Valve has released a new SteamOS Beta update for Steam Deck and it finally sorts out the Firefox situation, along with hints of hardware changes, or a new controller coming?
With Firefox previously being installed with the OS, it would only update with the OS updates and Valve were lagging behind on it (a lot). Now it's a Flatpak from Flathub, so it will get installed and updated via the Discover app so you will be able to sort updates yourself in desktop mode.
They also added a "VGUI2 Classic" desktop theme, made it so network connections made and edited in desktop mode will now be system wide to work properly in Gaming Mode, initial IBus IME input support on desktop mode for Chinese / Japanese / Korean keyboards, and fixed up Xbox login window for Flight Simulator and Halo Infinite not rendering certain characters properly.
Pictured - VGUI2 Classic.
One that really catches the eye though is the note that there's been updates to "controller firmware utilities to support future controller hardware revisions". Before getting overly excited about a Steam Controller 2 though, it's most likely aimed towards adjustments to manufacturing of the Steam Deck as we already know it's had a few adjustments since the initial first batch. That said, I would love a Steam Controller 2, please Valve.
Update — not too long after, Valve also released a Steam Deck Client Beta with these changes:
- Added favorite and popular guides to the Steam Overlay for easy access
- Added notification when Steam Deck temperature goes outside the safe operating range
- Achievement progress notifications (ie. You've collected 5/100 berries) will no longer play sounds
- Resized virtual keyboard in Desktop mode to the appropriate dimensions
- Fixed some performance problems for users with many screenshots
- Fixed some navigation issues on an app's Achievements page
- Fixed some touch styling issues with the virtual keyboard
- Fixed sound playing for achievement progress notifications
- Fixed overlay menu issues with games that do not have achievements
Pictured - the new Guides part of the Steam Deck Overlay.
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Maybe that future controller hardware revisions might be about the Deckard Controllers, considering it will (very most likely) also run a very similar, if not the same SteamOS?
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mr-victory Jul 27, 2022
Liam can you send a screenshot of the VGUI2 theme?
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Added the new Deck Client Beta info.
Last edited by Liam Dawe on 27 July 2022 at 10:18 pm UTC
Liam can you send a screenshot of the VGUI2 theme?Added.
Last edited by Liam Dawe on 27 July 2022 at 10:18 pm UTC
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no_information_here Jul 28, 2022
That said, I would love a Steam Controller 2, please Valve.
Yes please! I live in fear of my Steam Controller dying. There is nothing out there that can stand in its place.
6 Likes, Who?
That said, I would love a Steam Controller 2, please Valve.
Yes please! I live in fear of my Steam Controller dying. There is nothing out there that can stand in its place.
Mine just died!
A steam controller based on the Steam Deck controls would be amazing. Both joysticks and touch pads.
2 Likes, Who?
Craggles086 Jul 28, 2022
So if your ever going to release a Steam Controller 2, then releasing one at the same time as when you release
the Seam Dock (deckard?)
and Steam 3.0 for the PC
and with the copy cats coming out trying to emulate what Valve are doing with the SteamDeck, maybe one or two will have another go with the PC too.
the Seam Dock (deckard?)
and Steam 3.0 for the PC
and with the copy cats coming out trying to emulate what Valve are doing with the SteamDeck, maybe one or two will have another go with the PC too.
1 Likes, Who?
Craggles086 Jul 28, 2022
That said, I would love a Steam Controller 2, please Valve.
Yes please! I live in fear of my Steam Controller dying. There is nothing out there that can stand in its place.
Mine just died!
A steam controller based on the Steam Deck controls would be amazing. Both joysticks and touch pads.
My old one got packed away in a cupboard somewhere for emergencies.
Bought a new one when I heard they soon might become endangered. Would prefer not to have to fall back to old one, but we will see.
Currently swapping between my Steam Controller and an Astro C40.
Steam Controller mainly for FPS and games requiring some mouse input
but Windows does some weird stuff with the Astro C40 at times which make it invisible to the OS.
Steam Client on Linux on the other hand has never had any problems with either controller.
Last edited by Craggles086 on 28 July 2022 at 3:34 am UTC
0 Likes
gradyvuckovic Jul 28, 2022
Imagine if we could buy 'game specific' desktop themes in the Steam Point Shop that game developers could create to go with their games.
Love Skyrim? Buy the Skyrim desktop theme and apply it in the SteamOS UI, go back to Desktop mode, and the colours, fonts, trims on window shapes, everything, are all Skyrim aesthetic. Error message sound effects replaced with Skyrim death sounds, etc. Folder icons look like loot chests. Etc.
I'd totally use a Cyberpunk 2077 theme.
Love Skyrim? Buy the Skyrim desktop theme and apply it in the SteamOS UI, go back to Desktop mode, and the colours, fonts, trims on window shapes, everything, are all Skyrim aesthetic. Error message sound effects replaced with Skyrim death sounds, etc. Folder icons look like loot chests. Etc.
I'd totally use a Cyberpunk 2077 theme.
4 Likes, Who?
and with the copy cats coming out trying to emulate what Valve are doing with the SteamDeck, maybe one or two will have another go with the PC too.
Never heard of Steam Deck copycats. There's a bunch of companies working on handheld PC systems but those have been around for years prior to the Deck's announcement.
1 Likes, Who?
mr-victory Jul 28, 2022
The theme is so cool! Now I started to understand why they went with KDE Plasma
They should have disabled blur for this theme, though.
They should have disabled blur for this theme, though.
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The Guides part could be really handy, especially if it was easy to find SteamDeck specific guides that way.
For some games, it's really hard to get the controller mapping, especially if you didn't already play them on desktop.
For some games, it's really hard to get the controller mapping, especially if you didn't already play them on desktop.
0 Likes
I love the constant updates. I just wish I could get my hands on that device.
1 Likes, Who?
mr-victory Jul 28, 2022
ugly theme looks like Windows 98 Plus.That's the point, except that instead of an ugly (IMO) gray and blue you get a nice military green and gold for retro vibes!
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Before getting overly excited about a Steam Controller 2 thoughtoo late
I was fortunate and crazy enough to buy two of the $5 liquidation controllers. They're sitting still wrapped up in the closet. I had two before that in case someone else wanted to play with me.
Last edited by EWG on 28 July 2022 at 11:36 am UTC
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Before getting overly excited about a Steam Controller 2 thoughtoo late
I was fortunate and crazy enough to buy two of the $5 liquidation controllers. They're sitting still wrapped up in the closet. I had two before that in case someone else wanted to play with me.
Good call. SteamController is amazing, especially in combination with the Deck and I'd love to have more then the 2 I already own. Recently had a 4 player couch session with 2 SCs and 2 PS4 controllers and the SCs were the ones people wanted to use.
I really hope for a SC2, if only for the dpad. And I hope it will come with rounded trackpads again.
1 Likes, Who?
ugly theme looks like Windows 98 Plus.That's the point, except that instead of an ugly (IMO) gray and blue you get a nice military green and gold for retro vibes!
That's the original steam look, so definitely aiming for the retro aesthetics here.
They should also disable blur and most animations to go with it and make it feel solid, utilitarian :)
Edit: also, I missed the news about the SC being discontinued. I've been using my 2 quite intensively, and they do show some signs of wear. Also they can be buggy at times (only one registered on the xinput interface the other day, also steam Big picture is sometimes buggy with deadzones and activators not configuring properly, glitchy UI).
It's a shame, as I wanted to get more. I guess it also explains the lack of bug fixing and firmware updates?
Last edited by MayeulC on 28 July 2022 at 12:10 pm UTC
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areamanplaysgame Jul 28, 2022
and with the copy cats coming out trying to emulate what Valve are doing with the SteamDeck, maybe one or two will have another go with the PC too.
Never heard of Steam Deck copycats. There's a bunch of companies working on handheld PC systems but those have been around for years prior to the Deck's announcement.
Look back through the archives a couple of weeks. One of these companies (which previously shit all over the Deck for reasons including "it runs Linux so it will suck") has recently announced plans to install SteamOS on future handhelds, and another has announced its own rival Linux-based gaming OS.
0 Likes
slaapliedje Jul 28, 2022
So I had gone back to stable in an attempt to fix an issue I was running into, but it wasn't stable/beta that caused it, it was flatpak. I couldn't get it to install any new updates. This was due to having installed a beta heroic game launcher and some other package I don't remember at the moment. Flatpak apparently was confused that both were there, and I had to remove them via command line.
So now I'm going back to the beta version so I can get that theme!
Edit: What they need to do is update the libinput so that you don't have to have Steam running for the controller inputs to work... whenever I go into desktop mode, I have to wait for Steam to start before the controller input works at all (just like the Steam Controller).
Last edited by slaapliedje on 28 July 2022 at 12:18 pm UTC
So now I'm going back to the beta version so I can get that theme!
Edit: What they need to do is update the libinput so that you don't have to have Steam running for the controller inputs to work... whenever I go into desktop mode, I have to wait for Steam to start before the controller input works at all (just like the Steam Controller).
Last edited by slaapliedje on 28 July 2022 at 12:18 pm UTC
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I've suddenly got a lot more interested in these articles since my Deck arrived this morning!
4 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Jul 28, 2022
@Liam
No fair! Do they somehow know to let you have fun with the juicy bits before others? I tried to update mine, and after switching to beta and beta channel, I end up with the build from 20220718.1, so do not have the theme available.
No fair! Do they somehow know to let you have fun with the juicy bits before others? I tried to update mine, and after switching to beta and beta channel, I end up with the build from 20220718.1, so do not have the theme available.
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