It’s that familiar time of the month when Valve bundles various Steam client beta drips into one massive, official update. The April 28th release brings significant changes for both the desktop Steam client and the Steam Deck, specifically focusing on enhancing the user experience for your Steam controller ecosystem.

Enhanced Battery Monitoring and Quick Chat

One of the most notable additions in this update is a new feature that pames users when their wireless gamepad begins running low on power. Both the desktop Steam client and Steam Deck now include a "low battery level toast" notification, alongside a new battery measurement indicator at the top of Big Picture Mode.

While this should prevent unexpected shutdowns, its effectiveness may depend on your library. The new Steam toast notification only triggers if you are playing a game where the Steam overlay functions correctly. If you frequently play older titles with broken overlays, you might still find yourself caught off guard.

Valve has also revamped social interactions within the Big Picture quick access menu. A new set of quick chat options is now available for players using a Steam controller or Steam Deck:

  • Quick Chat Activation: Hold the back button during a chat to bring up options.
  • Selection Method: Use the right stick to flick through options like "Yes," "No," or "Can't talk now."
  • Customization: These quick chats can be edited via the Settings > Keyboard menu.

Remote Downloads and Steam Deck Connectivity

For those building a multi-device ecosystem, Valve has introduced Remote Downloads Management. This allows you to manage active downloads on remote Steam clients directly from your local downloads page. As long as both the local and remote clients are updated, you can fiddle with your download queue from anywhere on your network.

The Steam Deck received its own set of quality-of-life improvements. Users can now easily boot to the device's KDE desktop directly from the login screen via a new setting in System Settings. Additionally, Valve has improved compatibility with captive WiFi login screens, making it much easier to connect when traveling to hotels or cafes.

Full Patch Notes Breakdown

Steam Client Update - April 28th

General Improvements

  • Added a low battery level toast for wireless gamepads (Note: Xbox controller notifications on Windows are temporarily disabled).
  • Added a System Report button to the Help section on Windows.
  • Improved client performance when handling many unread account notifications.
  • Fixed spell check issues in certain browser views.

Big Picture Mode

  • Moved Steam chat into the quick access menu for easier in-game access.
  • Introduced the new quick chat feature for Steam Deck and Big Picture Mode.
  • Added a battery indicator to the header for wireless gamepads.
  • Updated the Store main menu to navigate directly to the Steam Store home page.
  • Fixed issues with the gamepadui overlay blocking desktopUI chat windows.

Downloads & Remote Play

  • Introduced Remote Downloads Management for managing remote clients.
  • Enabled streaming while Remote Desktop is active on Windows.
  • Added support for 7.1 surround sound streaming.
  • Added support for the SudoVDA virtual display driver on Windows.

Steam Deck & Input

  • Added 'Switch To Desktop' option to the login screen.
  • Revised Steam Input controller settings to reduce UI clutter.
  • Fixed radial menu dismissal issues on Steam Deck.