It took 15 years, but Steam is finally getting a new video player

The video player in the Steam Store has likely frustrated just about every user at some point. Videos freeze, fullscreen mode often glitches and autoplay tends to keep running even after switching tabs. Now, a long-standing wish of the community finally seems within reach: after more than a decade, Steam appears to be getting a new video player. For once, the internet seems to agree – the general reaction is: "It's about time." However, it’s important to note that this information comes from a leak, not an official announcement from Valve. It remains unclear if the new video player will be released as shown or when that might happen.

Apparently, Valve accidentally made the update public, which users quickly spotted and documented. A short video has since surfaced on Reddit showing the redesigned player in action. Featuring a modern interface, adjustable video quality and fully functional basic features, the update represents a long-overdue improvement to Valve’s platform. Recently, the company also introduced a new overlay with a built-in performance monitor, suggesting that the new video player might be part of a broader effort to modernize the Steam Store.

Reddit users widely agree that a new video player is a long-overdue update for the Steam Store. It’s no surprise that comments like "Thank god finally" come with a hint of sarcasm. Others take a more humorous approach with jokes like "Comes right between Silksong and the end of the world." Alongside the excitement, there’s growing hope that the video player update could signal more improvements to come. Many in the community are now looking forward to a modernized Big Picture mode, improved achievement notifications and a revamped cloud sync system.