You can sign up to get a daily email of our articles, see the Mailing List page.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Valve have now officially released their overhaul of the Steam Chat feature to everyone as of last night.

Here's what's new for everyone:

  • Added new friends list, chat and voice chat features
  • Added icon and optional balloon for announcing new Steam Features and Blog Updates
  • Added banner announcing future end of support for Windows XP and Vista
  • Enabled GPU acceleration in web views by default
  • Added option to disable GPU acceleration in web views in Settings->Interface
  • Added support for binding F13-F24 as hotkey buttons
  • Improved IME handling for web pages shown in Steam client and Steam overlay

Specifically for Linux users:

  • Added the ability to import Windows icons for games with no Linux icons; will only take effect after reinstalling the game and recreating the desktop and launcher shortcuts
  • Fixed an issue where the system might become temporarily unresponsive after exiting the client due to events accruing in the window system
  • Updated Steam Linux Runtime with the latest versions of the SDL libraries
  • Fixed a problem where the screensaver would always be disabled if Steam was running
  • Fixed an issue where Steam could crash when running Steamworks-enabled games, or where Steamworks functionality wouldn't work properly in the game.
  • Fixed an issue where CS:GO and Dota 2 matchmaking would not function properly.

This update also brings in the recent Steam Input updates from the beta channel, which gives support for PS3 Controllers as a separate controller type along with HoriPad Mini4, Level Up Cobra, Mad Catz FightStick TE 2, Mad Catz FightStick TE 2+ PS4 Controllers and HORI Pokken Tournament DX Pro Switch Controller.

It seems it released with a bit of an issue that Valve quickly fixed, where apparently people could hear you through your microphone without you knowing. Valve fixed it rather quickly after they were made aware of it. I'm not too sure on the specifics of it, as the reddit post talking about it has been edited.

Full news on Steam here.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Steam, Valve
12 Likes
About the author -
author picture
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.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
12 comments
Page: 1/2»
  Go to:

demon Jul 25, 2018
Quoting: GuestWhat I don't like about the new chat is that you see it always when you start the steam client.

Very annoying, yes ...

But! You can start the steam binary with the "nofriendsui" argument:

$ steam -nofriendsui

This gives you the old interface where you can actually go offline for the friends-thingy.


Last edited by demon on 25 July 2018 at 10:51 am UTC
TheSHEEEP Jul 25, 2018
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: demonThis gives you the old interface where you can actually go offline for the friends-thingy.
You can still go invisible in the new chat - and set notifications so they won't annoy you if someone starts playing some game.
demon Jul 25, 2018
Quoting: TheSHEEEPYou can still go invisible in the new chat - and set notifications so they won't annoy you if someone starts playing some game.

Thanks for the hint. But sadly, this did not work for me ... Every time I started Steam, it switched back to online. I am fine with the "nofriendsui" option, as I am not using the friends stuff anyway.
Mountain Man Jul 25, 2018
"Added banner announcing future end of support for Windows XP and Vista"

That's actually in the feature list?
Ketil Jul 25, 2018
I switched myself to invisible, and when I restart steam I stay invisible and the friends gui doesn't start automatically. It forgot that I was invisible before, but that was a one time thing.
kf Jul 25, 2018
Shouldn't there be a comma in the title? I thought you meant that the update was only for people who had the new chat the first two times I read it. Before you ask, yes I am actually that dumb.
opera Jul 25, 2018
The update is great. I love that you can see directly the ingame standings of CSGO games of your friends now.
Kuduzkehpan Jul 25, 2018
very lovely Gui upgrade alongside new cs go panaroma gui. They both süper fit together. Also i hope valve brings some gui and performance update for "big picture" stuff.
Phlebiac Jul 26, 2018
QuoteAdded the ability to import Windows icons for games with no Linux icons; will only take effect after reinstalling the game and recreating the desktop and launcher shortcuts

Nice, but why do you have to reinstall? :-(

QuoteFixed a problem where the screensaver would always be disabled if Steam was running

This fix came just in time; I thought something else was busted!
Eike Jul 26, 2018
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: PhlebiacNice, but why do you have to reinstall? :-(

Like with the OS specific wishlist feature, it seem they're trying to support us, limited by the little manpower they have for it. So they do it the low cost way.


Last edited by Eike on 26 July 2018 at 12:42 pm UTC
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.