Valve takes aim at vague performance reviews with new Steam beta rollout

Valve has started rolling out a Steam Client Beta update that lets users optionally attach hardware specs when writing (or updating) a Steam user review on a game’s store page.

The idea is straightforward: performance complaints like stutters, crashes, or low FPS are hard to judge without knowing the reviewer’s setup. With the new beta option, reviewers can include their specs without manually typing them into the review text.

A second beta toggle collects anonymized framerate data

In the same beta update, Valve also added an opt-in setting to share “anonymized framerate data.” Valve’s notes say gameplay FPS data is “stored without connection to your Steam account” and will be used to “learn about game compatibility and improve Steam.”

Valve also says this FPS collection feature is currently focused on devices running SteamOS, which would include Steam Deck-class hardware, where performance and compatibility are constant hot topics.

Early beta limitations and what’s still unclear

One wrinkle: at least in early beta builds, it’s not yet clear how widely the attached specs are being displayed to other users. Third-party reports say that the feature exists in the review flow, but suggest the attached hardware info may not be visible to readers yet during beta testing.

Valve’s patch notes also don’t specify exactly which fields will be shown (beyond “hardware specs”) or whether the display will evolve before it hits the stable client.

How to try it right now

To participate in the Steam Client Beta and access the new hardware review tools, you can:

• Open the Steam client and click Steam in the upper left corner.
• Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
• Navigate to the Interface tab.
• Under Client Beta Participation, open the dropdown menu and select Steam Beta Update.
• Click Restart Now when prompted to relaunch Steam and apply the update.

Other related tweaks in the same update

Valve bundled the review/specs and FPS options alongside other client changes, including Steam Families navigation tweaks. This streaming fix could leave downloads throttled after streaming stopped, a Linux/Proton offline-mode fix for very large libraries, and an added prompt for Steam Deck users who disagree with a Deck Verified rating to optionally provide a reason.