The YouTube video provides an overview of the latest Steam Deck beta updates and discusses Valve's growing influence in game optimization for handheld devices. It highlights specific bug fixes and the increasing trend of games receiving native Steam Deck builds and graphics presets. The video also features a sponsored segment for Raycon earbuds.
Raycon Earbuds Sponsorship #
- Product: Raycon Essential Open Earbuds.
- Discount: 30% off for Deck Ready viewers.
- Key Features:
- Sit outside the ear canal, allowing users to hear surroundings without compromising sound quality.
- Lightweight and secure fit.
- Impressive battery life: 8 hours in earbuds, plus 36 hours from the case.
- Premium audio quality at half the price of big brands.
- Over 3 million happy customers and a 30-day happiness guarantee.
Latest Steam Deck Beta Updates #
- Unity Exploit Fix:
- A new feature prevents Unity-based games from launching if suspicious activity, indicative of a critical exploit, is detected.
- Aims to protect users from potential hacking via Unity games.
- DualSense Controller Crash Fix:
- Addresses a bug that caused the Steam Deck's OS to crash and restart when launching a game with a DualSense controller connected.
- This bug was introduced in a previous update.
- EmuDeck Non-Steam Game Crash Fix:
- Fixes an issue where adding a large number of non-Steam games via EmuDeck could cause Steam to crash and enter a restart loop.
- The presenter notes this bug has reappeared despite previous fixes and suggests starting fresh with EmuDeck configurations.
- Steam Recording Performance Improvement:
- Fixes a bug that caused a significant FPS drop (5-6 FPS) when using the built-in Steam recording feature.
- Performance drop was more noticeable on Bazite PCs.
- Recording quality can now be maximized without performance degradation.
- Windows ARM Support End-of-Life Notification:
- Steam will end support for the app on Windows ARM machines by January 2026.
- An in-app notification has been added for users on these devices.
- Secure Boot/TPM Detection Feature:
- Allows users to quickly check if Secure Boot/TPM is enabled on their PC directly within Steam's hardware properties.
- Especially relevant for games like Battlefield 6 that require secure boot.
- Simplifies checking compared to navigating Windows settings.
Valve's Influence in Game Optimization #
- Developers Choosing Steam Deck Optimization:
- Developers are increasingly prioritizing optimization for the Steam Deck, possibly due to its larger market share compared to competitors like the ROG Ally.
- The Steam Deck's lower specs mean optimizations for it can also benefit more powerful handhelds like the ROG Ally.
- Increased Native Steam Deck Builds:
- Recent examples include Baldur's Gate 3, Kronos: The New Dawn, and House of Tesla.
- These native Linux builds often run and look better than their Proton-emulated counterparts on the Steam Deck.
- This trend aligns with Valve's original goal for SteamOS 2.0 to encourage native Linux ports.
- Developers across all tiers (AAA, AA, Indie) are adopting this.
- Companies like Sony, Square Enix, and Capcom, which already emphasize Steam Deck verification, are potential candidates for future native Linux builds.
- Steam Deck Graphics Presets:
- A new indie game, The Bleakest Keep, received a post-launch update with a dedicated Steam Deck graphics preset and improved text readability.
- The presenter advocates for more studios to implement dedicated Steam Deck graphics presets, as it's a small investment (a $400 Steam Deck) with significant benefits for players and potentially sales.
- These presets can also indirectly benefit other handhelds like the ROG Ally and Legion Go.
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