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.
For some games, it's really hard to get the controller mapping, especially if you didn't already play them on desktop.
mr-victory Jul 28, 2022
Quoting: Guestugly 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!
QuoteBefore 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
Quoting: EWGQuoteBefore 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.
Quoting: mr-victoryQuoting: Guestugly 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
areamanplaysgame Jul 28, 2022
Quoting: setzer22Quoting: Craggles086and 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.
slaapliedje Jul 28, 2022
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
slaapliedje Jul 28, 2022
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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