Steam Just Got a Makeover: Is That Search Bar REALLY Bigger, or Am I Just Seeing Things?
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Valve's beta update for Steam's store is out, squashing menus and supersizing the search bar, all in the name of easier browsing (and fewer accidental clicks, probably). Rock Paper Shotgun has the lowdown on how to jump in and give it a whirl.
Right, so Valve's decided to give the Steam store a bit of a facelift, and it's currently kicking about in beta. According to Rock Paper Shotgun, the main idea is to make it easier to get to all those corners of Steam you're always lurking in. (No judgment here, we all have our… *special* interests).
Remember that massive list of links on the side and that blue bar up top? Gone! They've mashed them together into one menu. Makes sense, doesn't it? Stops you from clicking the same thing twice, which, let's be honest, we've all done.
But the real star of the show? That search bar. Fair dinkum, it's been embiggened. And I'm not just saying that. It's genuinely bigger. No more squinting to type in your deepest, darkest gaming desires. Now, when you click on the search bar, it throws up popular searches, games you've recently been eyeing, and even your top genres. And a quick link to the advanced search, for when you really want to get specific (Lorry dating sim, anyone?).
The browse menu's had a bit of a tweak too. Top sellers, new releases, your wishlist (with handy discount alerts!). All there. Then there's the recommendations section, which is supposed to learn what you like based on your playtime and purchases. Sounds a bit like magic, doesn't it? Hopefully, it's not the kind of magic that recommends you endless farming simulators after you accidentally play Stardew Valley for 12 hours straight.
And finally, there's the categories tab, because apparently, one way to find your favourite genres just isn't enough. Another path to the same treasure, I reckon.
I gave the beta a whirl, and honestly, it's not a bad update. Nothing too earth-shattering, but a decent little improvement that shouldn't scramble your brain too much. Fancy giving it a go yourself? Rock Paper Shotgun has the details on how to opt-in to the beta. Let Valve know what you think. Might just save us all from a future of awkwardly small search bars.
Tags: Steam, Valve, UI, Gaming News, PC Gaming
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun