Steam Deck Stable Client Update 2/1/23

Today, Valve pushed out a massive update to the Steam Deck Client! This one has a ton of fixes that have been tested in the beta and preview channels that range from general improvements like load time optimizations and pinned notifications, to the ability to move the virtual keyboard location, and adding in some Steam Input fixes like a gyro calibration rework, new layout preview pages for controllers, and a search tab to the controller layout browser screen:

Steam Deck Client Update 2/1/23:

General

• Replaced launch option dialog with new UI that includes a checkbox to remember the user's selection - this selection can be changed in game properties
• Further optimizations to load times for users with large game libraries
• Added pinned notifications for new inventory items, trade offers, async game turns, moderator messages, offline chat messages, and help request replies in Quick Access > Notifications
• Added more buttons to the list of inputs that skip the BPM/Deck start up animations
• Changing download regions no longer requires restarting the Steam client
• UI Digital Navigation Key Repeats are faster
• Added setting for controller idle > turn off timeout
• Navigation column in the Overlay is now centered vertically to match the rest of the main menu
• Various fixes to make the UI scale better in higher resolutions
• Fixed intermittent browser crash when closing Update news dialog
• Fixed background images on a collection on the app details page not being clipped correctly
• Fixed some issues completing purchases through some payment providers
• Fixed some UI scaling issues in the overlay when running in games in high resolution
• Fixed a case where disconnecting a controller while navigating would not cancel repeating movements
• Fixed issue opting in to some game beta branches
• Fixed issue viewing the hardware survey web page after submitting results
• Fixed audio crackling and loss when streaming from Linux / Steam Deck using Remote Play
• Fixed "a" and "c" keystrokes on the app details page triggering an animation

Keyboard

• Added up/down cursor keys to onscreen keyboard, press shift then left/right cursor to use
• Added ability to move the standalone & overlay keyboard
• Fixed issues w/ digital navigation getting stuck on text boxes when using a physical keyboard
• Fixed some issues using the virtual keyboard Paste button outside of a web context
• Fixed issue where the virtual keyboard would continuously be made visible after exiting a game

Steam Input

• Controller configuration browsing screen can now preview configurations and the selection processes now previews then applies instead of directly selecting the configuration
• Added a search tab to the controller layout browser screen
• Changed controller mode sliders to default to larger step sizes that match the old BPM interface and added footer button to switch to "fine adjustment" mode with smaller step sizes
• Reworked the layout of the mode settings page to show more content
• Generate Steam Input API origins for some virtual menu modes that were missing them
• Show controller settings in app properties game for non-Steam games
• Gyro Calibration Rework: Calibration Calculates an anti-drift value as normal, but also records Gyro and Accelerometer noise while stationary, so that Always-On Auto Calibration (toggle to enable) is more discerning, and should only recalculate anti-drift when on a stable surface
• Controller configurator now groups commands if they are attached to the same input
• Added support for the Armor-X Pro gamepad in PS4 mode
• Added direct navigation to controller inputs and modes from the preview screen
• Added a specific XBox Elite layout preview page
• Added a specific Switch Pro layout preview page
• Added support for the ThrustMaster eSwap PRO Controller Xbox
• Handle errors better and fix some cases where configs would no longer load
• On larger screens combine the keyboard and numpad tabs of the choose binding screen
• Remember the last active tab in the choose binding screen and open to that instead always using the tab w/ the current binding value
• Added upper grips as an option for mode shifts
• Improved Layout Preview for Nintendo Switch Joycon Left/Right/Pair
• Nintendo Switch SL/SR buttons now show up as Bumpers for single Joycons or Grip buttons for a JoyCon Pair
• Joycon individual/pair Gyro now displays and functions properly
• Filtered Mode Shift button options to only show available buttons based on the controller type
• Fixed an issue with the Joystick Deadzone sliders having delayed input
• Fixed an issue with gamepad navigation in the Steam Deck haptics calibration screen
• Fixed an issue w/ enabling Gyro for Switch controllers
• Fixed long delay at startup when the Razer Huntsman Elite keyboard is plugged in
• Fixed the Logitech G29 controller showing up as a gamepad instead of a wheel
• Fixed the XBox layout preview page layout having some incorrect items and missing others
• Fixed issue where Steam Controller joysticks would have unintended input during Steam Button chords
• Fixed long delay at startup when Razer keyboards are connected
• Fixed crash with games that use "Windows Gaming Input"
• Fixed issue w/ Joystick Deadzone visualization not updating
• Fixed some cases where some languages could have text overflow in choose binding screen
• Fixed chord activator options for XBox and XBox Elite controller types
• Fixed Capture button icon not being displayed for Joycon Pair
• Fixed the Switch Pro Layout Preview not showing the gyro

Desktop Mode

• Fixed a crash on Linux in libaudio
• Fixed crash when taking screenshots through the overlay
• Fixed instances of Steam freezing or crashing in desktop mode on Steam Deck
• Fixed closing non-Steam shortcuts via the overlay when two or more are running
• Fixed some errors causing the Library not to render properly

Big Picture (while in Desktop Mode)

• The new Big Picture Mode has been made the default experience. For compatibility purposes, you can access the old experience by using the command-line option "-oldbigpicture". Note that this functionality will be removed in a future update.
• Added a quick guided tour
• Added option to start in windowed mode under Settings => Display => Big Picture Mode => Windowed
• Allow onscreen keyboard to be activated while in New Big Picture Mode and Steam window is not focused
• Added option to turn off controllers when exiting BPM
• Implemented Steam Controller dongle pairing
• Prevented launch option reminder from appearing on top of other UI while a game is launching
• Show icons for partial/full controller support, VR Support, or Mouse & KB only support in Library when a game portrait is focused or hovered
• Detect focus shifting away from the BPM window faster and reduce instances of navigation going to BPM after starting a game
• Hide the cursor when in gamepad-navigation mode in Big Picture
• Fixed a rare crash exiting BPM
• Fixed the new Big Picture Mode overlay being incorrectly sized when the monitor is set to display scaling other than 100%
• Fixed overlay scaling when resizing game window
• Fixed issue where a browser opened by a game was sticking around after closing the overlay
• Fixed launch options dialog not closing when cancelling game launch
• Fix the "Start in Big Picture Mode" setting not updating
• Fixed problem where setting certain library filters in Big Picture Mode could cause those games to become hidden when switching back to desktop
• Fixed an issue with detecting game windows

You can view the changelog and discussion over on Steam.

I do love seeing these massive updates and the consistent support Valve has been showing the Steam Deck, and as someone with a large library myself, optimized load times sound wonderful!

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