Gaming News

This New Steam Feature Allows You to Multitask While Gaming.

You’ll be able to pin windows on top of your game.

In various previous stories, I have spoken about Steam and other interesting gaming topics. A few of these will be linked at the end of this post. In this post, I will first explain the struggle of gaming on a single monitor, then talk about this new Steam feature which can help alleviate the hassle.

The issue with playing games on a single monitor

Multitasking while gaming is a common practice among gamers. It allows them to keep an eye on chat windows, browse the web, or even stream their gameplay to their audience, among other things.

However, multitasking can be challenging on a single monitor, especially when playing demanding games that require players to stay focused and alert.

The primary issue with multitasking on a single monitor is that it can interrupt the gameplay experience. When switching between different applications or tabs, the game can be minimized, leading to temporary pauses or even crashes.

This can be particularly frustrating in online games where a brief disconnection can lead to losing progress or even getting kicked out of the game.

Another issue with multitasking on a single monitor is that it can be challenging to keep track of different applications simultaneously. For instance, gamers who use chat windows while gaming need to be able to see incoming messages without disrupting their gameplay.

However, with only one screen, it can be challenging to monitor both the game and the chat window without missing any critical information.

Multitasking on a single monitor can also lead to distractions, which can negatively impact gameplay. With only one screen, gamers need to switch back and forth between different applications, which can break their focus and lead to errors.

For instance, a gamer who is browsing the web while playing may miss an important audio cue or fail to notice an enemy approaching, leading to a defeat.

About this new Steam feature

In March of this year, Pavel Djundik of SteamDB uncovered information suggesting that a major update was in the works for Steam. The update would include a new feature that would enable players to take their own “game notes” and would also change the way notifications worked.

Valve has now officially announced these features, along with several others, and they are now life in the current Steam client beta.

As Valve’s Steam desktop update explains, the in-game overlay has been completely overhauled. When a player presses shift-tab to check what achievement they just earned or to look at a guide, a toolbar now appears with separate sections for “friends chat, achievements progress, guides, discussions, a browser, and more.”

Players can pin any of those windows so that they remain visible while they are playing. This can be helpful if players need to keep referencing a guide or how to complete a specific task in a game.

Valve explains that the opacity level of the pinned windows is adjustable, and only the contents of the window will be pinned, excluding the title bar and other extraneous UI elements.

This new functionality is available for Notes, Guides, Discussions, and the web browser, which means players can even watch movies while they play games if they want to. This is a major improvement and adds an additional layer of convenience to the gaming experience.

The Steam screenshot system has also been overhauled, which is another great change. Valve says that “the screenshot manager has been completely refreshed.” It is now responsive, and players can choose from large or small thumbnails.

They can also view recent screenshots rather than by game and can manage online screenshots as well as local screenshots. This is a significant improvement over having to open a separate online library to see previously uploaded screenshots.

As for the Notes app, it is a way for players to write messages to themselves. It is handy for reminders when they quit playing halfway through a quest, need to figure out what an unlabeled potion in a roguelike does, or want to write down a puzzle clue they see in graffiti on a wall somewhere.

The Notes app comes with rich text formatting, the ability to have multiple notes per game, and can even be used in offline mode. These notes are saved per game and are synced across to any other PCs that players are logged into.

They are also accessible outside the in-game overlay on the game details page. As mentioned, players can also overlay their notes on-screen with reduced opacity, which can be helpful for tracking the most obscure Tunic puzzles. However, there is currently no way to draw one’s own maps.

The update also includes “targeted visual and usability improvements across Steam” like “updated dialogs, menus, fonts, and colors” as part of a UI refresh.

Players who want to try the update out for themselves can go to the account section of Steam’s settings, click on “change…” next to beta participation, then select “Steam beta update” and restart Steam. However, there is no word yet on when the update will be arriving in the public client.

The Steam update is a significant improvement to the gaming experience. The new in-game overlay, revamped screenshot system, and Notes app all add an additional layer of convenience and functionality to the platform.

The UI refresh is also a welcome change, and players can try out the update for themselves by participating in the Steam beta update. Overall, Valve has made some great improvements to Steam, and players are sure to appreciate the added convenience and functionality that this update brings.

Final Words & Takeaways

Valve has made some significant improvements to Steam, a gaming platform used by millions of gamers worldwide.

One of the major issues with gaming on a single monitor is the challenge of multitasking while gaming.

The new Steam feature enables players to take their own “game notes” and change the way notifications work. The in-game overlay has been completely overhauled, allowing players to pin different windows to their screens.

The opacity level of the pinned windows is adjustable, and only the contents of the window will be pinned.

The new functionality is available for Notes, Guides, Discussions, and the web browser, which means players can watch movies while playing games. The Notes app comes with rich text formatting, the ability to have multiple notes per game, and can even be used in offline mode.

These notes are saved per game and are synced across to any other PCs that players are logged into.

The update also includes targeted visual and usability improvements across Steam, like updated dialogs, menus, fonts, and colors as part of a UI refresh.

Players can try out the update for themselves by participating in the Steam beta update.

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With that being said, thank you for reading my post, and have a good one.

Here are a few of my stories relating to Steam or other gaming topics:

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