Steam beta brings long-awaited customization options

On June 7 and 8, Valve rolled out new updates for the beta version of the Steam client, offering significantly more customization options. The improvements also benefit Steam Deck users (available on Amazon for €457), as the new features are expected to be carried over to SteamOS with little to no changes.

The new accessibility menu allows users to adjust the UI size independently of Windows scaling – a helpful feature for those with visual impairments or large monitors. A dedicated section also introduces several useful options: high-contrast mode improves readability, reduced animations minimize distractions (ideal for users with sensory sensitivities) and UI annotations enhance compatibility with screen readers. Altogether, these changes make Steam not only more accessible but also easier to navigate.

Polished overlay – but still with flaws

The in-game overlay has been optimized for high-DPI settings, resolving issues such as font glitches and cut-off display elements. However, not everything is running smoothly. Some users have reported crashes or black screens when using the overlay with NVIDIA graphics cards – audio continues to play, but the screen remains dark. A Steam admin clarified that the issue is not caused by Valve’s beta update, but by the NVIDIA driver.

Mixed reactions from the community

Many users in the update comments have praised the new features, especially the scalable UI. However, criticism remains. Bugs in the overlay, long-standing issues in Big Picture mode and requests for features such as a CPU temperature display or improved gyro support have yet to be addressed.