Steam beta update adds a new Big Picture view, screensavers, and a little treat for desktop Steam Machines

Valve has recently released a beta update for Steam, delivering a host of enhancements aimed at improving the experience on SteamOS devices such as the Steam Deck and Steam Machine. Among the most notable additions is the introduction of a refreshed Big Picture view for the home screen, which now boasts an uncluttered, clean layout highlighting each game's key art. This new design is accessible in both Big Picture Mode and Gaming Mode on Steam-enabled devices.

Another welcome addition is the inclusion of a built-in screensaver feature, which can be toggled to showcase rotating game artwork or personal screenshots. Although the preset screensaver options may not appeal to everyone, including quirky glitches from games like STALKER 2 or the comforting rhythm of a bouncing Steam logo, users have the option to customize their screensaver by modifying files within the directory.

The update also brings some practical tweaks for SteamOS users. The Compatibility tab within a game's Properties menu now prominently displays the Proton version being used to run the game, a feature previously hidden behind a convoluted sub-option. This change offers a more straightforward route to troubleshoot compatibility issues. Additionally, users can now opt to have SteamOS boot directly into Desktop Mode upon startup, a useful setting for those employing the platform as a standard PC.

With these improvements, the beta update is poised to transition to Steam's stable branch in the near future. Interested users can enable the beta client through the Settings interface on both desktop and SteamOS platforms.