Praise from Powder Enthusiasts
Source: PC Gamer – March 24, 2025
Hanki Games released Sledders, a realistic and physics-driven snowmobile simulator, out of early access last week. The game is available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam, and its development will continue even after its full release and transition to consoles. Sledders offers an open-world sandbox experience, allowing players to navigate through authentic “deep-snow backcountry” terrains, create custom sled courses, and engage in online competitive and co-operative modes.
Fan opinions seem to favor Sledders highly, earning it a coveted “overwhelmingly positive” overall rating on Steam. Out of 2,960 reviews, 96% have been positive, signaling the game’s successful reception.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
An Internal Ubisoft Email Suggests Comparing Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Launch to Origins, Odyssey, and Mirage Rather Than Valhalla’s ‘Perfect Storm’
Source: IGN – March 25, 2025
Following numerous delays and the underwhelming performance of last year’s Star Wars Outlaws, the global gaming community is placing significant expectations on Assassin’s Creed Shadows to boost Ubisoft’s standing. The company has faced a challenging period characterized by high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations leading up to the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In fact, the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the founding Guillemot family is reportedly in discussions with Tencent, a Chinese mega-corporation, and other potential investors for a buyout deal. This arrangement would enable the family to retain control over the company’s intellectual property. Consequently, the gaming world is keenly observing the early performance of Assassin’s Creed Shadows as an indicator of Ubisoft’s potential recovery or continued decline.
For more details, read the full article at IGN here →
Defining Moments: The 10 Games that Shaped the Nintendo Switch
Source: Polygon – March 25, 2025
When you ponder about the Nintendo Switch, which games cross your mind? The likely candidates are those produced by Nintendo’s in-house studios, as they consistently deliver standout games that leave a lasting impression on their console. However, one aspect that sets the Switch apart, especially as it gears up to pass the baton to its successor, the Switch 2, is its reduced reliance on software compared to previous Nintendo consoles, perhaps dating back to the NES era. Nevertheless, the success of the Switch can’t be discussed without acknowledging the impact of its blockbuster games. Titles like ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ and ‘Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’ played a pivotal role in securing a broad audience for the console within its inaugural year.
For more detailed insights, read the full article on Polygon →
‘Civilization 7’ Announces Vital 1.1.1 Update Amidst Steep Competition From ‘Civ 6’ and 15-Year-Old ‘Civ 5’ on Steam
Source: IGN – March 25, 2025
The creators of ‘Civilization 7’, Firaxis, recently revealed details of the game’s pivotal 1.1.1 update. This comes at a challenging time for the newly launched strategy game, which is currently attracting fewer players on Steam compared to its predecessors, ‘Civilization 6’ and the 15-year-old ‘Civilization 5’. According to data from Valve’s platform, ‘Civilization 7’ has a 24-hour peak player count of 16,921, failing to crack the top 100 most-played games on Steam. In contrast, ‘Civilization 5’, launched in 2010, achieved a 24-hour peak of 17,423, while 2016’s ‘Civilization 6’ boasted a substantial 24-hour peak of 40,676 players.
In a Steam post, Firaxis shed light on some of the enhancements and tweaks that players can anticipate with the 1.1.1 update. These include:
- Quick Move Functionality
- New Natural Wonder: Mount Everest
- Additional UI Updates & Polish
- Settlement & Commander Renaming
- Plus much more!
For more details, read the full article at IGN →
Valve’s Original Executive Reveals the Key to the Company’s Success: Never Compromise on Credibility by Trying to Salvage Bad Games
Source: PC Gamer – March 24, 2025
It’s widely known that Valve is doing quite well in the gaming industry, impressively competing with giants like Amazon, generating more revenue per employee than Apple, and maintaining such a formidable presence that even Microsoft seems poised to return to its fold. Monica Harrington, one of the original executives and the first chief marketing officer at Valve, appears to have a firm understanding of the company’s success. In a post-presentation interview with PC Gamer’s Ted Litchfield at GDC 2025, Harrington disclosed Valve’s secret to success. It’s not just her technical expertise and industry acumen, which have been evident in her confrontation with Sierra regarding Half-Life’s treatment, but also the company’s unwavering commitment to credibility.
Read the full article at PC Gamer →
Engage in the Discussion
Which gaming updates piqued your interest today? Is it Valve’s latest news or the buzz around Half-Life? We invite you to share your thoughts and join the discussion in the comments section below!
