Steam Client Beta Update Patch Notes (January 5)
General
- Made the error clearer when you fail to install a game and don't have enough disk space due to user quotas.
Big Picture
- Added support for using the overlay keyboard for games that have launchers.
- Improved display when running on retina enabled devices under macOS.
Linux
- Improved interactions between the Steam runtime and host distribution libraries, which should let Steam work out of the box with open-source graphics drivers on modern distributions. If using an older distribution or running into problems, use STEAM_RUNTIME_PREFER_HOST_LIBRARIES=0 to revert to previous behavior.
- Unify close-to-tray behavior with other platforms. If using a distribution that doesn't have proper compatible tray support, use STEAM_FRAME_FORCE_CLOSE=0.
- Added idle detection; friend status will now automatically switch to Away/Snooze.
- Fixed Steam not obeying SIGTERM, Steam will now gracefully exit when logging out of a session.
- Fixed keyboard input and cursor switching in overlay for Vulkan applications.
- Update Vulkan loader in the Steam runtime to enable Xlib support.
- Updated libxcb in the runtime with a fix for DRI3-related crashes on open-source graphics drivers.
Steam Controller
- Added Xbox 360, Xbox One, and generic X-Input controller configurator support. This allows all recognized controller types to use the advanced mapping features of the Steam Controller Configurator. Note that because X-Input currently lacks per-controller means of unique identification, all controllers of that type will share personalization and configuration settings. As they share the same inputs, Xbox 360/One/generic controllers will all see each-other's configurations when browsing. Automatic conversion will be attempted when loading configurations from other controller types.
- Unrecognized Generic X-Input gamepad style controllers will be recognized by the Steam Controller Configurator once their buttons have been assigned to match a generic gamepad layout.
- Recommended configurations specified for a game by the developer will now attempt to assign based on Controller Type.
- Added option to disable Guide Button issuing a Steam focus change. This is available through the Big Picture controller options menu. This allows better interoperability with other applications which use the Guide Button, such as PS Now.
- Added Single Button simple button mode for trackpads. This allows a trackpad to be treated as a single giant button.
- Fix for free-floating On Screen Keyboard running very slowly if a game was open but did not have focus or was running windowed.
- Added independent horizontal/vertical scaling to joystick move and joystick mouse.
- Joystick Move mode no longer shows mouse sensitivity option unless mouse output is selected.
- Added additional support for third party PS4 controllers, including some HORI, MadCatz, and Armor pads and fight sticks.
- Fixed a bug with PS4 triggers where they were being scaled incorrectly, leading to maxing out of the value too soon.
- Added ability to change x-input controller order from the Controller Options menu–so in multi-controller setups of x-input games, the mapping of physical controller to x-input index can be swapped around. Note that this currently only applies to controllers that have opted into Steam Controller Configurator support.
- Fixed Configurator Switch Controller interface not showing controller icons.
- Re-enabled gamepad outputs for desktop configurations for users of third party programs which hook into applications via the desktop configuration.
Steam Overlay
- Fixed incorrect colors in screenshots and In-Home Streaming for Vulkan applications on AMD hardware
Steam's latest client update, which is currently in beta, will allow players to use an Xbox Controller for any game on their platform, even those without controller support.
Use of an Xbox 360, One or any type of X-input controller (including the Steam Controller) will be available for any game. Those without controller support will obviously need controls mapped to it, but it's 100% possible to do. This functionality was already available for PS4 controllers last year, but now that option has expanded.
Not every game will work flawlessly with a controller, as many were made without controllers in mind, but that hasn't stopped Steam from letting you do what you want.
While still in beta, the official release of this update has yet to be confirmed, but it can still be accessed through the Steam settings menu if you can't wait for the bugs to be worked out.
Other patch notes for the Steam Client Beta Update on Page 2