Steam tests including hardware specifications in game reviews

Steam tests including hardware specifications in reviews

Steam is evaluating an unprecedented feature that allows game reviews to include the user's hardware specifications. The feature is currently available only to participants in the Steam client beta.

With this, reviewers will be able to attach hardware information when writing or updating a review on a game's store page. If the feature is released to everyone, it could help understand if performance issues only appear in certain configurations.

What changes with the patch and additional news

Besides this functionality, the recent patch brings adjustments to prevent streaming bottlenecks and introduces the option to send framerate data in an anonymized way. Valve explains that, when active, Steam will collect fps data without linking it to accounts, identified only by hardware type, focusing on devices running SteamOS.

Patch details

• General: added the option to attach hardware to reviews and the option to provide anonymized framerate data.
• Steam Families: layout and navigation improvement on desktop, Deck, and mobile devices.
• Streaming: fix to prevent downloads from being limited after the transmission ends.
• Linux: fixed a bug that caused games running via Proton to appear as incompatible in large libraries in offline mode.
• Steam Deck: when sending feedback about the Deck Verified rating, if there is a disagreement, a reason is now requested, which is optional.

Legal context: lawsuit against Valve advances in the United Kingdom

In parallel, the Competition Appeal Tribunal has decided that a lawsuit worth about £656 million for alleged market manipulation can proceed, paving the way for compensation to about 14 million Steam users in the UK.

The lawsuit was filed by digital activist Vicki Shotbolt in June 2024, accusing Valve of price parity clauses that would prevent publishers and developers from selling titles cheaper on rival platforms, thereby reducing consumer choice and competition.

Are you curious about how this might impact the Steam ecosystem? Do you believe the ability to attach hardware specifications to reviews can change the way we evaluate games? Leave your opinion in the comments below.