Valve's Steam Client Beta, launched on February 12, features an enhancement for game reviews by permitting users to include details about their computer's hardware when creating or revising reviews.
Critiques of game performance in unfavorable reviews frequently lack insight into the reviewer's equipment, complicating judgments on their relevance. Attaching hardware information could clarify the value of such feedback. Review scores play a major role in a title's sales and prominence on Steam, though some users alter them for motives unrelated to gameplay quality. Since this beta option remains voluntary, widespread use by reviewers might refine Steam's variable review environment.
In tandem with the review capability, Valve is trialing a method for sharing anonymized framerate statistics with the firm. Enabling this setting allows Steam to gather in-game framerate metrics, preserved without ties to personal accounts but linked to the hardware configuration, as stated by Valve. The initiative primarily targets SteamOS-powered gadgets, Valve's Linux platform for the Steam Deck and select external handhelds. This data may support Valve's work to boost title compatibility via Proton and similar tools.
Beyond these additions, the beta resolves multiple bugs and adjusts the feedback mechanism for Deck Verified assessments. During prompts from Steam to affirm a game's rating, users who differ can now explain their position.