Steam, Valve déploie une importante mise à jour, quoi de neuf ?

Valve propose une nouvelle version de son client Steam. Elle introduit des nouveautés, améliore le rendu et les performances et corrige des bugs. Elle s’adresse à différents environnements allant de Windows à Linux en passant pas macOS.

Les équipes de développement de Valve proposent depuis quelques heures une nouvelle version de Steam. Son installation permet de profiter d’améliorations attendues depuis longtemps et de plusieurs corrections de bug.

L’un des gros changement concerne la prise en charge de l’ HiDPI (High-DPI) sous Windows 10 Fall Creators Update et un mode 2X pour les plateformes Linux. Cette avancée permet d’avoir des graphiques et du texte en haute résolution sur des moniteurs compatibles 4K.

Pour linux Valve précise que pour forcer la mise à l’échelle il faut ajouter la variable d’environnement “GDK_SCALE = 2” à leur configuration avant de lancer Steam. Pour la désactiver, la valeur de la variable est “GDK_SCALE = 1”. Cette mise à jour apporte également des améliorations lors d’un redimensionnement de la fenêtre.

Steam, des améliorations sous Windows, Linux et macOS

Sous Windows, il y a désormais la prise en charge de l’exFat, des animations de transition à l’ouverture, la fermeture ou le passage à la barre des tâches des fenêtres Steam. Les joueurs sous macOS profitent d’une meilleure intégration native des fenêtres. Valve annonce le support du contrôleur Sony DS4 via Bluetooth et des améliorations de fiabilité concernant les pilotes Streaming Audio et Steam Input sur macOS,

Enfin les captures en streaming pour les cartes graphique Radeon R9 200/300 bénéficient ont été optimisées tandis que l’utilisation des ressources processeurs est réduite lors de différentes manipulations de l’interface Steam.

Normalement cette nouvelle version se déploie automatiquement. Il est possible de vérifier manuellement si votre client est à jour. Il suffit de se rendre dans le menu Steam et sélectionner « rechercher des mises à jour du client steam ».

Steam – note de version

General

Reduced CPU usage of Steam when redrawing the UI, such as when the mouse is moved back and forth over part of the Library view
Improved behavior when re-installing from retail discs or backup files, preferring to avoid downloads whenever possible
Fixed an issue where corrupt workshop items could be re-downloaded endlessly
Fix for new Steam Workshop item requests not being downloaded due to the “Only Allow Auto-Updates During Specific Hours” feature being enabled
Fixed an issue where the in-game overlay could crash or become unresponsive in some Vulkan-based games
Improved some cases where chat text was incorrectly treated as a clickable URL when it should not have been
Fixed an issue where games could no longer be launched in offline mode if Steam had previously started or scheduled an update

Windows

Added high-DPI monitor support when running under Windows 10 with the 2017 Creators Update
Added window transition animations when opening, closing, or minimizing Steam windows
Improved taskbar handling of Steam windows on multi-monitor systems
Added detection and support for exFAT-formatted drives

macOS

Added support for turning off or restarting the system from Big Picture mode
Improved native OS integration of Steam client windows. For example, Steam windows can now be dragged up past the menu bar to trigger the Spaces UI.
Improved reliability of the Steam Input and Streaming Audio drivers for macOS
Added a custom kernel driver for Sony DS4 controllers which allows use with Steam Input when connected over Bluetooth
Improved checks for case-sensitive APFS file systems. The Steam client only supports case-insensitive file systems on macOS, and will continue to warn users when running with an incompatible file system

Linux

Added a 2X-scaling mode with high-res text and graphics when running the Steam client in desktop mode on 4k-resolution monitors. You can also force 2X scaling with the “GDK_SCALE=2” environment variable, or disable it with “GDK_SCALE=1”.
Improved window-resizing interactions with the window manager
Fixed an issue where the Steam client could prevent some desktop sessions from shutting down

Big Picture

Fixed a browser hang when a web page transitions to or from full-screen mode

Steam Input

Added “Exit Application” controller action. When this action is used within a game, it will prompt the user if they actually want to quit and if confirmed will immediately close the application.
Added Chorded Press Activator. The Chorded Press Activator requires another input to be active for it to fire. This can be combined with other activators and either interrupt them or not based on those activators settings. So a regular press can optionally fire or not based on the chorded state, while a long press can optionally interrupt both for example. Chords require the chord button to be pressed first to activate (like shift or control would on a keyboard).
Added the ability to unique-ify configurations across Xbox and generic controllers. While the actual hardware cannot be differentiated, we treat them as unique controllers based on connection order. So if they elect to use unique configurations, configurations will be applied based on first, second, third, etc. identical controller.
Added hardware Joystick Calibration section in Controller Settings. This allows customizing the controller joystick deadzone on a per-controller, per joystick basis. There is an auto-calibration system that attempts to determine the ideal deadzone, as well as manual sliders for overriding those values. As Xbox controllers can’t be differentiated beyond type, they will only rely on controller order. Different device types, such as an Xbox One vs and Xbox One S controller, will be differentiated.
Made previewing state much more obvious when previewing a configuration.
Opted-In 3rd party controllers will now detect launchers and use a launcher specific configuration that is the same as opted-out controllers.
Improved compatibility with PS4 controller remapping programs – controllers no longer need to be reconnected when starting/exiting those programs. Also users will get a warning dialog if they are launching a game which is using the Steam Input API to support PS4 controllers while a remapper is running.
Fixed a bug where non-Steam games would use a desktop configuration when streaming if the controller wasn’t opted into Steam Input support.
Fixed using non-tracked gamepads in SteamVR’s Big Picture Mode overlay
Fixed Big Picture Mode’s Disk Management screen to accept gamepad/keyboard input on the disk selection dropdown
Fixed stuttering in some games due to excessive rumble updates
Fixed non-Steam games not being able to take screenshots from the controller
Fixed several layer bugs related to change layer bindings
Added a mouse movement threshold when determining if the Guide button is being used for a chord or to hold down the button to bring up the Big Picture menu
Fixed various On-Screen Keyboard issues including Non-Steam Controller dual cursor mode, improved language accent and modifier key support, and input immediately upon invocation
Made Controller Options always visible in the Big Picture Mode library page, even when no controller is currently active; users will be prompted to connect a controller if none can be found.
Fixed navigating multiple action sets via the bumper buttons when previewing a controller configuration
Fixed a case where the Big Picture Mode overlay could receive input when not active