Valve has released a new Steam Client Beta update, and this one brings several improvements to Big Picture Mode. While the changes are available across supported devices, many of them should be particularly useful for the Steam Machine, as Big Picture Mode is designed to offer a more console-like experience on larger displays. Likewise for those who dock their Steam Deck.

What does the update offer?

Homescreen – Big Picture Mode

• Added a new ‘Big Art Mode’ option for the home screen. This can be enabled in Settings > Home.
• Added Personal Calendar to the Recommended tab on the home screen

Screensaver – Big Picture Mode

• Added a new screensaver feature, accessible in Settings > Customization. There are two screensavers available:
  • The default is a game art slideshow that can be configured to show artwork from recently played games and your recent in-game screenshots.
  • A retro inspired bouncing logo screensaver
• Big Picture mode can also load custom screensavers. Similar to startup movies, they can be placed in the config\uioverrides\screensavers directory in your Steam install directory (e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam or ~/.steam/root). You can use the bouncing logo screensaver (in the steamui\screensavers directory) as an example to get started.

General

• Improved Steam Client startup performance
• Fixed a case where after server maintenance some users might fail to auto-reconnect to Steam
• Fixed bug where being prompted to refresh credentials more than once could trigger an immediate restart
• On Windows, using the systray menu to exit while the Steam window is minimized will no longer flash the window visible briefly
• Dialogs that appear for serious error conditions now stay above the main window

Game Recording

• Fixed some cases where playback would jump to an unexpected point in the timeline when reaching the end of a play session or clip
• Decreased performance impact of game recording for some D3D12 games on Windows

In-Game Overlay

• Fixed frame rate hitches in D3D11 and D3D12 games when taking screenshots on Windows
• Fixed rendering the overlay and using other overlay related features (screenshots, game recording, etc.) in Vulkan games that create multiple windows.

Big Picture Mode

• Added explicit warning text to power menu confirmation dialogs when proceeding will shut down an active game
• Updated default artwork when an app does not have library or hero artwork
• Reorganized the idle timer settings when on battery and AC power

Steam Input

• Improved CPU performance at runtime and in configuration loading
• Added information about which configurations are compatible in the configurator browser when using a game that requires Steam Input API
• Fixed the controller support widget showing “This game doesn’t support controllers” for unreleased games that don’t have controller support information yet
• Fixed controllers not using the desktop configuration on the desktop UI login window
• Added the missing settings for adjusting emulated joystick adaptive centering on trackpad

Linux

• Improved download speeds on high latency connections.

• The “Select compatibility tool” dropdown is now always visible.
  • The recommended compatibility tool, or steam runtime for native games, now shows at the top of the list as the “Default” option.
  • Compatibility tool aliases, e.g. “Proton Stable”, can now be selected from this dropdown.
• The SteamOS compatibility dialogs will now show in desktopUI when installing games not verified for that HW
• On Desktop Linux we will now show the SteamOS unsupported dialog when installing games that are known to not work with Proton
• Improve distro information collection for hardware survey, preferring data from /etc/os-release.

SteamRT3 Experimental Beta

• Fixed “Add a Non-Steam Game” showing an invalid list of applications.
• Fixed the “Run Steam when my computer starts” toggle.

Remote Play

• A PIN is no longer required to download an app to a remote device. A PIN is still required to Install and Stream from a remote device.
• Adding Download Complete notification for a remote download if you initiated the download on your current device.

Source: Steam Community

One of the biggest additions is a new Big Art Mode for the home screen. Users can enable it through Settings > Home, and it gives game artwork a bigger presence while browsing the library. Valve has also added the Personal Calendar to the Recommended tab, making it easier to see relevant activity directly from the home screen.

Big Picture Mode is also getting proper screensavers. There are two options available by default, with the first displaying a slideshow using artwork from recently played games and recent in-game screenshots. The second goes for a more retro look with a bouncing Steam logo.

Interestingly, Valve is allowing users to add their own custom screensavers as well. These work similarly to custom startup movies and can be placed inside the appropriate screensavers folder in the Steam installation directory.

That said, Valve has also made several changes outside the home screen as well. Big Picture Mode will now clearly warn users if selecting a power option will shut down a game that is still running. Default artwork for games without library or hero images has also been updated, while idle timer settings for battery and AC power have been reorganized.

The Steam client itself should also start faster following the update. Valve has fixed several smaller issues involving reconnecting after server maintenance, credential refreshes, error dialogs, and exiting Steam through the Windows system tray.

Game Recording received some attention too. Valve has reduced its performance impact in certain D3D12 games on Windows and fixed an issue that could cause playback to suddenly jump to another point in a recording. Screenshot-related frame rate hitches in D3D11 and D3D12 games have also been addressed.

Steam Input should also now use fewer CPU resources both during normal use and while loading configurations. There are also fixes for controller configurations and additional settings for adjusting emulated joystick adaptive centering on trackpads.

Linux users haven’t been left out either. Valve says download speeds should now be better on high-latency connections. The compatibility tool menu has also been improved, with the dropdown now always visible and the recommended option appearing at the top as “Default.” Proton aliases such as Proton Stable can now be selected directly as well.

Finally, Remote Play no longer requires users to enter a PIN simply to download a game to another device, although a PIN is still necessary for remote installation and streaming.

About the Author

Abdul Haddi

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