Valve has just published the latest beta version of the Steam client. The patch notes contain numerous bug fixes related to game recording, in-game overlays and improved performance on Linux-based devices, but the standout additions are new UI and customisation options for the client’s full-screen Big Picture Mode. So, if you’re playing games on a Steam Deck, Steam Machine, or just running your desktop PC or other handheld gaming PC in Big Picture Mode, there are some new features headed your way that’ll liven up your experience.
The additions include a new, more visual way to view your library, called ‘Big Art Mode’. This displays a larger piece of artwork for the game currently selected, giving you much more focus on the game in question compared to the conventional layout. It seems Steam has been inspired by Decky Loader here, a third-party addition for Steam Deck that offered a similar user interface.
For Big Picture Mode, the beta also brings a new optional screensaver mode to the client. As standard, this will display artistic shots of games you’ve played recently, alongside screenshots you’ve recently taken within these titles. Alternatively, you can swap in custom photos to this function, and also set how long your device sits unattended before the screensaver kicks in.
A smaller addition to the UI is Steam’s personalized calendar, now added to the ‘recommended’ tab within Big Picture Mode. It’ll give a quick overview of new and upcoming games Steam reckons you’ll be interested in.
Beta Steam client releases can be buggier and less stable than the final build, so if you’re not absolutely desperate to plaster custom screensavers and artwork across your device, you might want to hold out, as these features will inevitably make their way to a future public release of the Steam client.
For the Steam Deck in particular, this update brings another layer of polish to the handheld gaming PC, which recently passed a major milestone of 30,000 compatible Steam games.