Steam gets a redesign and new functions
A major Steam update for the library will be released on 17 September. Valve has not only made some visual changes, but the organisation of your games should also become easier.
Steam has undergone numerous redesigns since its launch in 2003. The most recent concerns the library. The beta will be rolled out on 17 September and is likely to be one of the more extensive updates. At first glance, numerous visual changes are noticeable. The grey colour style has remained, but everything looks a little more stylish and tidier. I wouldn't describe the design as really elegant, but Steam has never been known for that.
In addition to the design improvements, Valve has made many adjustments to the user interface. For example, the new library home page shows you your friends' activities, games you may have forgotten about and updates on your current games.
A feature called Collections also sounds interesting. It replaces the old category system and lets you organise your library according to tags such as RPG, Shooter or Adventure. New games are automatically added to a collection you create. This allows you to easily sort your collection by genre. Existing categories are converted directly into collections.
The overview pages for the individual games have also been revised. They now more prominently display your achievements or screenshots that you have recently taken
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Events in games often pass players by when they are not actively playing the game. That's why developers can now display events prominently in your library.
The recently added Steam Labs feature, where Valve is experimenting with new functions, has also received a few improvements. Probably the most interesting of these, the Steam Labs search, where you can search through titles that are relevant to you, can now be customised with more filters. For example, you can now display games in a certain price range or those that are currently on sale. In addition, the list now scrolls endlessly and no longer in countless separate pages.
If you are interested in the update, you can take part in the public beta, which will be released on 17 September. All you have to do is activate beta participation in the Steam settings.
Being the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.