Valve has just launched a major update to the Steam client, bringing an array of substantial new features and enhancements, with the most exciting being the integration of an innovative game recording system. Previously available in a beta format, this system has now been officially added to Steam, giving users an effortless way to capture and share their gameplay directly from the platform. This update marks one of the most significant improvements to Steam in 2024, making it more user-friendly and adding powerful new tools for gamers and content creators alike.
Game Recording: Capture Gameplay with Ease
The standout feature of this update is Steam’s new game recording system, which now comes built into the client. This tool allows players to record gameplay footage in real time, running unobtrusively in the background to ensure no gaming moment is missed. This feature is flexible, enabling users to capture everything from brief highlights to extensive play sessions with ease. With built-in options for clipping and sharing, players now have streamlined access to creating and sharing content directly from Steam.
This change is especially appealing to content creators, who often rely on third-party software to record gameplay. Now, they can do this within Steam, minimizing the need for extra tools and simplifying the video-sharing process. Valve has also released an information page on the Game Recording system, explaining its various features and providing tips on how to get the most out of the tool.
Dropping Support for Older Operating Systems
The 2024 update also includes significant system requirements changes. Steam will no longer support Windows 7 and Windows 8, as well as macOS versions 10.13 and 10.14. Valve’s decision to drop these older OS versions is aligned with the growing demands of modern gaming software, allowing Steam to focus on optimizing performance for newer systems. Users on unsupported operating systems will no longer receive updates to their Steam client, and Valve has published FAQs to help users transition if they need to upgrade their systems.
Other Improvements and Bug Fixes
Alongside game recording, Valve has included a host of minor fixes and quality-of-life improvements across various Steam functionalities:
- Windows and macOS: Addressed bugs related to dragging and dropping text in chat, enhanced progress bar accuracy during game updates, and fixed issues affecting game overlays.
- Remote Play: Added AV1 video streaming for high-end systems and resolved cursor sizing problems when streaming.
- Steam Overlay: Fixed crashes in specific Direct3D 9 games.
- Steam Input: Enhanced controller support, including better functionality for PlayStation’s DualSense controllers and other tweaks for compatibility.
- Linux: Improved startup times and added better integration for native titles with the “Steam for Linux runtime 1.0” as the default runtime, aligning Linux desktop distributions more closely with Steam Deck.
Improved Big Picture Mode and Discovery Queue
Valve has made a series of refinements to Big Picture Mode and the Discovery Queue, focusing on user experience. The Discovery Queue now has smoother animation, making it easier to explore new games. Additionally, Big Picture Mode received several input fixes, improving the text entry dialog and the on-screen keyboard’s responsiveness during gaming.
Steam’s major update of 2024 brings substantial improvements to its platform, highlighted by the long-awaited game recording feature that enables users to capture, edit, and share gameplay seamlessly. Dropping support for outdated OS versions also aligns with Valve’s forward-looking approach, ensuring Steam can continue to evolve with industry standards. Overall, this update makes Steam even more accessible and appealing to gamers, content creators, and anyone looking to document their gameplay experiences.
For more information and the full patch notes, Steam users can visit the official update page to dive deeper into all the latest changes.
