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.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
@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.
I have the theme available...
0 Likes
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.
I see. I thought you meant copycat as in "offers a handheld PC console form-factor", not as in "offers a linux gaming device".
Valve has indeed popularized (even enabled, to some degree) Linux gaming. But the connotations of calling a company a "copycat" are quite negative, almost makes it look like a bad thing that other companies with years of experience in the "PC Gaming Handheld" market are following up on Valve and start considering offering Linux gaming alternatives as a 1st party supported thing. I, for one, am pretty excited about that :)
1 Likes, Who?
mr-victory Jul 28, 2022
I packaged the theme. Extract it to ~/.local/share
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/865350452295106590/1002256352770523267/vgui2-theme.7z
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/865350452295106590/1002256352770523267/vgui2-theme.7z
1 Likes, Who?
Philadelphus Jul 28, 2022
Added favorite and popular guides to the Steam Overlay for easy accessSweet! Sometimes it's nice to be able to have a guide open and switch back and forth to it, and now I can do it on my Deck.
0 Likes
CyborgZeta Jul 28, 2022
I'd be interested in a new Steam Controller with a layout similar to the Deck. I like my DualSense, but I also like the Deck's control layout.
0 Likes
slaapliedje Jul 28, 2022
Wonder if it was just a case of time zone roll out. I'll have to check in a bit.@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.
I have the theme available...
0 Likes
If anyone wants to buy my Steam Controller for $10 + shipping in the US, offer is there. I stopped using it after I got my steam deck. It is used, obviously, but it still works.
0 Likes
areamanplaysgame Jul 29, 2022
But the connotations of calling a company a "copycat" are quite negative
Well, I'm not the one who said it, but I have no issue with calling GPD that. They are a shit company and they are literally jumping on not only the "Linux bandwagon," but specifically SteamOS, after spreading outright lies about Steam Deck. I have no sympathy for them.
0 Likes
But the connotations of calling a company a "copycat" are quite negative
Well, I'm not the one who said it, but I have no issue with calling GPD that. They are a shit company and they are literally jumping on not only the "Linux bandwagon," but specifically SteamOS, after spreading outright lies about Steam Deck. I have no sympathy for them.
The whole situation about GPD was childish and a bit of a PR disaster. I wasn't aware of any outright lies though. IIRC GPD's crimes against humanity amount to using a bunch of videos without permission or giving credit, blocking Liam on twitter when he called them out on it and claiming that GPD devices are better because they run Windows and you can pirate games on them.
I won't defend them, because they did something stupid, but I'm still happy they are betting on Linux. I wouldn't get so mad over childish community manager drama. I'll save my anger for Microsoft's years of monopolizing the desktop PC market, or Facebook's (Meta
) aggressive tracking and privacy-invasive practices.Needless to say, there are other companies like OneXPlayer or Aya Neo which also seem to be betting on Linux and have had no PR twitter drama that I'm aware of. Specifically the upcoming Aya Neo Air looks like a legit competitor to the steam deck if they can keep that price tag of ~$500!
Last edited by setzer22 on 29 July 2022 at 1:58 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
I'll save my anger for Microsoft's years of monopolizing the desktop PC market, or Facebook's (MetaDrifting way off topic, but I read where an iPhone privacy measure where people get to opt out of being tracked certain ways cost Facebook ten billion dollars in ad revenue. LMAO!!!
I'm not normally an Apple fan, but that had me saying "Go Apple!"
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 29 July 2022 at 5:07 pm UTC
3 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Jul 30, 2022
We need Samsung and Google and other Android distributors to do the same. Facebook should die in a fire.I'll save my anger for Microsoft's years of monopolizing the desktop PC market, or Facebook's (MetaDrifting way off topic, but I read where an iPhone privacy measure where people get to opt out of being tracked certain ways cost Facebook ten billion dollars in ad revenue. LMAO!!!
I'm not normally an Apple fan, but that had me saying "Go Apple!"
1 Likes, Who?
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me