The Valve and Steam Platform Discussion Thread

[Sentinel]

Steam update brings streaming outside the house. In-Home Streaming renamed Remote Play. Proton development continues and updates to Vulkan/Steam's pre-caching system.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/51761/

A new Steam client has been released and will be automatically downloaded.

General

• Fixed Windows cursor sometimes showing as the incorrect type, most often in system tray menu
  
• After workshop updates, 'View News' on the download panel will now navigate to the list of subscribed items, rather than to news for the base game.
  
• Fixed a bug causing Steam UI and some Steamworks games to have occasional performance hitches for users with large friends lists or large numbers of blocked friends

In-Game Overlay

• Fixed a bug where the Big Picture in-game overlay could be abnormally pixelated for titles using the Vulkan graphics API
  
• Fixed mouse cursor intermittently disappearing while mousing over certain windows (e.g. full-screen videos) which caused mouse input to not work in the overlay until restarted
  
• Full-screen views in chat windows now render in the chat window rather than in a separate full-screen window on top of the game
  
• Fixed certain keyboard events being sent incorrectly when in a web browser window.
  
• Fixed dark rendering of windows in the overlay in titles that use the Vulkan graphics API.

In-Home Streaming (AKA Steam Remote Play)

• Steam In-Home Streaming is experimentally available outside the home, and is now known as Steam Remote Play. Your Steam clients can now stream games from each other wherever they are, as long as there is a good network connection on both sides and they are close to a Steam datacenter
  
• In-Home Streaming settings have been renamed Remote Play settings
  
• Paired Steam Link devices now show up in the Remote Play settings
  
• You can now remove all paired Steam Link devices
  
• Fixed the PC to PC streaming client hanging when you alt-tab away from it
  
• Added a network status icon to indicate that the network connection is slow.

Steam Input

• We will now download official Steam Input configurations during game installation for Steam Input users. This should fix the issue where Steam Input games would need to be run once before controllers worked in offline mode
  
• Joystick ranges are now saved for Switch controllers after performing controller calibration. This fixes joystick drift when first connecting the controller
  
• Reworked the Controller Options screen to better show device specific options
  
• Fixed a bug that could cause some game’s official configurations to not show up in the configuration browser
  
• Fixed a bug that could cause Steam to open Big Picture Mode immediately when connecting a Steam Controller via the wireless receiver
  
• Fixed some cases where Steam Input’s haptics or rumble could ignore the user’s enable/disable and intensity settings.
  
• Added support for the Astro C40 PS4 controller
  
• Improved rumble on Nintendo Switch controllers – there should now be a wider dynamic range of rumble values
  
• Fixed a case where glyphs shown through Steam Input API are incorrect when converting a configuration between controller types, ex: loading a Xbox controller configuration on a PS4 controller.

Shader Pre-Caching

• Re-worked the shader system to enable downloading and pre-compiling of the whole collection of Vulkan pipelines for a given game. As a result, some shader data downloads will now show in the Steam download manager. Pre-compiling will be enabled in a future Steam update.
  
• Fixed some cases where shader depots could get downloaded even when the feature was disabled.

SteamNetworkingSockets

• Fix bug causing P2P connections to sometimes fail to migrate to another relay when the relay became unavailable or shut down to apply an update.
  
• Fix bug causing repeated connections to the same relay to fail.

Linux

• Fixed a random Steam client crash when launching games
  
• Fixed a bug where copying/moving files bigger than 2GB would fail with an I/O error
  
• Improved the client's responsiveness to network changes
  
• Added support for rumble pass-through for virtual controllers. This fixes missing rumble support for any controllers opted into Steam Input, and rumble emulation support for the Steam controller.
  
• Fixed library ordering to prefer the Steam Runtime's libcurl over the hosts'. Fixes "Risk of Rain" and other GameMaker titles
  
• Added support for removing old Proton versions by aliasing them to more recent ones
  
• Added support for developers and Valve testing specifying default Proton configuration options for games even if they're not yet white-listed

macOS

• Fixed a random Steam client crash when launching games
  
• Fixed playback of streaming videos from library

 

[LESS T_T]

But Swen three of them are high budget action RPGs, and one of them (yours) is suspected as one.

So I wondered what actual "niche" CRPG is highest on the list?

• Subverse at #9, maybe. But no.
• Dwarf Fortress at #12, mechanically maybe. But not an RPG as it is currently.
• Gloomhaven at #38. Close one, but this doesn't sound like a "full-pledged" RPG.
• Stoneshard at #48. Rougelike with cool 2D graphics, we're getting closer...
• Encased at #64. Ah, here we are, we found the chosen one. This is the most anticipated niche CRPG on Steam. Not surprisingly it's a post-apocalyptic RPG from our Russian comrade

Also Iratus at #80, Stygian at #128, Disco Elysium at #165, and Colony Ship at #248.

 

[Sentinel]

But what differentiates a cRPG from an RPG?

 

[Rahdulan]

But Swen three of them are high budget action RPGs, and one of them (yours) is suspected as one.

So I wondered what actual "niche" CRPG is highest on the list?

• Subverse at #9, maybe. But no.
• Dwarf Fortress at #12, mechanically maybe. But not an RPG as it is currently.
• Gloomhaven at #38. Close one, but this doesn't sound like a "full-pledged" RPG.
• Stoneshard at #48. Rougelike with cool 2D graphics, we're getting closer...
• Encased at #64. Ah, here we are, we found the chosen one. This is the most anticipated niche CRPG on Steam. Not surprisingly it's a post-apocalyptic RPG from our Russian comrade

Also Iratus at #80, Stygian at #128, Disco Elysium at #165, and Colony Ship at #248.

It's not really like RPG scene is immune to hype and high production values. Same with everything else - number of people willing to go beyond surface level offerings drops significantly.

 

[Sentinel]

I wonder if this is running on Unity? Source 2 is still in early stages of development (more accurately, it's another dead Valve project, and it gets updated only when Dota 2 needs it to be updated) and as far as I know it has no support for mobile. Valve has historically made these smaller spin off projects and VR titles in Unity.

It's running on Source 2. Just like all other currently in development Valve titles.

 

[unfairlight]

Can I get a citation on that? I don't think Source 2 runs on mobile yet.

 

[Sentinel]

Can I get a citation on that? I don't think Source 2 runs on mobile yet.

2:42 onwards

 

[unfairlight]

Maybe it runs on Source 2 on PC and Unity on mobile or something.

 

[Sentinel]

 

[DalekFlay]

But what differentiates a cRPG from an RPG?

There used to be one. Not so much anymore.

 

[LESS T_T]

OctoDivine. And still Total.

#10 - Cooking Simulator
#9 - OCTOPATH TRAVELER
#8 - Grand Theft Auto V
#7 - Stellaris: Ancient Relics Story Pack
#6 - Hell Let Loose
#5 - Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition
#4 - BATTALION 1944
#3 - MORDHAU
#2 - PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
#1 - Total War: THREE KINGDOMS

Hey, punk.

#10 - Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege - Year 4 Pass
#9 - Grand Theft Auto V
#8 - DARK SOULS III - The Fire Fades Edition
#7 - OCTOPATH TRAVELER
#6 - Hell Let Loose
#5 - MORDHAU
#4 - PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
#3 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Game of the Year Edition
#2 - Total War: THREE KINGDOMS
#1 - Cyberpunk 2077

 

[Sentinel]

Underlords now goes into Open Beta phase.




It's actually a really chill game to mess around with while you listen to something else.

 

[DalekFlay]

It's actually a really chill game to mess around with while you listen to something else.

Hello millennial.

 

[LESS T_T]

Funny, apparently mobile versions actually come with Steam client.



Is this an indication of things to come (mobile cross-platform account, Steam store for Android?), or one-off thing for this game? Everyone (Microsoft, Epic...) wants to sneak in their account system to all devices after all.

(And this makes me wonder again, how Valve is preparing for their own subscription and cloud services.)

 

[Belegarsson]

Underlords now goes into Open Beta phase.




It's actually a really chill game to mess around with while you listen to something else.

I installed it on my workplace PC since I don't have much work in friday, ended up playing it for 5 hours normally I really hate randomness in pvp multiplayer games (the main reason why I dislike battle royale shooters) but something about this game just clicked. Maybe because it's a combination of well paced in-match progression and CS-like economy that works based on standard negative feedback, and learning synergy is quite fun. I did get really close to victory in a match where the gods blessed me with 1 Enigma level 2, 2 Tidehunters, 1 Kunkka and 1 Gyrocopter but my item choices were shit and enemy's lifesteal was too much to deal with

There's a lot of things I appreciate in this game. No need to be dependant on your teammates like in MOBA, the game almost feels like a strategic ladder fighting game, and each match just has the perfect length. Maybe the flaws will start crawling out once I dig deeper but first impression is quite good.

 

[Multi-headed Cow]

I also gave Underlords a whirl since it's a whopping 600 megs and I figured what the hell. The learning curve was a complete cliff given my knowledge of Autochess was/is almost 0 (Watched a few minutes once out of curiosity and couldn't give a fuck to learn more), but by my second match and talking with Daka a little bit I had some of the basics (Multiple copies upgrades to a higher level, interest on gold, etc). The biggest issue I've got with learning it is the timer moves at such a brisk pace I can't really read and soak in the synergies, unit positioning, and so on. I basically just jerk myself off leveling up a few heroes unless I get a passive bonus for one type, then I'll specifically shoot for more of those. I'd definitely appreciate the timer moving the game along at a good pace once I knew what the hell everything meant at a glance, but it's rough early on. Not sure it's something I'll stick with very long (In fact I'd guess I won't) but I do see some of the appeal.

 

[pakoito]

If you're playing the bots you can skip the timers, there's a ticker below it. I have 12h played and I've barely beaten the normal AI a couple of times, mostly placing 3-5th. I did a perfect on one of my first games on the first patch T____T7

 

[Jigawatt]

Is this an indication of things to come (mobile cross-platform account, Steam store for Android?), or one-off thing for this game? Everyone (Microsoft, Epic...) wants to sneak in their account system to all devices after all.

(And this makes me wonder again, how Valve is preparing for their own subscription and cloud services.)

My guess is that this is in preparation for using phones as a thin client to stream off your own desktop, basically Stadia but with BYO device. Just last week "In-Home Streaming" got rebranded as "Steam Remote Play" and went from LAN to WAN, so a mobile client for that seems like a logical step.

 

[LESS T_T]

Hey, punk.

#10 - Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege - Year 4 Pass
#9 - Grand Theft Auto V
#8 - DARK SOULS III - The Fire Fades Edition
#7 - OCTOPATH TRAVELER
#6 - Hell Let Loose
#5 - MORDHAU
#4 - PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
#3 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Game of the Year Edition
#2 - Total War: THREE KINGDOMS
#1 - Cyberpunk 2077

Last week's chart is bloodstained. And The Punk is going down as the E3 hype calms down.

#10 - Rust
#9 - MORDHAU
#8 - Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
#7 - Grand Theft Auto V
#6 - Cyberpunk 2077
#5 - ARK: Survival Evolved
#4 - My Friend Pedro
#3 - Total War: THREE KINGDOMS
#2 - PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
#1 - Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Also Pedro is yet another hit from Devolver.

 

[Steamboat Willie]

My guess is that this is in preparation for using phones as a thin client to stream off your own desktop, basically Stadia but with BYO device. Just last week "In-Home Streaming" got rebranded as "Steam Remote Play" and went from LAN to WAN, so a mobile client for that seems like a logical step.

There's been a Steam Link app available for phones for quite a while.

 

[Alienman]

Here is the brave new design I guess... Jesus Christ. Makes my eyes bleed.

Edit:

Here is another

Spoiler

The hell, not even aligned. And Bloodstains almost clips into the "Global Top Sellers" icon.

 

[unfairlight]

What's the matter, you don't like

ROLE-
PLAYIN
G
GAMES

&

CITY
BUILDIN
G
GAMES

 

[unfairlight]

Yeah nah this looks like 200% dogshit, what the fuck are these webdev cunts in yank land doing?

 

[DalekFlay]

Jesus is there anything you guys won't bitch about?

 

[Steamboat Willie]

Here is the brave new design I guess... Jesus Christ. Makes my eyes bleed.

Edit:

Here is another

Spoiler

The hell, not even aligned. And Bloodstains almost clips into the "Global Top Sellers" icon.

User Interfaces need to be touch-friendly for people wearing boxing gloves now, I guess.

Funny that websites in 2019 on my 27" 1440p monitor display fewer elements on screen than a site from 2000 designed for 800x600 all because of the fucking catastrophe that is modern web design.