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Steam client updated, brings in Shader Pre-Caching for OpenGL and Vulkan

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Valve have put out an updated stable update to the Steam client that brings in a rather interesting feature for OpenGL and Vulkan games.

This latest stable update pulls in the changes introduces in recent beta versions, most notably the new Shader Pre-Caching system that's available for OpenGL and Vulkan games.

Certain games can take a long time to load, or stutter quite heavily when you first play it. This is often because it's building a shader cache. With this new system, some games may come with this pre-made for you resulting in a smoother experience, something that will be ideal for Linux gaming.

The feature can be disabled too if it causes issues, you can find it in the overall Steam settings. Here's how Valve explained it:

New feature: Shader Pre-Caching. Whenever possible, depending on hardware and driver support, Steam can download pre-compiled shaders for your specific video card. This reduces load times and in-game stuttering during the first few launches of OpenGL- and Vulkan-based games on supported hardware. This feature may use a small amount of additional bandwidth as Steam uploads and analyzes a shader usage report after each run of the game. The feature can be disabled via a new entry in the Settings dialog.

On top of that, they also pulled in these Linux-specific fixes:

  • Fixed creating desktop and application menu shortcuts
  • Added detection and a workaround for certain titles that shipped with broken Steamworks SDK libraries

See the changelog here.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Steam
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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Eike Dec 14, 2017
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QuoteFixed creating desktop and application menu shortcuts

While I start games using Steam UI, this bug has bothered some people in the forums...
Gobo Dec 14, 2017
Hope this helps to ease the pain with the loooong slideshow on every other startup of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
PlutonMaster Dec 14, 2017
This update gave error about missing binaries, solved by reinstalling steam on Manjaro. And I've google'd some solutions to get it to work again. Now it's working fine.
Leopard Dec 14, 2017
Is this shader thing exclusive to Amd and Mesa or it also includes Nvidia and blob too?
Lakorta Dec 14, 2017
Quoting: LeopardIs this shader thing exclusive to Amd and Mesa or it also includes Nvidia and blob too?
I have files in the shaderchache in my steamapps folder so it should work for Nvidia blob too.
Leopard Dec 14, 2017
Quoting: Lakorta
Quoting: LeopardIs this shader thing exclusive to Amd and Mesa or it also includes Nvidia and blob too?
I have files in the shaderchache in my steamapps folder so it should work for Nvidia blob too.

Thanks for the answer.
14 Dec 15, 2017
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Quoting: GuestAnd FINALLY fixes the full-screen video issue, don't forget that one!
Glad you pointed that out! Watching videos in the Steam client has been really lame.
minj Dec 15, 2017
One word, optimus?

I don't think Steam is smart enough to realize you are running games with optirun %command%, is it?
mastercatz Dec 15, 2017
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1231908533

My colors are now all stuffed in star conflict

AMDGPUPro 17.40 Ubuntu 16.04 AMD Radeon R9 200 Series
lucifertdark Dec 15, 2017
So does anyone know which games take advantage of this new feature? or is this more of a case of all games will use it no matter what?
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