Steam hits record $1.7 billion in September 2026 despite soaring PC hardware costs

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Tom’s Hardware • Kunal Khullar • October 3, 2026

Steam generated an estimated $1.7 billion in revenue for September 2026, marking its best performance ever according to Alinea Analytics. This represents a 13% increase compared to the previous record set in September 2025. The platform also recorded its strongest third quarter on record with an estimated $5.5 billion in revenue, a 12% rise from the same period last year. Consequently, Steam’s total estimated revenue for the first nine months of 2026 reached $16.5 billion, up from $14.5 billion during the corresponding period in 2025.

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This week on Tom’s Hardware Premium: October 3, 2026

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Tom’s Hardware • Sayem Ahmed • October 3, 2026

Tom’s Hardware Premium is extending its free access period for the AI Chip Design Week series until Monday, October 5, 2026. The week features an interview with Richard Ho, OpenAI’s hardware VP, who discusses Jalapeño, a Broadcom co-developed inference ASIC introduced at Hot Chips 2026. Ho explains how OpenAI uses AI in its design processes to achieve efficiency that surpasses Nvidia’s capabilities and clarifies misconceptions about the chip’s model optimization.

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Find tech deals in Newegg’s Fantastech Sale ahead of Amazon’s Big Deals Day — early shoppers get automatic refunds if hardware prices drop lower

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Tom’s Hardware • Stewart Bendle • October 3, 2026

Newegg has launched its Fantastech Sale II in partnership with Amazon’s Prime Big Deals Day, running from October 5th to October 11th. The event includes a price protection guarantee available between September 28th and October 4th. According to Newegg, if hardware prices drop lower during the official sale dates, the difference will be automatically refunded to customers starting October 21st. This offer applies to various items including PC components, prebuilt gaming PCs, laptops, and monitors.

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Buying used CPUs can expose users to existing bans from anti-cheat engines, and there’s no way to check for violations before purchase

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Tom’s Hardware • Jowi Morales • October 3, 2026

A German gamer purchased a used AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D processor on September 21, 2026, and was immediately banned from the game Valorant upon launching it. Although the computer functioned normally for general use, the anti-cheat engine Vanguard flagged the hardware because its previous owner had been detected cheating in the game. Riot Games confirmed that this specific CPU was blacklisted on August 12, 2026, due to that prior violation.

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Elon Musk confirms discussions with TSMC about Terafab chipmaking collaboration

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Tom’s Hardware • Anton Shilov • October 3, 2026

Elon Musk confirmed discussions with TSMC regarding a potential collaboration for his Terafab semiconductor initiative, according to Tim Culpan’s Culpium newsletter on Friday. Under the arrangement considered most probable by Culpan, TSMC would own and operate a new facility exclusively serving Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, while SpaceX/Terafab could invest or commit to guaranteed chip purchases. The exact ownership structure remains under discussion, with another option involving SpaceX holding majority control while TSMC provides operational expertise and process technology.

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7-year-old Nvidia Shield TV Pro gets shocking 50% price hike driven by AI memory shortage

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Tom’s Hardware • Kunal Khullar • October 3, 2026

Nvidia has raised the price of the Shield TV Pro from $199.99 to $299.99, marking a 50% increase since its launch seven years ago. The company attributes this change to rising component costs driven by AI demand. An Nvidia spokesperson told Ars Technica that memory prices have increased substantially across the industry, necessitating the adjustment. This price hike coincides with the discontinuation of the standard Nvidia Shield TV, leaving the Pro as the sole Shield-branded streaming device available.

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Free browser-based AI-generated Taipei GTA clone hits 1.2 million concurrent players in three days

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Tom’s Hardware • Mark Tyson • October 4, 2026

A browser-based game called Taipei GTA has attracted 1.2 million concurrent players in just three days, according to Taiwan TV news reports. Developed by AICodeWith using $10,000 worth of tokens, the free online game allows users to explore zones based on famous Taipei areas like Ximending and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Players can experience a free-roaming environment featuring neon signage, night markets, and various city elements similar to the GTA series, though it uses low-poly models and simple lighting.

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Portable Bluetooth CD player has a glow-in-the-dark transparent green finish, modern features

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Tom’s Hardware • Mark Tyson • October 4, 2026

Sincere Inc. has released the Pixel Tunes portable Bluetooth CD player in a new "After Hours" finish, which is part of a limited edition series of four translucent colors. This specific version features phosphorescent materials that allow it to glow with a soft green light when lights are turned off. The device is priced at 12,980 yen (approximately $83) and includes modern specifications such as a USB Type-C rechargeable Li-ion battery and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity.

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Open-source tool designs LEGO builds with more than 2,000 real pieces

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Tom’s Hardware • Shane Downing • October 4, 2026

Open-source software called LDraw Nova allows AI models to design LEGO builds containing over 2,000 real pieces. Developers can use this tool with general models like GPT-6 Astra and Claude Opus 5.5 to create detailed CAD files from simple prompts. For example, a prompt asking for "the most beautiful model that comes to your mind" resulted in the 2,175-piece Sakura Garden design. The system uses Python tools to write programs that generate the build data without placing every single brick physically. Developer Carlos Antelo noted that none of these designs have been built with actual bricks yet, as he "didn’t even try."

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US Navy uses Xbox-style controllers to fire anti-drone lasers deployed on ships

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AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Tom’s Hardware, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

Tom’s Hardware • Jowi Morales • October 4, 2026

The U.S. Navy has begun using Xbox-style controllers to operate anti-drone laser systems on its warships. According to Interesting Engineering, these controllers provide the targeting precision and rapid input speed needed for the weapons platform. Many sailors are already familiar with the handheld layout, which helps during training. While specific details about wiring or whether the system is off-the-shelf remain unclear, this marks a shift from previous experimental setups.

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