Valve updates the Steam desktop with richer notifications, improvements to the overlay interface and Notes

June 20 (Portaltic/EP) –

Valve ha updated Steam desktop interface adding several novelties, improvements and functions such as the option of notes, more complete notifications and a redesign of the interface overlaid in the games.

With the redesign, the video game development company has introduced improvements to its digital video game distribution platform, in order to facilitate the connection between desktop interfaces, he big picture mode for TV, the mobile and your Steam Deck console.

In this sense, Valve has stressed that the “biggest” changes of this update are not identifiable to the naked eye, as they are based on how code is shared between different Steam platforms, depending on the device.

In this way, as Valve has explained in a statement on its websitenew Steam features can be rolled out faster to all devices, “because the base code is common.” In fact, it claims that many of the features in this update are going to release simultaneously on Steam Deck.

Also, this update includes visual improvementswith new dialogs, menus, fonts and colors on the desktop. These changes can be quickly observed in main places like the main desktop header, the footer, the ‘Settings’ section or the screenshot manager.

On the other hand, now Steam will offer “more complete and useful” notifications. As Valve has explained, with this update the icon with the green bell of notifications will only light up when “completely new” information emerges” for the user.

Following this line, the tray view will only include new notifications and a new notification has also been implemented. option to arrange these notices in chronological order. Likewise, users can configure specific settings for notifications, so that each one can manage them, choosing what they see and where they see it.

OVERLAY INTERFACE

On the other hand, Steam has also included a overlay interface redesign in the games. That is, the interface accessible during the games, by means of the Shit+Tab key combination. Specifically, it has added a new toolbar to attend more quickly and easily to the needs of the players during the games. Through this bar you can access chats with friends, see the status of your achievements, consult guides, or even browse the Internet.

In addition, this new overlay interface allows a further customization because although there are multiple windows displayed by default, the user can choose and customize the content items they want to see when activating the overlay interface. Thus, the chosen configuration will be saved for future game sessions.

Steam has also introduced a option to pin overlay interface windows to appear above the game while a match is in progress. Thus, the user will be able to keep in mind the information from these windows continuously. Also, the opacity is adjustable and only the content of the window is displayed.

Another novelty for Steam is its Notes function. This is a new feature that allows the user make notes about the game you are playing. In this way, you can write down issues such as a list of things you have to do in the game, the way you have to complete a certain level or the factors to take into account in the game.

The notes have been designed with a rich text format, so they offer the possibility to copy images or create several notes per game. In addition, they can be used in offline mode. Likewise, Valve has detailed that the notes are saved individually in each game and that, in addition, they are sync on any device.

In addition to all this, another panel introduced in the overlay interface is the panel ‘Overview of the game’, in which all the details of the game in question will be displayed. Thus, this panel will collect data such as achievement progress, friends who are playing the same title, the best guides or related news.

MAC AND LINUX

Valve has also detailed that within this update the ‘hardware’ acceleration in Steam versions for Mac and Linux. In this way, devices with these operating systems will have a Steam version compared to Windows version. This translates into a “more responsive” interface that offers “a more concise experience in animations.”

Finally, Valve has pointed out that it has also improved the experience with the controls. Now him Steam Deck controller configurator has been updated to be part of the overlay interface when a controller is connected.