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Steam Game Recording is officially out of beta and available to all users, giving PC, Mac, and Steam Deck players a built-in way to record and share audio and video from their gaming sessions. It joins many other ways PC gamers have been able to record their highlights, including as a feature of tools like the Xbox Game Bar, Nvidia GeForce, and AMD’s Adrenalin.

This version of the Steam client is also the first to drop support for Windows 7 and 8 machines, as well as Macs running macOS 10.13 and 10.14 after Valve announced the move at the beginning of this year.

Image: Valve

After an automatic update, players can start recordings manually using a hotkey (Ctrl + F11 is the default) or set it to trigger automatically,…

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Steam, one of the world’s largest digital game distribution platforms, has unexpectedly gone down, with users across the globe reporting various connectivity issues on X (formerly Twitter) and through Downdetector.

The issue appears to have started within the last hour, impacting thousands of users who’ve seen game launches, purchases, and general platform access temporarily halted.

Is Steam down right now?

Many users on X and Downdetector have reported the sudden outage, experiencing problems with connecting to Steam’s main servers, logging into accounts, and accessing the Steam store.

The Steam outage seems to be affecting players in various regions globally, hinting at a possible backend issue affecting multiple servers at once.

Some unofficial server reports claim that the Steam outage is part of scheduled server maintenance, though this hasn’t yet been confirmed by Steam’s official channels. Steam often performs maintenance every Tuesday, but this downtime is unusual for a Wednesday.

Additionally, these issues coincide with Riot Games servers also experiencing downtime, leading some users to speculate whether this is an isolated maintenance event or if it may be related to a broader network problem impacting multiple game servers.

(Image credit)
Riot Games servers down as well

Riot Games, the developer behind popular titles like League of Legends and Valorant, is also facing server issues according to community and social media reports. Given the scale of outages across multiple gaming platforms, there is speculation that a widespread network issue or DDoS attack could be at play, though there is currently no official confirmation to support this theory.

What can you do?

When experiencing issues with Steam, here are some steps users can take to confirm that the problem is not on their end:

• Check Downdetector or similar outage trackers: Sites like Downdetector show real-time user reports on outages across platforms. If many people report issues with Steam, it’s likely a server-side problem rather than an individual one.
• Visit Steam’s official status page or social media: The Steam Status page provides live updates on server status, including individual regions and platform services. Steam’s social media accounts (e.g., on Twitter/X) may also post about known issues or maintenance.
• Check community forums: Steam’s forums or community threads on Reddit can be useful for seeing if other players report the same issues. This can help verify if it’s a widespread problem.
• Try accessing other online services: Access a few other online services to rule out local internet issues. If other platforms load normally, it’s more likely a Steam-specific issue.
• Restart network devices: To eliminate the possibility of a local connectivity issue, restart your router and modem, or run a speed test. If Steam remains inaccessible while other services work, the issue is likely with Steam’s servers.
• Use command prompt or terminal to ping Steam’s server: For more tech-savvy users, running a ping test to Steam’s server (e.g. ping store.steampowered.com in Command Prompt or Terminal) can confirm if the server is reachable.

Potential causes of Steam outage

1. Routine maintenance: Unofficial sources claim the outage may be a part of server maintenance, which typically occurs during off-peak hours. However, unannounced maintenance could suggest more urgent backend upgrades or fixes.
2. DDoS attack or network disruption: Multiple platforms facing issues at the same time can sometimes indicate a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack or network problem. However, as of now, neither Steam nor Riot Games has confirmed this.
3. Unexpected server issue: Technical difficulties can arise without warning, and Steam’s large-scale infrastructure may occasionally experience downtime due to unexpected backend issues.

Steam and Riot Games have yet to make an official announcement regarding the outages, leaving users speculating about possible explanations and timelines for resolution. In the meantime, Steam users can keep an eye on updates via Downdetector and Steam’s social media channels for any official statements.

This is a developing story.

Update

Problems with Steam have been resolved, the downtime was 25 minutes.

Riot Games’ case turns out to be a preparation for the upcoming patch of League of Legends and they have shared the following statement on the official Riot Games Status page:

We’re aware of a problem causing login attempts to fail and are working on a fix.

Starting at 11/06/2024 01:30 PST Ranked Queues will be disabled in preparation for patch 14.22. At 11/06/2024 03:00 PST the servers will be shut down and all games currently in progress will end in a draw and stats will not be recorded. We estimate the battlegrounds will be unavailable for 4 hours.

Featured image credit: Emre Çıtak/Ideogram AI

Sundar Pichai. | Image: Laura Normand / The Verge

Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees ahead of Election Day to make sure “the products we build” are “a trusted source of information to people of every background and belief.”

“As with other elections, the outcome will be a major topic of conversation in living rooms and other places around the world,” Pichai said in an internal memo on November 4th obtained by The Verge and first reported on by The Washington Post. “And of course, the outcome will have important consequences.”

“Whomever the voters entrust, let’s remember the role we play at work, through the products we build and as a business: to be a trusted source of information to people of every background and belief. We will and must maintain that.”

Naturally, Google has…

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Illustration by Laura Normand / The Verge

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is pushing back on claims that his return-to-office mandate was a “backdoor layoff.” In a transcript of an all-hands staff meeting seen by Reuters and CNBC, Jassy said the move “is very much about our culture and strengthening our culture.”

In September, Amazon announced that it would start making employees return to the office five days per week starting January 2nd, 2025. The e-commerce giant previously required employees to work in the office three days per week. Some speculated that the five-day-per-week mandate is a “layoff in disguise,” intended to push out employees who couldn’t or wouldn’t make the full return.

“A number of people I’ve seen theorized that the reason we were doing this is, it’s a backdoor…

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Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said stablecoins are poised to become essential financial tools worldwide due to their potential to streamline cross-border trade and drive efficiencies in emerging markets, South China Morning Post reported.

Speaking at the Hong Kong FinTech Week 2024 on Nov. 5, Allaire positioned stablecoins, particularly USDC, as a vital component in modernizing global trade settlements, envisioning them as the foundation for “better, faster, cheaper” financial transactions.

Testing ground

Allaire highlighted that many importers in developing regions already rely on Hong Kong to settle trade flows, making the city a critical testing ground for stablecoin solutions.

He said:

“Stablecoins are reshaping financial infrastructure, allowing trade settlements that reduce friction and costs.”

Circle, hosting its inaugural Circle Forum in Hong Kong, marked the occasion by announcing two key partnerships: an agreement with Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) to explore blockchain-based loyalty programs and a collaboration with Thunes to use USDC for cross-border transactions.

The initiatives are part of Circle’s commitment to leveraging stablecoins for practical applications in trade and commerce.

While this year’s FinTech Week primarily focused on artificial intelligence and tokenization, stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) emerged as dominant themes shaping Hong Kong’s Web3 strategy.

With the Hong Kong Monetary Authority set to issue new stablecoin regulations by the end of the year, Circle’s approach reflects its readiness to comply with regulatory frameworks globally.

Allaire emphasized the firm’s position as a responsible, compliant entity in the evolving digital finance landscape, stating:

“We were a regulated player from the start and expect stablecoins to become integral financial infrastructure worldwide.”

Stablecoin Adoption

According to Allaire, Hong Kong’s role as a global trade hub has made it an ideal setting for stablecoin adoption. The city’s unique regulatory environment and international financial connections place it at the forefront of stablecoin experimentation and deployment.

However, the Circle CEO acknowledged that the firm’s operations would remain limited in mainland China due to strict regulations prohibiting commercial crypto activities. Instead, he predicted a robust “offshore stablecoin” market to support seamless currency exchange and improve cross-border transaction efficiencies.

Allaire also suggested that major technology firms like Ant Group or Tencent Holdings entering the stablecoin market could further bolster stablecoin use. He said such developments would likely complement Circle’s efforts, creating a diverse, interoperable landscape that supports digital commerce across borders.

He stated:

“A broader stablecoin ecosystem involving these companies would expand our shared goal of building global financial infrastructure that can meet the demands of modern trade and digital economies.”

The post Circle CEO sees stablecoins as linchpin for global trade appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Citi’s US equity strategist says the bank will be looking for trading opportunities this week on election-induced market volatility.

Speaking in a new interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Citi’s Scott Chronert says that the S&P 500 is mostly fair valued at current levels, but that the election could skew the market in either direction depending on which candidate takes the White House.

According to Chronert, a “Trump rip” or a “Harris dip” could be taken advantage of.

“What we’re getting at here is that we understand that there’s the aninal spirits that come with Trump being more pro-business. We got that, but your starting point is a fairly extended valuation circumstance predicated on very strong earnings growth followthrough into 2025.

Our concern is with that setup, you go into a Trump win and you introduce tariffs into the discussion. Now to your earlier point on supply chain constraints, we’ve got something similar to that unfolding and so what ends up happening is that the ’25 growth expectations we think become a bit more suspect as we navigate tariff actions.”

Chronert says the market implications essentially boil down to Trump’s tariffs and Harris’ taxes.

“Our view on this is to try to steer clear of a lot of the social issues that… may end up influencing the outcome.

My world is much more fundamentally focused. And so when we look at the fundamental influences at work here, that’s the way we’re thinking about it. It really comes down to Trump and tarriffs, and Harris and taxes.”

Strategists at JPMorgan Chase recently revealed their election playbook, saying that the “Trump trade” had clearly played out in early October, alongside former President Donald Trump’s surge in betting markets.

If Vice President Kamala Harris wins, JPMorgan says its recent outlook for a weaker dollar will be reinforced, but the bank says things could look much different under a Republican victory.

“Despite the Republican party’s desire to weaken the dollar, their policies are likely to have the opposite effect in our view.

We continue to see tariffs and fiscal policy as the main drivers for global currency markets. More government spending and universal tariffs could pave the way for an extended period of “U.S. exceptionalism” to drive U.S. interest rates and the dollar higher.”

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The post Citi Trader Says Bank Watching for ‘Trump Rip’ or ‘Harris Dip’ As Markets Brace for Election Results appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

We help you find today’s Strands answers with some useful hints and tips to win.

Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET) is one of the top gainers today, registering a 10% increase within the last 24 hours. This FET recovery contradicts its performance in October, when its price decreased by 13.39%.

Following this rebound, on-chain data shows that the altcoin could be working toward wiping out those losses. Here is how.

Artificial Superintelligence Alliance Sees Buying Pressure  

Yesterday, FET’s price was $1.10. But as of this writing, the altcoin’s value has risen to $1.25. According to the 4-hour chart, FET’s price climbed this high due to rising buying pressure. 

Notably, Bull Bear Power (BBP) has jumped to the positive region after remaining in the red area since November 1. The BBP shows whether the strength of buyers is greater than that of sellers.

When the reading is negative, bears have the upper hand. Therefore, in this instance, bulls are in control. As such, the altcoin’s value could continue to climb if this remains the same. 

Read more: How to Invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cryptocurrencies?

FET Bull Bear Power. Source: TradingView

The Money Flow Index (MFI) is another indicator suggesting that the FET recovery could be swift. The MFI, which measures buying and selling pressure by analyzing price and volume data, has shown a positive trend for FET. 

A rising MFI indicates increased buying pressure, which supports the likelihood of continued price growth as demand for the asset strengthens. Therefore, if bulls sustain this momentum, then the altcoin’s price might continue to rise.

FET Money Flow Index. Source: TradingView

FET Price Prediction: Token to Breach Resistance

Since the IOMAP indicates that there is only one significant resistance level for FET at $1.28, where 3,590 addresses hold 616.89 million tokens, it suggests that surpassing this level could open up further upside potential. 

Notably, the IOMAP tool categorizes addresses by whether they are making a profit, breaking even, or incurring losses at the current price

This accumulation zone acts as a key psychological barrier. The volume of tokens accumulated here is notably higher than the amounts held between $1.06 and $1.25, signaling that if buyers manage to push the price beyond $1.28, FET could gain strong momentum.

Read more: Which Are the Best Altcoins To Invest in November 2024?

FET In/Out of Money Around Price. Source: IntoTheBlock

Therefore, if buying pressure continues to increase, FET could rally all the way to $1.44. However, if bulls fail to breach the resistance, the altcoin price might pull back, and FET could drop to $1.10.

The post FET Sets Sights on Recovering October Losses Starting with 10% Hike  appeared first on BeInCrypto.