Valve has released a new Steam Client update to the Stable channel, bringing a long list of changes and fixes across the platform. The update focuses on account switching, Remote Play, Steam Input, Friends & Chat, and several smaller improvements. Along with the Steam Deck, Valve’s new Steam Controller and Steam Machine also see improvements.

What does the update offer?

General

• Allow changing account while a game is running. In this case, the change account dialog shows a warning that proceeding will close active games.
• Added “Ask which account to use on startup” toggle to startup account chooser.
• Eliminated “change account” confirmation dialog in most cases. Changing account while Steam is running now brings up the account chooser directly, then restarts as the chosen account.
• Steam shutdown now waits for just-exited games to finish cloud sync.
• In the Web Browser, the left trackpad of Steam Deck/Steam Controller is now bound to scroll wheel for navigating non-Steam websites.
• Fixed issues where some Steam Workshop items were not being updated properly.
• Fixed requesting a PIN reset while signed in as a different account restarting with the wrong account signed in.
• Fixed a bug where a single pixel line would sometimes appear above the header on the home screen.
• Fixed a issue where sometimes uninstalling a game would not remove it from the download queue.
• Fixed a crash when suspending/resuming a device after a controller disconnected.

Desktop Mode

• Fixed some keys not typing properly in Steam Overlay.

Friends & Chat

• Chat messages with suspicious content will now be flagged in group chats. You can report the messages, block the sender, or dismiss the warning by activating the notice.

Steam Input

• Make controller configurations that are shared with other devices or unique to a device more clear in the configurator UI and add an option to split Steam Controller configurations so they are no longer shared with Steam Deck.

Remote Play

• Improved video color range.
• Added support for HDR streaming on Steam Deck OLED.
• Added support for AV1 video streaming when using the experimental SteamRT3 Steam Client.
• Fixed a case where streaming could show a black window.
• Fixed a bug where Remote Devices with Remote Play enabled weren’t showing as Streamable.
• Fixed video frame being clipped when desktop scaling is enabled.
• Fixed framerate drop when using the unlimited bandwidth option when streaming from Steam Deck or Steam Machine.

Source: Steam Community

One of the more useful changes is the new account switching system. Steam can now let users change accounts while a game is still running. Since doing this will close any active games, Steam will show a warning before continuing. Valve has also added an option called “Ask which account to use on startup,” giving users more control over how Steam handles multiple accounts.

The update also removes the account change confirmation in most situations. Instead of going through an extra confirmation step, selecting the option will now open the account chooser directly before restarting Steam under the selected account. Valve has also changed Steam’s shutdown process so it waits for recently closed games to complete their cloud synchronization.

Steam Deck and Steam Controller users are also getting a small but useful browser improvement. The left trackpad can now act as a scroll wheel when browsing non-Steam websites through Steam’s built-in web browser. Valve has also fixed several issues with Steam Workshop items not updating correctly, games remaining in the download queue after being uninstalled, and a crash that could happen when suspending or resuming a device after a controller disconnects.

Remote Play is another major focus of the update. Valve has improved the video color range and added HDR streaming support for the Steam Deck OLED. The update also adds AV1 video streaming support when using the experimental SteamRT3 Steam Client. Several streaming-related bugs have been fixed as well, including cases where Remote Play could show a black window or fail to recognize a remote device as streamable.

Valve has also addressed a framerate issue that could happen when using the unlimited bandwidth setting while streaming from a Steam Deck or Steam Machine. Another fix prevents video from being clipped when desktop scaling is enabled.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

Abdul is a tech writer and Editor for PC Guide, specializing in all things tech, gaming, and hardware.