Valve tweak accessibility categories and release new Steam update with controller improvements and new Beta UI

Valve have given their accessibility categories on Steam for discovering games a small overhaul, along with a big new Steam client update for everyone.

Back in June of 2025, Valve released the new accessibility filters which made finding games on Steam a lot easier for all types of players and now they're doing some further improvements to this.

Outlined in a blog post Valve mentioned these key changes:

Renaming "Playable without Timed Input" to "Playable without Quick Time Events"

We've heard feedback about this name being confusing and players interpreting it more broadly than it was intended. We're changing the name to reflect that this specifically means QTEs, which is in line with what we've consistently communicated to publishers.

Adding a new tag under the "Input" Category called "Playable at Your Own Pace"
The idea here is that games that don't involve anything action or timing-based (ie most visual novels, turn based games, etc) can use this tag to indicate that players can take as long as they need for each input.

Adding a new tag under the "Visual" Category called "Playable without Vision"
There are a few games on Steam designed specifically for visually-impaired players, and others with good screen reader support (i.e. some visual novels). This new tag will help visually-impaired players find these games.

Adding a new tag under the "Visual" Category called "Contrast Controls"
This isn't the same thing as Color Alternatives, which is mostly focused on color blind options. This reflects letting you adjust the contrast, enable a dark mode, etc.

On top of that there's the brand new stable Steam client update for all platforms. This brings in a whole bunch of controller improvements, the new Beta UI, upgrades advanced filtering options for your Steam Library by language and accessibility features and much more.

The main Steam client changelog:

General

• Added display of selected store tags to app filter/collection dialog.
• Reworked the Application Properties -> Betas UI.
• Fixed certain games using Steam DRM exiting unexpectedly, including Mafia II (Classic) and Football Manager 2012.
• Fixed missing registry key error when running Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead.
• Fixed Steam client crash when Astrill VPN is installed.
• Fixed crash on Windows when certain force feedback gamepad drivers are installed.
• Fixed Steam client hang when a Nacon PS4 Compact Controller is connected.
• Fixed a case where plugging in a controller could trigger a 'Part of this app has been blocked' dialog.
• Fixed error when connecting in multiplayer to Source SDK games.

Library

• Advanced filtering now supports filtering by language and accessibility features.

Friends & Chat

• Other members of public group chats that you are a member of can no longer send you direct messages by default.
• You can now toggle the ability for group chat members that you are not friends with to direct message you in the 'Permissions' section of each group chat's settings.
• Added a 'report' option to the right-click context menu on chat window tabs and profile names in the chat log. This is in addition to the existing 'report' option on chat messages.

Big Picture Mode

• When connecting a new controller, the glyphs in the footer will now update immediately instead of after the first input from the controller.
• Fixed incorrect controller glyph in library filter selection dialog and filter description.

Remote Play

• Fixed resolution being incorrect when streaming to macOS in fullscreen mode.

SteamVR

• Fixed some instances of Dashboard UI elements not appearing.

Steam Input

• Nintendo Switch 2 wired controller support has been re-enabled
• GameCube adapters in Wii-U mode are not enabled by default, since opening them is exclusive with other applications. You can launch Steam with -enable-libusb-gamecube if you'd like to enable them.
• Improved handling of issues when a controller disconnects while the controller configurator is open.
• Added Gyro to Joystick Deflection option: Drag Center Point. When enabled, moving the controller past its maximum deflection angle will drag the center point with it, so that movement back toward the center will immediately register.
• Added support for the Razer Raiju V3 Pro.
• Analog Trigger Output is made available in the Trigger Mode select screen for better discoverability.
• Joystick Mode settings: Added "Response Axis Style" to "Stick Response Curve" options. The Response Curves can be applied in a "Per Axis" or "Circular" fashion. Previously, Joystick Mode only supported "Per Axis" response curves. Generally, Circular is recommended, and is now default. The option will only appear when relevant - when "Stick Response Curve" is not set to "Linear".
• Added toggle for Gyro "Smooth Fine Movements". This filter was necessary for older IMUs which demonstrated a significant amount of resting signal noise, but has become redundant due to the presence of other user tunable filters. It is defaulted to "Off" except in the case of PS4 DualShock controllers. Find it under Settings, Controller, "Calibration & Advanced Settings".
• Fixed changes to sliders on the Gyro calibration page not sticking.
• Fixed an issue with Steam Input API joystick actions not getting As Joystick options for Trackpad/Gyro.
• Fixed Hori Steam Controller Gyro behavior over Bluetooth.

Since the Steam Deck / SteamOS client generally shares the changes, only these two below looked specific to the Steam Deck client update from the changelog:

• Fixed a case where the 'Format SD Card' would remain greyed out after a microsd card is inserted.
• Fixed an error when trying to pair the SteamDeck devkit tool to a SteamDeck.