The News

Steam’s Linux handhelds are getting more popular as Xbox looks like it’s becoming Windows for Gamers

Linux users on gaming platform Steam have hit an all-time high as giant stink lines continue to radiate off Xbox (Phoronix). 3% of Steam users were using Linux in October 2025 — a 50% year-on-year increase. This comes as Xbox’s first handheld device has underwhelmed and leaks continue to hint at a dim future for Microsoft’s in-house hardware building ambitions. Reviews seem to suggest that the Xbox Ally and Ally X are good devices held back by Windows (The Verge), and actually run better with Linux (Tom’s Hardware). Meanwhile Microsoft is very loudly saying it will continue to release Xbox hardware (WindowsCentral) despite tanking sales (Verge).

The Sizzle: What is an Xbox? I’m trying to get philosophical here. Like, what is the definition of an Xbox? How is it different to a computer, or a phone, for gaming?

It's a question because the latest Xbox — the handheld Xbox Ally — isn’t made by Microsoft, can’t play every Xbox game, but does run Windows. The next Xbox sounds like it will be a Windows Gaming Device (Windows Central). So, is Xbox just a platform now? Is Xbox just the gaming version of the Microsoft preferred “Windows Copilot+ PCs”. Obviously, Linux gaming remains an enormous underdog but they certainly seem to be better positioned for the future of handheld gaming. Meanwhile Microsoft is increasingly acting like it’s looking for the exit as it’s been unable to transform Xbox consoles from being a money-losing pit (Kotaku)…

Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.

Spreadsheet leak linked to nearly 50 deaths

49 Afghans say family members and colleagues were killed after they featured on a leaked list of 19,000 people who had worked with the UK government prior to the Taliban takeover, according to research submitted to a government inquiry (Arab News). In 2023, UK’s Ministry of Defence found out via screenshot shared to a Facebook group that a British official had mistakenly shared a spreadsheet of Afghans who applied to be relocated because of their work with the UK government. A court injunction gagged reporting on it for two years — even prohibiting mentioning that there was an injunction — until this year when people on the list were informed and the leak was made public.

The Sizzle: As funny as it sounds to bring it back to this, this story shows the real world harm that can be caused by poor information security. And it’s so grim. I mean, listen to some of these quotes from people whose names were on the list:

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Australia’s crypto casino Stake sued in US over Drake’s alleged deceptive practices

Australia’s cryptocurrency casino Stake has been named alongside brand ambassador/rapper Drake as the defendants in a US class action lawsuit for allegedly deceiving people while promoting gambling (Gambling Harm). A Missouri lawsuit claims that Drake and another well-known online influencer Adin Ross faked betting their own money on Stake when they were actually fronted the gambling money by the company, which was co-founded by Australian Ed Craven.

This, according to Gambling Harms, brings Stake’s slate of US lawsuits to 7! But don’t worry, the company claims to have revenues of more than $7 billion so they can afford a few lawyers  

Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.

Leftovers

Australia:

Rest of the world:

Discuss these links in the Sizzle Slack or forum.

Oh, Also

Teens are leaving social media platforms for… old public radio episodes?

With the teen social media ban just a few weeks away, you might be wondering where kids will flock to so that they can get around the ban. One option: the comment sections of old NPR radio segments.

According to NPR and reshared by Techdirt, teens are co-ordinating to appear in the Spotify comments of podcasts. In a very clever bit of thinking, these teens apparently co-ordinate using a playlist. One teen will choose which old episode to appear on, then puts that episode into a playlist to send a signal that they should all congregate there. Oh, kids.

Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.

Bargains

Electrical & Electronics

Computing

Mobile

The End

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