Valve has just rolled out a fresh update for the Steam client, which will be automatically downloaded for users. It brings a wealth of new features and improvements to the platform. Here are the highlights.
First and foremost, Valve has introduced a new global setting to manage game updates across your entire Steam library. This setting aims to give players more fine-grained control over how and when updates are performed, which is a real game-changer—especially if you juggle multiple titles or grapple with limited bandwidth.
Additionally, the client now offers a panel to handle exceptions per game. In other words, you can apply universal update rules but still tweak individual games as needed.
Furthermore, navigating your downloads page is now easier than ever. You can simply click the game image of an actively downloading title, and Steam will take you directly to that game’s library page, thus saving you a bunch of clicks over time. There is also a fresh layout for the active item on the downloads page, and the client has been fine-tuned for faster loading of album covers and library assets.
One notable update on the new features side is the new bookmarking system, which lets you save and manage bookmarks per game in the overlay browser. The Notes feature has also been refined to preserve your scroll position and selection and undo history when switching between notes.
Another major improvement focuses on game recording. If you have ever struggled with capturing gameplay on Linux or recording audio from certain Windows 11 setups, you will be relieved to hear that Valve has fixed multiple compatibility issues.
The update even targets performance hiccups and clarifies certain error messages, ensuring you know exactly what happens when something goes wrong.
Now, macOS users, be aware: Steam Client support for macOS 10.15 (“Catalina”) is winding down. Users on these systems will receive an “End of Life” alert as a reminder that official support ends on February 15, 2025, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
Although that date may seem far off, it’s always best to plan ahead and update your operating system if possible. Meanwhile, those on Apple Silicon Macs can look forward to smoother gameplay recording and improved audio in Remote Play Together sessions.
As for Linux players, Valve has addressed a variety of platform-specific bugs. For instance, Steam will no longer keep your screensaver disabled if it crashes at an unfortunate moment, and some crashes related to newer PipeWire and VA-API drivers have been mitigated.
On top of that, the Steam Input team has fine-tuned controller input latency in Big Picture Mode while further improving overall CPU usage. In other words, your setup should feel a bit more responsive now, whether you prefer using a traditional controller or experimenting with gyro controls.
For more information on all changes, see the Valve’s announcement.
