Check out Steam Next Fest

The very first Steam Next Fest of 2023 is here! Play what's next from first-time and veteran developers alike, and join livestreams and developer chats all week long. And it's all free! Just don't forget to wishlist your faves to be notified when the game officially launches.

Today through February 13 at 10am PST (UTC-8), we're showcasing hundreds of demos from upcoming games across all genres from teams all over the world. You'll have the opportunity to try these unreleased games for free throughout Steam Next Fest—no expo halls, no queues.

No queues also means interacting with the developers is easy, too! We're kicking off a full week of developer livestreams and chats on Day 1 with our own live show (starting at 11am PST). Join us then, and/or check out the schedule on the front page to find more to enjoy.

With so many amazing games to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. We've got your back, with lots of easy ways to explore Steam Next Fest!

• Browse by category, or a game’s primary tags, to find demos in your favorite genre; you can even search by sub-genres or specific features.
  
• Check out the Event Schedule for developer-hosted livestreams and chats to see who you might like to connect with.
  
• Explore your personalized Steam Next Fest Discovery Queue to find popular demos similar to games you already play.

Check out Steam Next Fest

#SteamNextFest

General

• Replaced launch option dialog with new UI that includes a checkbox to remember the user's selection - this selection can be changed in game properties
  
• Changing download regions no longer requires restarting the Steam client
  
• Further optimizations to load times for users with large game libraries
  
• Fixed intermittent browser crash when closing Update news dialog
  
• Fixed the controller settings tab not showing up in the game properties menu
  
• Fixed DLC hover on game details page being cropped
  
• Fixed several issues related to popup dialogs being sized incorrectly
  
• Fixed issue with duplicate streaming dialogs appearing on Mac & Linux
  
• Fixed background images on a collection on the app details page not being clipped correctly

Big Picture Mode

• New Big Picture Mode has been made the default experience. For compatibility purposes, old Big Picture can be accessed by using the command-line option "-oldbigpicture". Note that this functionality will be removed in a future update.
  
• Added support for switching the primary monitor on Windows in Settings -> Display -> Preferred Display
  
• Added an option to start in windowed mode under Settings => Display => Big Picture Mode => Windowed
  
• Added pinned notifications for new inventory items, trade offers, async game turns, moderator messages, offline chat messages, and help request replies in Quick Access > Notifications
  
• Added up/down cursor keys to onscreen keyboard, press shift then left/right cursor to use
  
• Added ability to move the standalone & overlay keyboard
  
• Added option to turn off controllers when exiting BPM
  
• Added setting for controller idle > turn off timeout
  
• Added a quick guided tour for new Big Picture
  
• Added notification when a Xbox controller is plugged in, but the Guide button is disabled (which prevents bringing up the Steam main menu and other functionality like chords)
  
• Allow onscreen keyboard to be activated while in New Big Picture Mode and Steam window is not focused
  
• Implemented Steam Controller dongle pairing
  
• UI Digital Navigation Key Repeats are faster
  
• Show icons for partial/full controller support, VR Support, or Mouse & KB only support in Library when a game portrait is focused or hovered
  
• Center the navigation column in the Overlay vertically to match the rest of the main menu
  
• Detect focus shifting away from the BPM window faster and reduce instances of navigation going to BPM after starting a game
  
• Cursor is now hidden when in gamepad-navigation mode in Big Picture
  
• Various fixes to make the UI scale better in higher resolutions
  
• Fixed some issues completing purchases through some payment providers
  
• Fixed a rare crash exiting BPM
  
• Fixed a case where disconnecting a controller while navigating would not cancel repeating movements
  
• Fixed the new Big Picture Mode overlay being incorrectly sized when the monitor is set to display scaling other than 100%
  
• Fixed overlay scaling when resizing game window
  
• Fixed issue where a browser opened by a game was sticking around after closing the overlay
  
• Fixed launch options dialog not closing when cancelling game launch
  
• Fixed issues w/ digital navigation getting stuck on text boxes when using a physical keyboard
  
• Fixed some issues using the virtual keyboard Paste button outside of a web context
  
• Fixed issue where the virtual keyboard would continuously be made visible after exiting a game
  
• Fixed issue viewing the hardware survey web page after submitting results
  
• Fixed the "Start in Big Picture Mode" setting not updating
  
• Fixed issue opting in to some game beta branches
  
• Fixed Big Picture window being incorrect size when moving it to a different display with win+shift+arrow key
  
• Fixed problem where setting certain library filters in Big Picture Mode could cause those games to become hidden when switching back to desktop
  
• Fixed an issue with detecting game windows on Linux
  
• Fixed "a" and "c" keystrokes on the app details page triggering an animation

Steam Input

• Controller configuration browsing screen can now preview configurations and the selection processes now previews then applies instead of directly selecting the configuration
  
• Added a search tab to the controller layout browser screen
  
• Added direct navigation to controller inputs and modes from the preview screen
  
• Added upper grips as an option for mode shifts
  
• Added support for the Armor-X Pro gamepad in PS4 mode
  
• Added a specific XBox Elite layout preview page
  
• Added a specific Switch Pro layout preview page
  
• Added support for the ThrustMaster eSwap PRO Controller Xbox
  
• Show controller settings in app properties game for non-Steam games
  
• Gyro Calibration Rework: Calibration Calculates an anti-drift value as normal, but also records Gyro and Accelerometer noise while stationary, so that Always-On Auto Calibration (toggle to enable) is more discerning, and should only recalculate anti-drift when on a stable surface
  
• Controller configurator now groups commands if they are attached to the same input
  
• Changed controller mode sliders to default to larger step sizes that match the old BPM interface and added footer button to switch to "fine adjustment" mode with smaller step sizes
  
• Reworked the layout of the mode settings page to show more content
  
• Generate Steam Input API origins for some virtual menu modes that were missing them
  
• Handle errors better and fix some cases where configs would no longer load
  
• On larger screens combine the keyboard and numpad tabs of the choose binding screen
  
• Remember the last active tab in the choose binding screen and open to that instead always using the tab w/ the current binding value
  
• Improved Layout Preview for Nintendo Switch Joycon Left/Right/Pair
  
• Filtered Mode Shift button options to only show available buttons based on the controller type
  
• Nintendo Switch SL/SR buttons now show up as Bumpers for single Joycons or Grip buttons for a JoyCon Pair
  
• Joycon individual/pair Gyro now displays and functions properly
  
• Fixed an issue with the Joystick Deadzone sliders having delayed input
  
• Fixed an issue w/ enabling Gyro for Switch controllers
  
• Fixed long delay at startup when the Razer Huntsman Elite keyboard is plugged in
  
• Fixed the Logitech G29 controller showing up as a gamepad instead of a wheel
  
• Fixed the XBox layout preview page layout having some incorrect items and missing others
  
• Fixed issue where Steam Controller joysticks would have unintended input during Steam Button chords
  
• Fixed long delay at startup when Razer keyboards are connected
  
• Fixed crash with games that use "Windows Gaming Input"
  
• Fixed issue w/ Joystick Deadzone visualization not updating
  
• Fixed some cases where some languages could have text overflow in choose binding screen
  
• Fixed chord activator options for XBox and XBox Elite controller types
  
• Fixed Capture button icon not being displayed for Joycon Pair
  
• Fixed the Switch Pro Layout Preview not showing the gyro

Remote Play

• Fixed audio crackling and loss when streaming from Linux

Linux

• Fixed a crash on Linux in libaudio
  
• Fixed crash when taking screenshots through the overlay
  
• Fixed closing non-Steam shortcuts via the overlay when two or more are running
  
• Fixed some errors causing the Library not to render properly

Mac

• Fixed close button on macOS Steam login window

Today's new Steam Labs experiment is a store hub designed to help you find new content to enjoy in the games you already play.

You may have missed or forgotten about exciting add-on content for your favorite games, and this hub is designed to help you explore what is available and find ways of getting more of those great games. Whether it is individual character skins, content packs, new game modes, or huge expansion packs, there is probably something of interest to you.

Check out your personalized DLC hub here: https://store.steampowered.com/dlcforyou

This entire page is personalized around you and filtered down to the games in your library, so you'll need to be signed in to Steam to make use of it. Here are a few key details of this experiment:

• Most Popular DLC For Your Games - The top-most section is focused on highlighting the most popular DLC for the games in your library. It may be for a game you played yesterday or years ago, but the content being highlighted is selling well right now.
  
• The meat of the page is a breakdown of the games you've played recently, or you can switch to see your games by those you've played the most. Either way, we'll show you each game with the set of available content that you don't already have in your library.
  
  • Recently Played - simply ordered by those games you've played most recently first.
    
  • Most Played - ordered by the games you've played the most within the past few years. Then once it has shown all of those, it will start showing the games you've played most over past time periods.

Are there other ways you are interested in exploring the available DLC for your games? Please drop us some feedback and let us know.

Have you encountered a bug with this experiment? Or do you have a suggestion for interesting ways the DLC hub should present available content? Please visit the Experiment 15 Discussions to leave us your thoughts, suggestions, or bug reports.


Every year, we create new experiments around discoverability, video, machine learning, and more. You know who we thought might enjoy seeing those experiments? Everyone.

With Steam Labs experiments, you can try, share, and break potential new features, while we figure out what to keep and what to scrap. Share your feedback with the developers and designers working on these features and help shape the future of Steam.

Check out all experiments on the Steam Labs page or drop us some feedback in the Steam Labs discussion boards.

Steam Base Builder Fest is live now, celebrating base building games of all kinds for an entire week! From now through January 30th at 10am PST, come find discounts, demos, and more on games (both current and upcoming) that emphasize building habitable spaces.

Head HERE to join in the action! While you're there, don't forget to check out the brand-new Game Profiles (available both via the sale page and the Points Shop) from some of your favorite Base Builders.

All your base are belong to us!

With the year coming to an end, we're happy to unveil our Best of Steam - 2022, showcasing the year's Top Sellers, Most-Played Games, Top New Releases, and more!

Before jumping into the lists, we recommend reading the attached notes, which help explain some of the criteria for how these lists are generated.

Finally, with the Winter Sale in full swing, these lists offer a unique way to browse Winter Sale discounts on many of the games that players crowned as The Best of 2022.

Happy Holidays!

We're thrilled to announce Steam Replay, coming directly to all Steam users beginning today! What is Steam Replay? Watch the video above, or read on to find out.

Whether this was your best year yet or one you’d sooner forget, playing games was (hopefully!) a reliably fun escape. To celebrate, we’re introducing Steam Replay!

From your top games this year, to how and when you spent your most playtime, Steam Replay presents a wrap-up of your time on Steam in 2022.

Visit Steam to take a look at your very own Steam Replay starting today, and feel free to share with your friends via Steam and social media!

The Steam Winter Sale is LIVE! From now until January 5th at 10am PST, you'll find deals on thousands of games in our biggest sale of the year. Shop for yourself or your friends—you can gift specific games, or go the gift card route.

As for the Steam Awards, you've already nominated your favorite games from 2022, so now it's time to VOTE! Vote HERE across all 11 categories by January 3rd at 9am PST; we'll be announcing the winners just one hour later.

Here's how:



Feeling like you deserve a little something yourself? Of COURSE you do! We have everything from free stickers to a new badge you can craft with Winter Sale trading cards, along with other winter goodies on sale in the Points Shop.

The Steam Winter Sale is on now through January 5 at 10am PST! See you there!

The excitement of the Steam Winter Sale is almost upon us, but before we jump in we're happy to announce Steam's Top Releases of November. As always, we look at every release for the month, highlighting the Top 20 games and Top 5 DLC releases based on the first two weeks of revenue. We also highlight the top 5 free-to-play games, ranked by the number of unique players they acquired after launch.

The Top Releases of November 2022

As fans celebrated the excitement of this year’s World Cup, Football Manager 2023 smashed its way onto November’s Top Release list. This franchise has steadily become a fixture on Steam with perennial appearances on our Top Release lists, so its comes as no surprise that football fans from around the world put it here once again.

Fatshark returns to the Top Release list with their brand new Warhammer 40,000 installment, Darktide. As they did for years with their Vermintide series, Fatshark showcases how appealing the Warhammer universe can be when combined with a well-designed product. No experience painting miniatures is required to enjoy all the visceral co-op action in this latest Warhammer hit.

Finally, we can’t mention franchises without giving a shout out to Spider-Man and Sonic. Both of these beloved heroes secured their place on this month's Top Release list, all while saving the world yet again.

The gameplay of a polished Top Release can be so engaging that it’s easy to lose sight of the incredible stories that these games tell. November’s top releases are not only filled with stories that are worth highlighting, they demonstrate how narratives can be integrated with compelling gameplay in a variety of ways. Several of the games this month, including Pentiment and The Devil in Me, shape their narratives around the choices and decisions that players make. The Past Within takes it a step further with a fresh co-op experience that allows friends to experience two sides of the same story from entirely different perspectives.

Finally, we'd like to congratulate the teams that are releasing a product on Steam for the very first time. A big welcome and congrats go out to these development teams on their successful Steam debuts.

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If you're curious about previous months, head over to our Steam Charts overview page.

Note: This update was re-released Jan 26 to fix redeeming purchased game content.

New Big Picture Mode

• Fixed gamepad focus issues in Steam store
  
• Fixed footer buttons sometimes not appearing in Steam store

There’s a feeling of holiday magic in the air—specifically the kind of holiday magic that translates to massive savings on thousands of games during the Steam Winter Sale, December 22nd at 10am PST through January 5, 2023 at 10am PST.

We promise no one will be following you around this store asking "CAN I HELP YOU FIND ANYTHING?” while you browse. And boy do we have fun things to browse. Beyond checking out discounted games, you can also hit up the Points Shop to claim free stickers throughout the sale, or look for deals on additional winter goodies.

While you’re visiting our magical “town” of deals, don't forget to cast your vote in the 2022 Steam Awards! Beginning Friday December 16 at 10am PST, we'll be announcing your nominations in each category, based on your votes during the Steam Autumn Sale. Voting for the winners will begin when the Winter Sale officially launches on December 22nd at 10am PST.

The sale will be live at https://store.steampowered.com/

See you soon, and Happy Holidays!