Remote Play

Valve has added a low-latency codec called Pyrowave to Steam Remote Play, its game-streaming feature. The new codec promises noticeably better image quality and responsiveness when streaming games over local networks, but at a steep cost: it can consume five to ten times more bandwidth than existing options, making it practical mainly for fast wired or Wi-Fi home setups.

Attention is turning to the Faroe Islands, where researchers are studying the powerful ocean currents that flow between the islands and play a key role in regulating the global climate. By searching for hidden clues in these waters, scientists hope to better understand how the currents are changing and what that could mean for weather patterns and marine life far beyond the North Atlantic.

Valve released a Steam Client Beta on October 1st bringing a batch of improvements to Remote Play built around its Pyrowave video codec. The update aims to make game streaming between devices smoother and higher quality. The news circulated among gaming communities, where users track Steam beta changelogs closely for streaming and performance fixes.

Multnomah County employees held a rally in Portland, Oregon, protesting the county's return-to-office mandate. Workers are pushing back against requirements to end remote work arrangements, a dispute playing out amid broader national debates between employers and staff over in-office policies.

A new report suggests remote access to services played a key role in helping families remain enrolled in WIC, the US nutrition program for women, infants and children. Allowing appointments and enrollment to be completed remotely appears to reduce barriers for participants, keeping more families connected to benefits during and after the pandemic-era policy shifts.