In the latest Beta release for Steam from May 5th, Valve finally did some more work on scaling the UI of the Steam Client. Quite overdue isn't it?
From the release notes they mentioned Steam will now use the global scale factor as configured via KDE or GNOME settings, specifically from org.gnome.desktop.interface/text-scaling-factor. Valve has also re-introduced GDK_SCALE as a fallback, and there's also a command line switch to let you override it with -forcedesktopscaling float now available.
Other fixes in the Beta from May 5th include:
General
- Fixed big black rectangle sometimes showing up in small mode at start time.
- Fixed context menus sometimes getting squashed in small mode.
Steam Input
- Fix Right Trackpad Click in the controller binding listening page being bound to Left Stick Click.
- Improved digital navigation in GamePad Action Binding Tab when selecting LED Color Action.
All these changes also apply to the Steam Deck.
There was also an update on May 4th that I missed as well, as Valve are working to fix up all the issues that came along with the newer UI and the new Steam Overlay. For desktop here's the changes:
General
- Fixed issues with navigating forward and back when the client's start page is the Library
- Tweaked the order and presentation of some items in the account menu
- Fixed library artwork not automatically updating in some cases
- Fixed developer, publisher, and franchise links not working in game info panel
- Fixed some formatting issues on downloads page
- Made download throttle setting field honor the bits-per-second/bytes-per-second toggle setting
- Changed default display of download rate to bits per second.
- LED Personalization now has has dedicated sub-page in Controller Calibration page
- Fixed issue where the cursor position would be reset in Game Notes after auto-saving
Friends List
- Fixed Send Trade Offer opening in the system browser
- Fixed Add to Favorites / Remove from Favorites not dismissing the context menu in some instances
Screenshot Manager
- Fixed screenshots failing to upload when certain privacy settings were selected
- Fixed UI glitch when deleting a local screenshot's caption
In-Game Overlay
- Added cloud sync status icon to Game Notes dialog. If there's a Steam Cloud conflict, clicking on that icon will display a cloud conflict resolution dialog.
- Fixed issue with Friends List context menu items not opening links in the overlay web browser (e.g. "View Profile" or "Send Trade Offer")
- Fixed issue where some dialogs were not appearing correctly (e.g. Invite Friend to Game, Add Friend, etc.)
Linux
- Fixed the file picker dialog not showing any files when browsing for an app icon
- Fixed the Steam Runtime info dialog not showing any information
The majority of that was also on Steam Deck too, although most of it is for desktop mode.
The new design is starting to feel quite a lot more stable now, as it was a bit rough with the recent major Beta upgrade.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
10 comments
I run no DE and I cannot get Steam to scale with any of the suggested solutions. Anyone have any ideas?
Edit: I'm not running Beta... and an idiot!
Last edited by fabertawe on 8 May 2023 at 11:55 am UTC
Edit: I'm not running Beta... and an idiot!
Last edited by fabertawe on 8 May 2023 at 11:55 am UTC
4 Likes, Who?
BlackBloodRum May 8, 2023
I ended up downgrading back to the stable client to be honest. The beta is just too buggy, so far the most annoying things:
- Ctrl + F to find text in a page? You can't, the input box doesn't accept input
- Loading web pages first freezes, so you can't scroll. Go back to library and then go back to the page to be able to scroll
- Can't minimize chat windows easily without messing about with mouse in and out of window view until the button activates
- Purchases can't be completed because the 3D secure auth opens an external browser which excludes the session data
- My overlay is completely blank when opening it in cyberpunk, all I see is the chat box, everything else such as the options at the bottom, friends list, achievements etc simply aren't there at the moment for me.
- Various other little annoying bugs.
It's a shame, because I really liked the redesign, it's just far too buggy for daily usage.
Last edited by BlackBloodRum on 8 May 2023 at 6:58 pm UTC
- Ctrl + F to find text in a page? You can't, the input box doesn't accept input
- Loading web pages first freezes, so you can't scroll. Go back to library and then go back to the page to be able to scroll
- Can't minimize chat windows easily without messing about with mouse in and out of window view until the button activates
- Purchases can't be completed because the 3D secure auth opens an external browser which excludes the session data
- My overlay is completely blank when opening it in cyberpunk, all I see is the chat box, everything else such as the options at the bottom, friends list, achievements etc simply aren't there at the moment for me.
- Various other little annoying bugs.
It's a shame, because I really liked the redesign, it's just far too buggy for daily usage.
Last edited by BlackBloodRum on 8 May 2023 at 6:58 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
TangoBaker May 9, 2023
Quoting: BlackBloodRumLoading web pages first freezes, so you can't scroll. Go back to library and then go back to the page to be able to scroll
So glad you said that, I thought it was just me.
1 Likes, Who?
TheRiddick May 9, 2023
This doesn't appear to work for me. Must be a MESA thing. (I run NV card)
1 Likes, Who?
I don't see any scaling, and I am on the latest beta. The font is just as small as it ever was, it's an abomination in 2023. Valves' "efforts" to make it usable on 4k-screens are just laughable.
I'm on Kubuntu 23.04, btw, with an AMD graphics card and its drivers.
Last edited by Mrokii on 9 May 2023 at 9:34 am UTC
I'm on Kubuntu 23.04, btw, with an AMD graphics card and its drivers.
Last edited by Mrokii on 9 May 2023 at 9:34 am UTC
2 Likes, Who?
DefaultX-od May 9, 2023
Quoting: MrokiiI don't see any scaling, and I am on the latest beta. The font is just as small as it ever was, it's an abomination in 2023. Valves' "efforts" to make it usable on 4k-screens are just laughable.
I'm on Kubuntu 23.04, btw, with an AMD graphics card and its drivers.
Just force it yourself! I did, and and now I can finally see everything clearly on my 14" full HD laptop display!
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: DefaultX-odQuoting: MrokiiI don't see any scaling, and I am on the latest beta. The font is just as small as it ever was, it's an abomination in 2023. Valves' "efforts" to make it usable on 4k-screens are just laughable.
I'm on Kubuntu 23.04, btw, with an AMD graphics card and its drivers.
Just force it yourself! I did, and and now I can finally see everything clearly on my 14" full HD laptop display!
How? I was able to in the past, but nowadays it seems theming isn't even possible anymore, and manually editing Steams' own html (or css?)-files doesn't work either as it seems, Steam is always re-downloading the original version, replacing the edited one.
0 Likes
DefaultX-od May 9, 2023
Quoting: MrokiiQuoting: DefaultX-odQuoting: MrokiiI don't see any scaling, and I am on the latest beta. The font is just as small as it ever was, it's an abomination in 2023. Valves' "efforts" to make it usable on 4k-screens are just laughable.
I'm on Kubuntu 23.04, btw, with an AMD graphics card and its drivers.
Just force it yourself! I did, and and now I can finally see everything clearly on my 14" full HD laptop display!
How? I was able to in the past, but nowadays it seems theming isn't even possible anymore, and manually editing Steams' own html (or css?)-files doesn't work either as it seems, Steam is always re-downloading the original version, replacing the edited one.
Quit Steam completely, and run it from terminal:
steam -forcedesktopscaling 1.25
(You can replace 1.25 with your preferred value)
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: DefaultX-odQuoting: MrokiiQuoting: DefaultX-odQuoting: MrokiiI don't see any scaling, and I am on the latest beta. The font is just as small as it ever was, it's an abomination in 2023. Valves' "efforts" to make it usable on 4k-screens are just laughable.
I'm on Kubuntu 23.04, btw, with an AMD graphics card and its drivers.
Just force it yourself! I did, and and now I can finally see everything clearly on my 14" full HD laptop display!
How? I was able to in the past, but nowadays it seems theming isn't even possible anymore, and manually editing Steams' own html (or css?)-files doesn't work either as it seems, Steam is always re-downloading the original version, replacing the edited one.
Quit Steam completely, and run it from terminal:
steam -forcedesktopscaling 1.25
(You can replace 1.25 with your preferred value)
Thanks, interesting. I just found out that it's possible to set a gdk-scale factor in the .desktop-file. I'll see if I can use your suggested method there, too.
1 Likes, Who?
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