Valve releases Steam Client update with battery alert, quick chat, and remote downloads for Steam Controller and Steam Deck

Steam Client and Steam Deck update brings battery alerts for wireless controllers, quick chat in Big Picture, and remote download management.

Update Summary

This is the monthly moment when Valve consolidates various Steam Client beta updates into an official patch, also covering the Steam Deck. Among the new features, improvements for the Steam Controller, new quick chat features, and remote download management stand out.

The update has arrived for the Steam Client and also affects the Steam Deck, focusing on making wireless controller usage easier and offering more control during gameplay.

What's new for the Steam Controller

• Low battery warning for wireless controllers.
• Battery level indication at the top of Big Picture Mode.

Quick chat and integration in Big Picture

Steam chat is now located within the quick access menu, making it easier to communicate without leaving the game.

• By holding the back button in a conversation, quick chat options appear (e.g., Yes, No, Can't talk right now) which can be sent with a simple movement of the joystick.
• Quick options can be edited in Settings > Keyboard.

General Steam Client and Steam Deck updates

• Added a low battery toast notification for wireless gamepads. Battery notifications for Xbox controllers on Windows are temporarily disabled.
• System Report button available in the Help section on Windows.
• Client performance improvements when there are many unread account notifications.
• Fix: spell check not working in some browser views.

Big Picture and store

• Chat moved to the quick access menu.
• New quick chat function for Steam Deck and Big Picture Mode; hold the view button to open quick options, move the joystick and release to send; options can be edited in Settings > Keyboard.
• Added battery indicator in the header for wireless gamepads.
• Store menu updated to open the store home page instead of the Great On Deck hub.
• Fix: Voice chat tab in the quick access menu does not stay hidden after leaving all active conversations.
• Fix for an issue with the use the gamepadui overlay mode when a controller is connected, which could open desktopUI chat windows and block the Big Picture overlay.

Remote Downloads

• Remote Download Management allows you to manage downloads on remote Steam Clients from the downloads page.
• The App Details page now displays the same options and states for remote clients as for the local one.
• To enable the feature, both the local and remote clients must be updated.

Remote Play

• Streaming allowed even when Remote Desktop is active on Windows.
• More flexible options in Advanced Host to define primary display, resolution, refresh rate, and HDR during streaming from Windows.
• Support for SudoVDA virtual display driver on Windows; when selected as Primary Display, Steam automatically creates a virtual display to match the client's settings.
• Support for 7.1 surround sound streaming.
• Fix for crashes with an AMD driver that caused stream corruption and freezes; the fix is also available in the latest drivers (e.g., AMD 26.3.1).
• Feedback displayed if it is not possible to start capture on the remote PC.
• Fix for surround sound initialization when streaming a game from the library.

Game Recording

• Instant clip shortcuts not working for non-Steam games when using a gamepad have been fixed.
• Fix for a bug that affected screenshot capture of a game recording clip.

Cloud

• Fix for an issue that could lead to data loss when uninstalling, reinstalling, and playing without restarting the client between actions.

Steam Input

• Controller settings revised to reduce clutter and improve compatibility with gamepads.
• Fix for a case where radial menus could not close after releasing the joystick on the Steam Deck.
• Fix for a case where the controller calibration screen might not load the correct values on the first opening.

Windows and macOS

• Windows: Updated the CPUID SDK used for the CPU Temperature monitor in the performance overlay.
• macOS: Fixed soundtrack playback on machines with Apple Silicon.

Steam Deck Client Update: April 28th

General

• New option to reboot to Desktop from the login screen; found in System Settings.
• Low battery toast for wireless gamepads.
• Battery indicator in the header for wireless gamepads.
• Store now leads to the store home page, not the Great On Deck hub.
• Improvements to compatibility with captive WiFi portals.
• Performance improvements when there are many unread account notifications.
• Fixes for silent failure when opting into the Preview channel.
• Fixes for minor display issues with the Recently Played carousel.
• Fix for the Voice chat tab in the QAM that would not disappear after leaving active conversations.
• Fix for spell check in certain browser views.

Chat

• Chat moved to the quick access menu; new quick chat for Deck and Big Picture Mode; hold the view button to open quick options; send with joystick movement; options editable in Settings > Keyboard.
• Focus no longer jumps to room effect buttons when scrolling through chat history.
• Fix for a bug that could prevent chat history from loading when scrolling up.

Downloads

• Remote Download Management available; you can select different clients by pressing Y on the downloads page; remote options remain the same as local.

Game Recording

• Fixes for instant clip and screenshot capture on non-Steam game recordings.

Remote Play

• Feedback if capture cannot be started on the remote PC.

Cloud

• Fix for data loss when uninstalling, reinstalling, and playing without restarting the client between actions.

Steam Input

• Controller settings revised to reduce clutter and improve functioning with gamepads.
• Change in controller listing structure from tabs to menu and details.
• Fix for closing radial menus after releasing the joystick on the Steam Deck.
• Fix for loading the correct values upon first opening of the calibration screen.

What did you think of these changes? Share in the comments which new feature you intend to test first on your Steam Deck or your PC.

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