Home > News

Steam Deck beta update finally lets you “flex to your friends” with new Deck icon

About time this feature was added
Last Updated on
Steam Deck beta update finally lets you “flex to your friends” with new Deck icon
PC Guide is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More

Valve has released a new update for the Steam Deck’s Beta client, bringing with it a handful of changes and improvements. While it’s always encouraging to see developers addressing user feedback, this latest update feels more like a baby step forward rather than a significant leap. Either way, it’s a nice little QOL update with one stand-out feature.

The standout feature is undoubtedly the addition of a Steam Deck icon to the friends list, indicating which of your contacts are also enjoying the handheld gaming PC. It’s surprising that it took this long to implement; previously it would just show a gamepad, which is ambiguous. While it's a welcome addition to the social aspect of the Steam Deck, it hardly constitutes a game-changer.

Steam Deck update and fan reaction

Beyond this, the update focuses on bug fixes, addressing issues with tooltips, game recording, and dialog box loading. You’ll find a full rundown provided by Valve below.

Steam Deck Beta Client Update on July 30, source: Steam Deck

The ability to send screenshots directly to your phone is a convenient feature, but it feels like a basic expectation in today’s tech landscape. Many fans on Reddit were left feeling that these additions were somewhat overdue at this point. For example, one user noted “Why did it take so long for this to be pushed out? This should’ve been like a year one or two thing.”

In addition, the user added, “Honestly it's just a visual feature, doesn't impact or improve any of the deck usage.” Overall, it appears that this update is certainly useful, but it doesn’t seem to address any shortcomings of the Steam Deck performance for now.

However, some users looked more on the positive side, noting: “Pretty sweet now I can feel like I'm flexing even though it's not really one” and “was really annoyed to see I was on a controller when I got my steamdeck” – the latter is now not an issue.

Look ahead to the future

It is definitely encouraging to see Valve consistently releasing updates for the Steam Deck, demonstrating a commitment to improving the user experience. While this latest update may not be groundbreaking, it's a testament to Valve’s ongoing efforts to refine a relatively new platform.

With each update, we inch closer to a more polished version. Given the pace of these updates, it’s reasonable to anticipate future releases that address some of the more pressing issues, such as performance optimization and interface refinements. Fingers crossed for now.


6731
Handheld gaming PC poll

Which handheld gaming PC do you own and/or use the most?

About the Author

Tom is a tech writer with a detailed view on ensuring the best buying advice, most useful information, and latest news makes its way into PC Guide's articles.