A thread on NeoGAF that pokes around in some code from the new Steam Beta reveals some strange strings about game sharing on the popular digital distribution platform. The code refers to a shared game library and a shared license. While the strings have been confirmed as legitimate, Valve has not publicly commented on the data fished from the new client beta. The code in question is below:

It looks like Best Buy may be joining GameStop in "adjusting their stock" of Wii U Basic consoles units too. According to a leaked memo sent to Kotaku, Best Buy is getting rid of its 8GB Wii U stock. The memo tells store employees that "stores should pull all new in-box units and send them back" on June 10-11. "Store should expect to see more Wii U deluxe units arriving in the coming weeks," the memo adds.

Update #2: The Wii U's Basic Set model is not being recalled, according to a statement from Nintendo of America to Polygon:

We're not sure how much stock you should put into this news, but we're putting it out there anyway because Microsoft has been so dodgy on the topic since it announced the Xbox One.

Is Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Patriots dead? We're not sure, but GameStop made a dramatic move today that might indicate that something bad has happened to Ubisoft's upcoming game. According to IGN, video game retailer GameStop has removed the game from its database, and is no longer available for pre-order.

A source speaking to The Wall Street Journal today tells the publication that Microsoft's long-rumored "Xbox TV" set-top streaming device is struggling, with Microsoft not sure how or if it will move forward with the device.

The unnamed sources claims that the device has gone through several redesigns - including a recent design that integrated the Kinect - but Microsoft is not satisfied with it.

An internal Microsoft memo offers some good news for those worried about the next Xbox system (which they call Durango in the memo) requiring a constant connection in order to use. According to that internal Microsoft e-mail (as reported by Ars Technica) the next Xbox has been designed in a way that recognizes the delicate nature of today's Internet connections.

According to this GameSpot report Respawn Entertainment's next game will be an Xbox 720 exclusive and will be "always online." According to the report, the game will be a multiplayer-focused, always-online Xbox 720 exclusive, with a release for Xbox 360 to happen at some point but to be developed by some other studio. If the report is to be believed the new game from the former Infinity Ward developers will not be available on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles.

EA's publishing label EA Partners is shutting down, according to a report on Game Informer. The label was used to sign and publish third party franchises such as 38 Studios' Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, Valve's The Orange Box, Portal 2 and Left 4 Dead franchise along with the Crysis series, the Rock Band series, Double Fine's Brutal Legend, APB, People Can Fly's Bulletstorm, Starbreeze's Syndicate, Suda51's Shadows of the Damned, and Hellgate: London.

As part of its fiscal year earnings report, Nintendo revealed projections for DS software sales for the current fiscal year but offered no guidance on sales for the DS hardware. This would seem to indicate that it plans to halt production of its popular Nintendo DS hand-held system sometime in the current fiscal year.

It's that silly season (the time between major events like the Game Developers Conference and the Electronic Entertainment Expo) where rumors fly fast and furious about what the biggest companies in the industry have planned. So with that in mind, there's a new rumor that says that the "always online" requirement we have been hearing about for the new Xbox console is actually for the Xbox Mini device. Rumors about the device first surfaced in March of last year.

According to this Bloomberg report citing an anonymous source close to the "situation," the next Xbox (which is codenamed "Durango" or is currently being called the Xbox 720) will not be backwards compatible with current generation Xbox 360 discs. Other rumors have indicated that the system will be pretty expensive - reaching the price point of close to $500 for the premium model of the system, though a cheaper model will also be available.

Speaking to MCV India, Eidos life president Ian Livingstone threw some gasoline on an old rumor: that the Xbox 720 might block used games. Livingstone also said the next-gen consoles weren't prepared to go fully digital quite yet as its only method for selling and delivering content.

Ars Technica is reporting that the anonymous source that tried to sell an alleged Microsoft "Durango" development kit via EBay claims that he has been raided by the FBI and local law enforcement. Oops, that's what happens when you try to sell something you probably shouldn't on EBay. But beyond that, he leaked information about the new system ahead of Microsoft's official announcement which is expected to happen later this year.

Valve's Gabe Newell took the unusual step of breaking his silence on recent developments inside Valve after it was reported yesterday that as many as 25 employees have been let go. Valve did not confirm that that number was accurate. Among those confirmed to be leaving the company are Valve’s director of business Jason Holtman and hardware engineer Jeri Ellsworth.

This week hosts Andrew Eisen and E. Zachary Knight talk about fresh Xbox 720 rumors, new game bills in America, the releases cycle of the Ouya, and last week's GamePolitics Poll. All this and more awaits in Episode 40. Download it now: SuperPAC Episode 40 (1 hour) 55.5 MB.

Microsoft's next Xbox system will use Blu-Ray and will require users to be always connected to Xbox Live, according to an Edge report citing sources with "first-hand experience."

The new raft of rumors are an echo of an older rumor post by VG247 back in April 2012 - also citing anonymous sources close to the company.

There's a lot of speculation today that Sony will unveil the PlayStation 4 at an event scheduled for February 20. Yesterday Sony put out a video encouraging viewers to "see the future" at an event it plans to host in New York City at the end of this month.

While the focus has been on the closure of Warren Spector's Junction Point Studios yesterday, the LA Times is reporting that additional employees working for Disney's games division were laid off as well. Citing an anonymous source inside the company who was "not authorized to discuss the matter publicly," the LA Times reports that 50 more employees lost their jobs at Disney Interactive yesterday.

According to a Nikkei report (as reported by The Verge) Nintendo plans to merge its home console and hand-held divisions into one single unit in a "month's time" and will spend 30 billion yen (about $340 million USD) on a new Kyoto, Japan development facility to be opened by the end of 2013. Some are speculating that the date for this to begin will be February 16.

According to indie UK game developer Mat Dickie, World Wrestling Entertainment has managed to get his wresting game, Wrestling Revolution, pulled from the Google Play Store. While the details on how the WWE accomplished this remain unknown, Dickie claims that the world's biggest professional wrestling organization had it pulled because it was doing better than their game, WWE WrestleFest.

According to an MCV report, Ubisoft is considering buying troubled games publisher THQ. Earlier in the week the publisher announced that it had filed for bankruptcy and would be sold to Clearlake investments. This 'stalking horse bid' process with the investor allows THQ to write off the company's debts but keeps its business going to make it ready for an acquisition. According to MCV one of the companies that might be interested in buying THQ is Ubisoft.

A regular GamePolitics reader (who has asked to remain anonymous) points out that something is a little screwy with Wal-Mart's prices listed in its ads and how they ring up at the cash register. His tale begins with this leaked Black Friday flyer at theblackfriday.com, which shows select video games with price points set at $10, $15,and $25.

Microsoft is building its own 7-inch gaming tablet, according to "multiple sources familiar with plans within Redmond" who have confirmed the details to The Verge. According to that report, the initial hardware planning for the Xbox Surface device is underway. The Verge describes it as a mini Xbox platform.

An extensive report over at Kotaku claims that the offices of developer Silicon Knights has become a ghost town, with less than five employees remaining at the company. Citing multiple sources who worked at the company, the report claims that the studio was playing fast and loose with the funding of X-Men: Destiny coming from Activision, while secretly working on an Eternal Darkness 2 demo to pitch to publishers.

Unnamed sources speaking to C&VG are sounding alarm bells today that the United Kingdom may face a shortage of Nintendo's Wii U consoles when it is released in November. A "retail source" told CVG that the company he or she works for does not have enough Wii U units to fulfill pre-orders. That source claimed that they would be receiving around 25,000 units.

Sources in the supply chain responsible for building the upcoming smaller version of Apple's iPad (the iPad Mini) are telling The Wall Street Journal that Apple has ordered 10 million iPad Minis for the run-up to Christmas. While Apple has yet to officially announce the smaller tablet device, it is widely known to exist because of so many leaks from various component suppliers around the world.

South Korean publication Joongang News (by way of GamesBeat) may be reading WAY TOO MUCH into a meeting between Nexon, NCsoft and Valve Software in South Korea this week.

A report from Bloomberg claims that a number of major U.S. cable operators are planning on offering cloud-based gaming as early as next year. The cable companies and service providers that want to get into the game - according to the report - include AT&T, Verizon, Time Warner, and Comcast.

According to a report on C&VG, Vivendi has not ruled out a sale of its majority stake in Activision Blizzard.