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Steam Deck and Steam desktop both got a fresh Beta release, with plenty of bug fixing involved and Valve are dropping support for older versions of Windows.

The changelog as expected, continues being basically the same across both, now Valve has merged the Steam Deck UI into the Desktop client, with only one changed being specific to the Steam Deck and there's no noted Linux desktop specific changes this time around.

Here's what's changed:

General

  • Added "End of Life" alert for Windows 7/8/8.1. Steam Client support for these operating systems will end on Jan 1st, 2024 at 10am. See here for additional details.
  • Display an error if the user is trying to log in anonymously in the client. This mode is only supported for steamcmd.
  • Uninstalling a game no longer displays a modal dialog
  • Fixed "Manage Storage" button opening the storage settings page
  • Fix soundtrack cover art not appearing in content management panel
  • Fixed popup menus opening at the wrong DPI in multi-monitor mixed-DPI configurations.

Big Picture Mode

  • Removed support for -oldbigpicture command-line option
  • Fixed some styling issues in the Quick Access Menu > Friends List
  • Fixed some issues with notification toasts appearing in the wrong location in multi-monitor setups or with different DPI settings
  • Apply text filtering preferences in Guides in the Overlay
  • Removed soundtracks from All Collections since it has its own tab
  • Fixed an issue where two settings pages could be visible at once
  • Fixed the switching of monitors when going in/out of BPM at start up
  • Fixed overflowing friends list when sharing a screenshot
  • Expand the hitbox of buttons in the footer to make them easier to click

Steam Deck

  • Fixed issue where a game's specific uninstall UI was not visible

Steam Input

  • Increase responsiveness of the "Joystick Deadzone" visualization
  • Gyro As Joystick can now optionally output to Left Joystick
  • Fixed Gyro's Left/Right Stick Deflection Modifier not working
  • Fixed Modeshift bindings not being removable when viewing the command on the input

macOS

  • Fix Steam Overlay crash in some games using Metal graphics API
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Zappor Mar 28, 2023
when 64-bit linux client
Eike Mar 28, 2023
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Quoting: Zapporwhen 64-bit linux client

why 64-bit linux client
CatKiller Mar 28, 2023
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Quoting: Eike
Quoting: Zapporwhen 64-bit linux client

why 64-bit linux client

The idea is that if Steam is 64-bit (but still able to launch all those 32-bit games that will never be updated) then distros (and users) can drop all those (poorly secured) 32-bit packages that are no one wants to (or even really does) maintain.

The reasons for Ubuntu's (premature) desire to drop the maintenance and packaging of 32-bit packages at the same time as they dropped their 32-bit install images are still true, it's just that the infrastructure for ruining 32-bit proprietary applications on an entirely 64-bit system weren't yet up to the task. Without a significant push, it'll never be up to the task, and Valve dragging their feet on removing their dependency on 32-bit packages delays that push.

As I understand it.
Eike Mar 28, 2023
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Quoting: CatKiller
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: Zapporwhen 64-bit linux client

why 64-bit linux client

The idea is that if Steam is 64-bit (but still able to launch all those 32-bit games that will never be updated) then distros (and users) can drop all those (poorly secured) 32-bit packages that are no one wants to (or even really does) maintain.

The reasons for Ubuntu's (premature) desire to drop the maintenance and packaging of 32-bit packages at the same time as they dropped their 32-bit install images are still true, it's just that the infrastructure for ruining 32-bit proprietary applications on an entirely 64-bit system weren't yet up to the task. Without a significant push, it'll never be up to the task, and Valve dragging their feet on removing their dependency on 32-bit packages delays that push.

As I understand it.

But where would all those 32 bit games get their environment from?
As I understand it, a single 32 bit game I want to run would eliminate the advantages, right?
tohur Mar 28, 2023
Quoting: CatKiller
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: Zapporwhen 64-bit linux client

why 64-bit linux client

The idea is that if Steam is 64-bit (but still able to launch all those 32-bit games that will never be updated) then distros (and users) can drop all those (poorly secured) 32-bit packages that are no one wants to (or even really does) maintain.

The reasons for Ubuntu's (premature) desire to drop the maintenance and packaging of 32-bit packages at the same time as they dropped their 32-bit install images are still true, it's just that the infrastructure for ruining 32-bit proprietary applications on an entirely 64-bit system weren't yet up to the task. Without a significant push, it'll never be up to the task, and Valve dragging their feet on removing their dependency on 32-bit packages delays that push.

As I understand it.

Will still need those (poorly secured) 32-bit packages for games regardless so no thats not the reason per say but will still be better for the client to be in 64 bit
rcrit Mar 28, 2023
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Not that I have a lot of sympathy for Windows users but dropping 7 is going to be hard pill to swallow for some. The 10/11 compatibility with some games is apparently pretty bad.
mr-victory Mar 28, 2023
I can't believe millions of PCs are left out. I didn't really expect that.
kuunha Mar 28, 2023
I don´t think Steam client needs to be 32 bits to run 32 bits Linux applications.

If you look in the Steam folder, they have a bunch of Ubuntu 32 and 64 bits libraries. They call this "Steam Runtime".
The "problem" is that this folder gets mixed with system libraries, and you also need to keep 32 bits libs installed in your system.

I remember they talking about make the Steam Runtime run in a container, like Flatpak. So Steam could just load the runtime container to keep compatibility, no need to install extra 32 bits libraries.

Here they talk more about this
Eike Mar 28, 2023
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Quoting: kuunhaI don´t think Steam client needs to be 32 bits to run 32 bits Linux applications.

I don't think anybody said so, though?

My point is: If the vast majority of people is running 32 bit games, they need the environment anyway. Having the gate of making Steam 32 might even spare them some support troubles: If you can run Steam, you've got the basic setup right. The client won't profit too much from 64 bits either - it has got way larger problems than this. So, if I were Valve and would ask myself if I should make the client 64 bits, my question would be: Why would I?
kuunha Mar 28, 2023
I'm just mentioning that, in this case, games would run on top of the Steam Runtime "container". Not in your system libraries. Distributions don't need to ship 32 bit libraries only for this and Steam can even have more than one runtime. Like Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, etc... Like they have for Proton versions.

Even Wine is working on running 32 bits apps on top of Wine 64 bits, without 32 bits installed on the host system. I think it is called WoW64.

I don't know if this will bring profit, probably not. Only Valve can answer that.

I just like the technology


Last edited by kuunha on 28 March 2023 at 3:30 pm UTC
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