Valve has announced a new version of its Steam client. It has been designed to accommodate the rapid growth seen from the PC digital store/playground in the last year. This new version is already available via an opt-in beta to all Steam users.

"We made hundreds of changes to the Steam client as a result of customer feedback on the interface, performance, and functionality," said John Cook, Director of Steam Development at Valve. "For example, we swapped out the Internet Explorer rendering engine with WebKit, which gives us a bunch of size, stability and performance benefits. This release of Steam leaves us well prepared for another year of strong growth."

Some new features of the updated client include the ability for gamers to now be able to see which games their friends have purchased directly within the Steam storefront, news outlets now have the ability to reach the Steam community through the new client's news aggregator functionality and new methods of library management have been created.

To participate in the beta, existing client users can select "UI Update" under Beta Participation in the Settings menu. If you don't have the client installed yet, then you can click here to get your hands on it. For a complete rundown of the new features, continue after the break.

Love it or hate it, Bioshock is getting a sequel. Now comes the question if you're going to buy it. If you're still on the fence, then maybe you should check out the pre-order incentives for purchasing Bioshock 2 on Steam.

Steam is offering a couple different incentives. First up, anyone who pre-orders Bioshock 2 will get a 10% discount off the regular price of $49.99, bringing the total down to $44.99. You will also be given a free copy of the original Bioshock for you to keep or gift to that friend who never got to experience Rapture in the first place. If you're the type who is looking forward to the inclusion of multiplayer to the franchise, then maybe you should consider picking up the Bioshock 2 four-pack. This will be available for $134.97 with four free copies of the original also included.

Not a bad deal at all. Now all we can do is wait to see if this sequel can live up to the original. One thing is for sure; it has a huge pair of shoes to fill.

Bioshock 2 is scheduled for release on February 9^th for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Sorry guys and gals. Seems like it's going to be a while before you can get your MMO on in the Star Wars universe (Star Wars Galaxies didn't count). Bioware's Sean Dahlberg confirmed a Spring 2011 release window by a message posted this morning on the official Star Wars: The Old Republic forum boards.

"While we have not announced a specific date, we can confirm that we are targeting a spring 2011 release for Star Wars: The Old Republic. We've got a lot of exciting updates and reveals planned throughout 2010, including the first-ever hands-on testing for the game. It's not too late to sign up to be a game tester, so go to http://swtor.com/tester and sign up today. We can't wait to share more about the game with you as we progress through the year, so make sure you stay tuned to the official website for details."

A Spring release window usually means anytime before April. Seems like it could still be over a year before the much anticipated MMO makes it way onto that PC you bought specifically to play it. Now the betting can start on which game will come out first; Starcraft II or The Old Republic. I'm joking of course. Everyone knows Starcraft II is never coming out.

Left 4 Dead fans rejoice! Valve, has just released an Authoring Tools and Add-On support update for Left 4 Dead 2 on the PC. This update will allow mods for Left 4 Dead 2 and open up a wealth of custom maps and enhancements to current game modes. If you already have custom maps for Left 4 Dead they will now be available in Left 4 Dead 2.

Being a huge fan of the custom maps of Left 4 Dead, I am excited to see what the PC community will do with the Authoring Tools of Left 4 Dead. If you haven't already, head over to Steam and grab the update and don't forget to check out the Left 4 Dead Blog for all the brand new features the update has to offer.

Are you a fan of the Left 4 Dead custom mod community? Leave us a comment and let us know about your favorite custom map from Left 4 Dead on the PC.

Valve's PC digital delivery store, Steam, is having one crazy holiday sale. From now until January 3rd, there will be savings of up to 80% on pretty much everything in the store. In addition, there will be specific day-long deals. What kind of deals you ask? Well how about 33% off the entire 2K catalog including Borderlands or Bioshock? Not good enough. Well, you can also save up to 80% off indie titles like Braid and World of Goo. Grab Ghostbusters or any of Atari's games for 66% of the regular price. You could liberate Mars in Red Faction: Guerrilla or join a Company of Heroes for 50% off these or any other THQ game.

Today's one-day specials include GTA IV for $7.49 and Mirror's Edge for $4.99. Act fast because a new set of deals will replace them when the website's time clock winds down. Be sure to check daily for upcoming deals. Happy holiday shopping.

EA announced today that its free web-based shooter, Battlefield Heroes, has hit 3 million registered players. To celebrate, they have released an all new map entitled "Sunset Showdown" to the mix.

"Battlefield Heroes continues to grow fast with well over 50,000 new players joining us every week. Our players have already logged in over 1,300 years worth of game time and nearly 300 million kills over 150 million five-minute game rounds," said Ben Cousins, General Manager, Battlefield Heroes team. "The vast majority of our players play for free, but if they want to customize their character or enhance their game with weapon upgrades or ‘widgets' then there is a cool item for them in our store."

You can customize your hero and upgrade items through Valor Points(in-game points) or through Battlefunds (currency paid for with a credit card or through PayPal). To sign up for duty, head on over to their official website.

Bioware and TransGaming have announced that they will be releasing Dragon Age: Origins for the Mac on December 21st. It will be available through digital download in a Standard or Digital Deluxe version. The Digital Deluxe version will include additional content like a collection of wallpapers, in-game bonus items, the game's soundtrack and the Warden's Keep additional content. Warden's Keep provides a new dungeon, new loot, a new base and the chance to gain two new mysterious abilities.

"We are very excited to bring this award-winning title to the Mac community," commented Vikas Gupta, President and CEO of TransGaming. "Our Cider technology allows us to rapidly enable and deploy high quality titles like Dragon Age, and we are pleased to be delivering this exceptional caliber of gaming to the ever growing Mac gaming community."

Both the Standard and Digital Deluxe versions will include the Blood Dragon Armor, which can be used in Bioware's upcoming Mass Effect 2, and The Stone Prisoner. The Stone Prisoner gives players access to new environments, items, hours of additional gameplay and the mighty stone golem, Shale, who can become one of the most powerful party members in the game.

You can pre-order your copy today through Bioware. Happy looting.

Microsoft has announced that Games for Windows LIVE will begin digitally distributing games on December 15th. Seems Steam and Direct2Drive will be getting some competetion via Microsoft's Games on Demand service.

"With Games on Demand, we didn't just want to create a cut-and-paste version of existing digital distribution services," said Mike Ybarra, general manager of LIVE Engagement Services. "We challenged ourselves to deliver an integrated platform that takes full advantage of the unique capabilities offered by the LIVE service. Our goal has always been to create a seamless online gaming experience for the Windows community, and Games on Demand is a great step toward that end."

The service's launch lineup will consist of Resident Evil 5, Red Faction: Guerrilla, Battlestations: Pacific, World of Goo and Osmos. Anyone who downloads the Games for Windows LIVE client when Games on Demand goes live, will also get a free version of Tinker.

Seems like kind of a no-brainer for Microsoft to do this. They seem kind of late to the party though. Especially when you consider that they started digital distribution on the console side of things about five years ago. Can they hang with the likes of Steam and all of Valve's digitally yummy sales? Time will tell.

We all know Steam has some great deal from time to time. That is what is so great about Valve's digital download store. But when I saw this particluar deal, I knew I had to let everyone know right away. The THQ Complete Pack will only cost you $49.99 until Monday. Here's the list of what is included:

• Company of Heroes
• Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
• Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor
• Frontlines: Fuel of War
• Full Spectrum Warrior
• Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers
• Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
• Red Faction
• Red Faction: Guerrilla
• Red Faction II
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
• Saints Row 2
• Titan Quest
• Titan Quest: Immortal Throne
• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade
• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Gold Edition
• Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War - Soulstorm
• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II

If you bought these games separately, it would run you $389.82. Steam offers the bundle regularly at $99.99. You can't find much better ways to spend $50 and build your PC gaming library.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Eat, drink and be merry.

Digital retailer (and Steam nemesis) Direct2Drive is having a pretty good sale on some LucasArts title this week. They are offering three bundles; one for Star Wars fans, one for action fans and one that combines the two. How thoughtful.

The Star Wars Classics Pack includes six games for the price of $24.95, 50% off its original price. This pack includes titles like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars Republic Commando. The There's Action, Adventure and Puzzles Bundle includes classics like Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, with newcomer Lucidity. This pack is also marked down half price to $24.95. Can't make up your mind? Well, just grab the LucasArts Premier Pack and get the contents of both bundles for $39.95.

This sale ends on November 22nd so act fast. To see the complete list of games included, continue reading after the break.

Age of Conan developer Funcom has launched a resubscription program for its barbarian-themed MMO. Returning subscribers will be allowed to play for free for two weeks in November and also earn double experience points at the same time. Those who choose to re-up their subscriptions will be offered a series of bonuses.

Keep in mind that these bonuses do stack up. If you sign up for the 12 month subscription, you will receive the entire list:

• 1 month subscription = 7 extra days to play at no additional cost
• 3 month subscription = guaranteed access to beta for The Secret World
• 6 month subscription = level 40 helmet with 10% XP modifier
• 12 month subscription = free copy of Rise of the Godslayer Expansion

Will this be enough to break you of your World of Warcraft addiction? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Earlier today we got information on the upcoming Mass Effect 2 Collector's Edition. Now comes some great news for anybody who needs to catch up on Commander Shepard's adventures from the original. Steam is having a 50% off weekend sale on Mass Effect. That brings down the price to an absurd $9.99!

Ahhh Steam. Why must you make things so easy? Mass Effect is (arguably) one of the best action rpg's in recent memory and with the sequel coming out in January, this deal should be a no-brainer. Act fast though. The sale is currently underway and will end Sunday evening. Anybody plan on picking this up? Let us know in the comments.

It is now less than two weeks before the rise of the dark lord that is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. You probably think about playing it at work and dream about it at night. You do this because you know how great and addictive Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was. If your not feeling this way, there can be only two possible reasons; a) your completely insane, and b) you haven't experienced the greatness of COD4. Well, if you haven't played it yet than there is no excuse anymore because Steam is offering up COD4 at a 40% discount this weekend only.

That's right folks. You can now grab the GOTY Edition off Steam for $23.99. For the amount of enjoyment you will have, that is a bargain price. And you could just think of it as some multi-player practice until Modern Warfare 2 releases on November 10th.

Starting Thursday, Steam is offering a free weekend for Tripwire Interactive's Killing Floor. The full game will be playable including the all-new "Level Up" Content Pack that contains 3 new maps, 7 new weapons, 20+ Steam Achievements and more.

Killing Floor is a co-op survival horror FPS. It is set in the countryside of England after a series of failed cloning experiments. You are part of the military and it is up to you and your friends to cleanse the area. The gameplay consists of a single game type in which the player fights through waves of zombie-like monsters, with each wave becoming successively more difficult, moving through each area of the level, until it concludes with a battle with a super-specimen.

Sounds like it might be fun. And for the low, low price of free - I might give it a shot this weekend. Anyone plan on trying this out? Let us know in the comments.