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Valve have released another Beta for the Steam Client, the first Beta of 2020 and it pulls in a couple Linux fixes.

Firstly, the newer Steam Library view got some adjustments which includes the played/unplayed filters no longer including/excluding games that were installed but not played. A good fix, making the filters actually accurate. Valve also improved performance of the library artwork "precacher", there's a new "What's New" settings dialogue (with new options) to make it easier to manage what shows up too like this (click the cog next to What's New):

Also fixed this time are hidden achievements sometimes still appearing as hidden in the activity feed even after being achieved and an issue with wrong audio being played from a multi-disc soundtrack was solved. SteamNetworkingSockets also got a fix for a crash caused by certain types of P2P connection failures.

Remote Play got a few tweaks too like cursor scaling on different resolutions and they added a client-side screen magnifier for the toggle magnification controller binding. Remote Play Together will also now actually tell you if you can't join a user due to country or Family View restrictions.

On the Linux side, there's a fix for the Steam Library on NFS mounts and a crash when preparing the hardware survey was solved. See the full changelog here.

Before getting too excited about the hardware survey fix, it's likely not going to really change the percentage of Linux shown. Looking around, it doesn't seem to have been a problem for long (bug report).


On the subject of the Steam Hardware Survey, the December report went up showing Linux dropping down to 0.67% (-0.14%) which is the biggest drop in a long time. However, it seems this is being pushed by a sudden surge of users on Steam from Asia again. I've actually emailed Valve about it, since Windows 7 and Simplified Chinese both rose by over 14%. Last time that happened, it was a bug in their reporting system.

I've been told my report has been sent to the people responsible to look into it. I'll be waiting a while to see if they adjust it before adding December to our Steam Tracker.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Apps, Beta, Steam, Update
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11 comments
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Pikolo Jan 10, 2020
Windows 7 is going out of support at the end of January, so that's an odd OS to rise in popularity... I've converted the second grandma to Kubuntu this Gravmass
Eike Jan 10, 2020
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Quoting: PikoloI've converted the second grandma to Kubuntu this Gravmass

That's cool!

... and Gravmass is, too - never heart of it!
haspadar Jan 10, 2020
Actually the issue with hardware survey is reported back in Aug 2017
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/5114
Liam Dawe Jan 10, 2020
Quoting: velemasActually the issue with hardware survey is reported back in Aug 2017
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/5114
2017, likely nothing to do with the bug that came up and fixed now.
Stenka Jan 10, 2020
Maybe one day Valve adds support VAAPI encoding for AMD users... https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4890

3 years ago and still nothing... for gaming on steam link nvidia is better.


Last edited by Stenka on 10 January 2020 at 6:31 pm UTC
fenevadkan Jan 10, 2020
NFS fix, yessss!!!!!! Finally, i have been waiting for this so long. Although luckily I could circumvent this problem, but it is now more relaxing that it is finally fixed. I am not home yet, but cant wait to try it out.
Whitewolfe80 Jan 11, 2020
mmmm curious i wonder how much valve is making off linux gamers using proton it must be more than they are spending on dxvk development and mesa improvements otherwise one would assume their patience will run out eventually. I know they crap money but after dealing with big corporations aquistions for most of my career i doubt they are willing to lose money perpectually.
fenevadkan Jan 11, 2020
Just tried it out and I can confirm the NFS fix works indeed, great job! One of the most important fixes and features.
Purple Library Guy Jan 12, 2020
Quoting: Whitewolfe80mmmm curious i wonder how much valve is making off linux gamers using proton it must be more than they are spending on dxvk development and mesa improvements otherwise one would assume their patience will run out eventually. I know they crap money but after dealing with big corporations aquistions for most of my career i doubt they are willing to lose money perpectually.
Not sure the mindset of normal big corporations works well when trying to predict Valve. Valve has a weird ownership structure.
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