This is the big one. Steam have released a major update of the Steam client which not only adds in some big new features, it also drastically improves the Linux client.
Linux-specific updates:
* Improved interactions between the Steam runtime and host distribution libraries, which should let Steam work out of the box with open-source graphics drivers on modern distributions. If using an older distribution or running into problems, use STEAM_RUNTIME_PREFER_HOST_LIBRARIES=0 to revert to previous behavior.
This next one is particularly fun, as I specifically wrote about it being an issue for nearly 4 years. Shortly after that article Valve sought to fix it.
* Unify close-to-tray behavior with other platforms. If using a distribution that doesn't have proper compatible tray support, use STEAM_FRAME_FORCE_CLOSE=0
* Added idle detection, friend status will now automatically switch to Away/Snooze
* Fixed Steam not obeying SIGTERM, Steam will now gracefully exit when logging out of a session
* Fixed keyboard input and cursor switching in overlay for Vulkan applications
* Update Vulkan loader in the Steam runtime to enable Xlib support
* Updated libxcb in the runtime with a fix for DRI3-related crashes on open-source graphics drivers
Other fun stuff
Steam now supports Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Generic X-Input controller configurator support. So you can custom-map them like you do with the Steam Controller. They also added support for the Emio PS4 "Elite" controller.
It seems Steam will attempt to give you a recommend configuration based on the type of controller you have plugged in too, which is ideal.
Game install folders can be moved to other Steam Library folders under Properties / Local Files. I mentioned this before from the Beta, as it's really useful for people like me who split their library across an SSD or a bigger cheaper HDD depending on what game it is. Some games really are better on an SSD.
An interesting one is this:
* Added support for using the overlay keyboard for games that have launchers.
Hopefully this means on SteamOS that games with launchers might be a bit more usable now, as it would make the SteamOS experience more pleasant too.
It's fantastic to see that Valve has done a pretty decent pass at making the Linux client better. More like this in 2017 please Valve.
See the full update notes here. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Linux-specific updates:
* Improved interactions between the Steam runtime and host distribution libraries, which should let Steam work out of the box with open-source graphics drivers on modern distributions. If using an older distribution or running into problems, use STEAM_RUNTIME_PREFER_HOST_LIBRARIES=0 to revert to previous behavior.
This next one is particularly fun, as I specifically wrote about it being an issue for nearly 4 years. Shortly after that article Valve sought to fix it.
* Unify close-to-tray behavior with other platforms. If using a distribution that doesn't have proper compatible tray support, use STEAM_FRAME_FORCE_CLOSE=0
* Added idle detection, friend status will now automatically switch to Away/Snooze
* Fixed Steam not obeying SIGTERM, Steam will now gracefully exit when logging out of a session
* Fixed keyboard input and cursor switching in overlay for Vulkan applications
* Update Vulkan loader in the Steam runtime to enable Xlib support
* Updated libxcb in the runtime with a fix for DRI3-related crashes on open-source graphics drivers
Other fun stuff
Steam now supports Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Generic X-Input controller configurator support. So you can custom-map them like you do with the Steam Controller. They also added support for the Emio PS4 "Elite" controller.
It seems Steam will attempt to give you a recommend configuration based on the type of controller you have plugged in too, which is ideal.
Game install folders can be moved to other Steam Library folders under Properties / Local Files. I mentioned this before from the Beta, as it's really useful for people like me who split their library across an SSD or a bigger cheaper HDD depending on what game it is. Some games really are better on an SSD.
An interesting one is this:
* Added support for using the overlay keyboard for games that have launchers.
Hopefully this means on SteamOS that games with launchers might be a bit more usable now, as it would make the SteamOS experience more pleasant too.
It's fantastic to see that Valve has done a pretty decent pass at making the Linux client better. More like this in 2017 please Valve.
See the full update notes here. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
Nice to see those improvements going into stable, but isn't it a bit early? The latest beta with the ability to move files hasn't been around for a long time... I would have expected a feature freeze at some point.
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The Steam runtime fix is a big one, I don't have the issue because I'm on NVidia but having to explain to newcomer to Linux that have an AMD card that they can't just install Steam and play out of the box is a real bummer.
Last edited by Nyamiou on 20 January 2017 at 12:09 am UTC
Last edited by Nyamiou on 20 January 2017 at 12:09 am UTC
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I wonder when are they gonna enable dual shock 4 v2 rumble, I'm missing it a lot in grid autosport.
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QuoteFixed Steam not obeying SIGTERM, Steam will now gracefully exit when logging out of a session
By all that is FOSS, finally. That has been such a pain in my side for the past 5 or 6 months.
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Schattenspiegel Jan 20, 2017
Great, but and now the tray menu is broken...
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Quoting: SchattenspiegelGreat, but and now the tray menu is broken...
Yeap :( noticed that too in my ubuntu 16.04 machine.
Edit: Solved with "sudo apt install libdbusmenu-gtk4:i386" as hinted in the link provided bellow. Thanks.
Last edited by faceless on 20 January 2017 at 2:28 pm UTC
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Quoting: SchattenspiegelGreat, but and now the tray menu is broken...
Quoting: facelessYeap :( noticed that too in my ubuntu 16.04 machine.
In which way? Seems to work as before (but I don't use it that much) on my PC (Ubuntu 16.04)... :\
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QuoteGame install folders can be moved to other Steam Library folders under Properties / Local Files.Are you kidding? Valve finally adds one of the most requested features officially to the client? I have three Steam libs on three different disks on my Ubuntu, and I often re-arrange them according to my performance needs. This definitely comes in handy.
And the minimize to tray fix is also more then welcome!
Keep it up Valve!
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Quoting: riusmaQuoting: SchattenspiegelGreat, but and now the tray menu is broken...Quoting: facelessYeap :( noticed that too in my ubuntu 16.04 machine.
In which way? Seems to work as before (but I don't use it that much) on my PC (Ubuntu 16.04)... :\
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4795
The steam client still has a lot of things to improve, but it's getting there.
I think it would however work a lot better if it was 64-bits, as issues like this one could be avoided a bit more easily.
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Quoting: M@yeulChttps://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4795
Thx for the info! :)
As far as I can tell, it works as intended for me on Ubuntu 16.04 with Unity (right or left click, I have a functional menu). Perhaps I have installed in the past the libraries needed to solve the bug (as described in the link) for another reason. :\
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