The Steam Mobile App has a bright future ahead of it.
Video game developer and digital distributor Valve has recently released the beta for the upcoming update to its Steam Mobile App, which includes new features and improvements that make the app look better and more valuable
The beta is currently limited to 10,000 people only, and Valve has not disclosed when it will end.
Steam Mobile App New Features And Improvements
Valve mentioned in a blog post that the beta for the updated Steam Mobile App was rebuilt on a new framework and modernized design.
The Verge mentioned in its article that the app's interface "felt old," and its overall design wasn't updated in a very long time.
PC Gamer's findings also agree with The Verge's assessment, with the publication saying in its article that the update's layout feels "a little cleaner."
With the beta's new look and feel, it seems. Valve felt that way too.
The update brings a navigation bar at the bottom of the screen to provide users with easy access to Steam's news feed, store, and library.
Steam users' wishlist also takes a very prominent spot in the app, which is a big plus for people on the lookout for discounted prices.
It also allows users to scan a QR code from the Steam Guard section to sign into their Steam account, much like Discord, Viber, and WhatsApp.
This new QR code sign-in method is a huge quality-of-life improvement as Steam users will no longer have to input their usernames, passwords, and the code that Steam Guard provides for them to access their account.
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Simply put, the QR code quickens Steam users' access to their accounts.
Additionally, the app also has "smarter notifications," which may be due to the new Notifications Center the update offers. It even has multi-account support - something that the app's desktop version already has for a long time, per a Steam support page.
However, there is one hiccup to an otherwise perfect makeover: the update doesn't support widgets or notifications at this time, meaning that the app's users have to open the app manually to get their access code.
Although the QR code sign-in option may have rendered the Steam Guard code obsolete, having those notifications or widgets popping up on the screen is a lot helpful when a Steam Guard code is needed.
Despite this blemish, users are all about praising the benefits the update brings. Steam Mobile App users on Reddit mentioned in a r/pcgaming thread that the update would make the app "better than it used to be." People are also thankful for the wishlist being more accessible than it was and that it also has multi-account support.
When Will It Become Official?
As of the writing of this article, Valve has not shared when the beta will end and the update will be live. However, this is a good thing as the update still has some hiccups that need to be addressed before it can be released to the general public.
"[The beta] helps us test our assumptions, learn what you like and don't like, and find things that need to be fixed," Valve said. "This is especially important when the app can be used on so many different phones and devices."
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