Beta: Here’s what the new Steam homepage looks like

Valve is giving the Steam Store homepage a major design update. Users can already take a look at and try out the new interface via the beta client. According to Valve, the main goal is to make new games easier to discover and to show more relevant information directly on the homepage. This is what the new design looks like:

The new homepage features a wider layout for large displays, higher-resolution artwork, more detailed recommendations and new personalized sections such as discounted wishlist titles and discounted DLC for games in your own library. The display of microtrailers and animated marketing elements can also be disabled. According to Valve, this feature is aimed at users with motion sensitivity, but it should also help reduce bandwidth usage.

Another new feature is “infinite scroll,” which automatically loads more content as users scroll down and replaces traditional pagination. This should make the homepage feel more like a continuous feed of recommendations, discounts and new content. Anyone who wants to try the new layout can do so by joining the Steam Client Beta. To do that, the beta must be activated in the settings, after which the client needs to be restarted. There is still no date for the regular rollout.

Reactions on Reddit have been mostly positive. Many users find the new homepage tidier and more modern. The main criticism is aimed at the sometimes very large thumbnails. Some users also point out that a better presentation alone will not automatically make the recommendation system more accurate.