PSA: Steam's new look & feel is out of beta

by Randy Nelson on Apr 27th 2010 3:30AM

We're not sure why, but, when presented with the option to try out Steam's new user interface weeks ahead of time, some people actually said, "No thanks -- the future scares me." Well, just to prove you can't escape from your future (or because it considered the face-lift ready to go live) Valve has flipped the switch labeled "New UI" and your Steam client is in for a world of change -- like it or not.

The next time you fire up your Steam client, you'll be prompted to install the update, thus severing all ties to the past. If this thought is just a little too much to bear, you can always take a screenshot of the old UI (it's the Print Screen key) before clicking "Update." If, for some reason, you don't have Steam on your PC, the client -- all new-UI-ified -- can be downloaded here.

Source

Tags: steam, ui, valve

Reader Comments (44)

I beta tested it when it was first available. It was really slow then, but it has since improved. Definitely a nice update.

I like the new look much better than the old one. I've been in the beta for it for several months now and haven't looked back.

THIS SUCKS

Seriously, why change something that don't need fixing.

just because it isnt broken doesnt mean it can't or shouldnt be improved.

Well, I also tried it earlier today, and I just hate because of the layout.

Well fortunatly for us, your opinion doesn't affect the UI release. The new UI is there, like it or not, and i personally think its fantastic. Everyone will get used to it.

Planes were never broken, but they were fixed/improved.
Same goes for guns, food, cars, medicine, computers and jesus.

http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad325/BlackJackTemp/raptor-jesus.jpg

And this is why I don't post comments. Everyone gets very hostile to you if your opinion doesn't match theirs. Or maybe its just the morning people without their coffees on.

I bet you're still using Windows XP.

Remember this is an international site. I'm commenting from Australia, where its now about 8pm. Coffee is off limits now. I wasn't being hostile, i was just saying for those of us who love the new layout once we got used to it, we're glad your opinion doesn't mean anything substantial in regards to the UI release.

Just sayin...

Come on Iglaw, i was using XP up until 3 months ago even with my gaming PC. I saw what Vista did to people. to their sanity, to their computers, TO THEIR CHILDREN!!

I wouldn't touch Vista with a 50 foot barge-pole, but im gladly now sitting here with Windows 7 installed.

It's funny because Windows 7 is nearly identical to Windows Vista. Today they are equally stable and if Windows 7 had been released back when Vista was it would be equally as reviled.

I agree with you, Hog Robbrer. I much prefer the old UI, but that's just the way it goes. Would have been nice if valve would have been willing to keep it as a skin.

People get hostile because of how your post your opinion, not that you posted it. If you hadn't started with "THIS SUCKS," I guarantee the reaction to your comment would have been much better.

It's amazing how much bad publicity effects sales and consumer trust.
I mean, I'm pretty sure XP started off rockier than Vista did and that somehow managed to keep going. Vista on the other hand wasn't even given a chance. I'm blaming the Mac ads attacking it.
I've been using Vista x64 for almost three years now and I haven't crashed once. Much better than what I remember with XP.

so where's the mac client?

valve time, if you want steam on mac, you must accept the laws of valve time.

It's supposed to arrive in April. Which, according to Valve Time, means we should see it in May...

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Valve_Time

...or maybe Q4 or something...

...whatever, just stop whining!

That's not whining.

I know how you feel. Every time I see Steam mentioned on a blog (which is a lot, actually) I think it's the news that it's finally available to download for Macs. But it never is. :(

Oh well, that's why I've created 10 new WoW characters in the past 24 hours. Whee. :P

reminds me of the metro ui on the zune hd.

I like the new look of it and welcome our robot overlords.

Speaking of Steam; does anyone know if I can purchase the Digital Deluxe version of Mass Effect 2 for the PC but only use the Collector Armor code for the Xbox 360 instead of the PC?

The PC version is apparently cheaper, seeing as I missed out on the Collectors Edition for the 360, this is my only route. Also, I want my sibling to play the PC version of the game - without the collector Armor of course, he doesn't care for it - while I have the Collector Armor code for the 360. Would he be able to play it on his rig?

How does the digital purchase work?

I can't be completely sure, but I'm fairly certain when you enter the code it lets you choose the platforms that you use and it syncs to them all.

But I could be thinking about the Mass Effect Dragon Age Armor that came with Dragon Age. And it could also be completely different for 360 users vs PC users

Thanks, itskrislol, that does make sense though. I guess I'll see, heh.

I remember an article on here that said someone saw some HL2 achievements in the Beta for this. Got me all excited about the prospect of maybe, possibly getting an official Orange Box update with it.

Maybe some day...

Got me all excited too. To the point where I replayed HL2 all over again, only to get no achievements :-(

A man can dream ...

There were achievements for riccochet and half life blue shift. I think they're still showing for blue shift, but they're not actually available :(

Maybe when episode 3 comes out (HA!) we'll get some achievements for their older games...

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/24/steam-ui-update-beta-now-live-half-life-2-achievements-spotted/

I believe those achievements have been in the code ever since Orange Box released. The new Steam UI just exposed them on the achievements page.

Took me a while to get use to, I don't know how much I care for the new "Steam for Dummies" layout but atleast it looks fresh. Thank god they didn't screw with the default color scheme much.

Been beta testing this for some time now, and I'm extremely pleased with how it's been updated, especially the In-game interface. The web browser there runs much smoother.

For those who aren't a real fan of the layout for either the Library or Store or you-name-it, you can enable "Small Mode" from the options and just get a list of your games like the good ol' days. I'm actually glad they brought that feature back.

When I first installed it I didn't like it, only because I didn't know where everything was. Then after 5 minutes of looking around I loved it. Only hope they bring in even more support for non steam games instead of just shortcuts.

Overall I like it though.

Is anyone else not able to play their games? When I try to load any game it says "Scanning Games for updates" forever, despite all my games being upto date.

Along side it now takes forever to load and crashes./
I find it odd to make a new UI that uses more resources then less.

The new client is more efficient. They made a lot of changes to the back end. When you close a Steam window, it destroys the current content so there is minimal resource usage when you have no Steam windows open. For example, load up the Store page, close it, then open it again. It will reload everything. Before, Steam kept that stuff cached and ready to go.

Right now, on my computer, Steam is using 20MB of RAM and 0% CPU. When I open the Store page and leave it idle, Steam uses about 60MB of RAM and 2% CPU.

A small number of people seem to be having problems with the new client, but Steam has been fast and crash-free so far for me, and I've been using it since the beta. I'd recommend backing up your steamapps folder (this folder contains all of your games) and reinstalling Steam. That should hopefully fix your problems.

Steam is Like going to sit in the Oprah Audience... You want to go everyday cause you never know when she is just gonna start giving away stuff. (AKA 80% off sales on steam.)

I don't really even bother to shop for games much anymore, I just check the deals on Steam and grab something when it's really low, and then play that... I got 4 copies of L4D for $20 last year. Mass Effect 1 for $5, EQ1 for $1.90 and EQ2 with all expansions for $5.

Honest question - why do you need 4 copies of L4D?

for all my kids. I gift them to their steam accounts.

I was using this since BETA and to be honest: although it looks good, still needs a lot of improvement. The added a custom category function so you can create lists like "Backlog", "Online Multiplayer Games", "First-Person Shooters". I tried adding Loom to "Adventure" and "Vintage" and noticed you can only add a game to a single category. A multi-tag system would be far better. Also, It may be a bug but I can't view the whole custom category list as they show here: http://cdn.store.steampowered.com/public/images/uiupdate/library_inline.jpg

I don't know why so many people are hating on it. I think it's pretty slick.

I'm really happy with it. In the beta I was always annoyed because at first they took out the mini games list, but now it's back. Everything else is better in every way. To be honest I do kind of miss the old IM sound but that's just nitpicking. This update was a huge improvement.

NEW STEAM IS HORRIBLE!

The old steam had meaning to it. To me, it was an icon for many old-school games (half life, cs, etc.) in which my gaming origins are rooted. This new client goes completely against this. Its just some lifless POS that is just trying to bag steam more money. Having money as the motivation behind your product kills it for me.

While that may not be their reasons, that is what it means to me. I can usually adapt with and embrace change, but not when the principle behind it is so conflicting with my own.

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PSA: Steam's new look & feel is out of beta

Reader Comments (44)

Posted: Apr 27th 2010 3:36AM MrCassian said

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