We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.
Update: Valve said this about the missing option to run a game with the big picture mode overlay from the normal desktop client:
QuoteYou have to have a Steam controller active for the config editor option to be present, but the overlay option is disabled right now on Mac and Linux due to focus tracking bugs in SDL preventing it from working properly. This was originally specified in the beta release notes, but got lost in translation, sorry for the mixup.


Original article
A pretty major Steam Client Beta just landed, and with it comes hardware accelerated encoding for In-Home Streaming on Nvidia with Linux, and you can also now configure the Steam Controller for desktop mode (including using the big picture overlay when launching from the desktop client).

QuoteGames launched via the desktop client with an active Steam Controller can optionally use the Big Picture overlay.

This should mean now you don't have to run everything in Big Picture Mode to use the Steam Controller, which is extremely welcome.

Although, I have been unable to get it to work, it looks like it has a new checkbox here:
image
I assume that's the one to make it use the Big Picture Overlay, but there's no text to accompany it (totally a bug), so I could be wrong, but it's the only new option around in the desktop client. I imagine it's just totally broken right now on Linux at least. There's no new option in Big Picture Mode to tell the desktop client to use the Big Picture overlay either.

They also added:
QuoteThe controller configuration for a game can now be edited from its desktop library context menu

You have to have your controller setup, connected and turned on for this option to even appear, which confused me a bit.
image
image

There's the usual performance tweaks for the Steam Controller included, as well as an option to turn it off after 5 or 10 minutes of inactivity now too.

The Nvidia hardware accelerated encoding could be making the way to finally supporting the Broadcasting feature on Linux/SteamOS too.

See the full update notes here. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
0 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
27 comments
Page: «2/3»
  Go to:

Liam Dawe Feb 10, 2016
Quoting: chuzzle44
Quoting: TheBossIn home streaming has worked on Linux for a long time now.
Are you referring to the server or just the client? I know that you could stream from Windows to Mac and Linux, but I was under the impression that it would not work in any other configuration. See Here: http://store.steampowered.com/streaming/ I tried this with my desktop and my laptop, both running Mint. While they detected one another, they would not connect.

I have been able to do Linux to Linux streaming for a long time.
Quoting: minjI am not sure but IRRC the overlay checkbox you are talking about has been there since forever
Look at the top left corner, new checkbox bugged out by itself with no text.
Liam Dawe Feb 10, 2016
I have a bug report in: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4309

They have reviewed it with no comment, so I guess it will be fixed for us to have what they are talking about in a new beta.
chuzzle44 Feb 10, 2016
Quoting: TheBossI have been able to do Linux to Linux streaming for a long time.
Then I guess I was missing something. I will get around to updating Steam and try again.
Liam Dawe Feb 10, 2016
Article updated: You can edit your config from the desktop, but the controller in question has to be setup, plugged in and turned on.

There still isn't an option in the Linux client to use the big picture overlay though, that is a bug as far as i can see.
Renzatic Gear Feb 10, 2016
Perfect timing. My Steam controller comes in today, and I hated the idea of having to bounce into big picture mode to make any changes to it.
Xpander Feb 10, 2016
holy crap! ..finally i dont have to go to that shitty big picture mode.
that is so good :)
Liam Dawe Feb 10, 2016
Update from Valve:
QuoteYou have to have a Steam controller active for the config editor option to be present, but the overlay option is disabled right now on Mac and Linux due to focus tracking bugs in SDL preventing it from working properly. This was originally specified in the beta release notes, but got lost in translation, sorry for the mixup.
Renzatic Gear Feb 10, 2016
WELL HELL! :><:
Stupendous Man Feb 10, 2016
I have been waiting for the desktop option for the controller for a long time, though to be honest I've actually come to like Big Picture, especially now that I'm able to run it on a separate monitor than the Steam desktop window.
drjoms Feb 10, 2016
still controller doesn't work for me.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.