Steam as a platform has gone through quite a lot of changes over the years. Some were loved by many, while others were hated and forced to return to the salon, but there are still plenty of features that players have been wanting for a while that are yet to make it to the client.
Thousands of Steam users are clamoring for a new feature to be added to the platform
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There are some basic additions that could improve certain aspects of browsing, system upgrades aimed at how players use the program, and some great ideas to help players decide what game to play next. While Steam has always been the gold standard for PC gaming platforms, there is always room for improvement and growth in various ways.
Custom sorting
Walking through the crowd
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More complex options such as custom changes to the game name
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The current collections are a bit dated
As players add more and more games over time, it can be difficult to sort them in more customized ways than the current system allows. Right now, players can sort by basic metrics like time played, Metacritic score, and release date, along with a few extras like genres, which are still too general.
Many community members have been asking for custom name changes for a while now, and while a custom sort name can be tucked away in the settings, it doesn't change the actual displayed one, which is only slightly helpful for games with weird names in the same series. Any additional sorting could go a long way, especially for those with extensive libraries filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of games.
Randomizer
We help you clear this backlog
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Random game selection within the client
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Selection based on settings, labels, etc.
One of the longest-running requested features is a built-in randomizer that players can use to select a game from their library without having to manually browse or use an external website. This would help a lot of people trying to decide what game to play next, and it would also shine a light on some games that would otherwise be overlooked in their backlog.
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In a perfect world, players would be able to use pre-existing sort features to choose which games go into the pool, and then at the click of a button, they'd be presented with a game from a list of FPS, RPG, or a random game from the entire list. Users have been begging for this feature for years, so hopefully Valve will finally come around and add it sometime in the future.
Third Party Plugins
Transferring the deck to the PC
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Steam Deck Plugins for the main client
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Customization and other system adjustments for comfort and performance
Steam Deck opened the door for so many third-party plugins to come in and elevate the mobile gaming experience in a big way. Some make sense specifically for the bundle, like the Proton Compatibility Rating, but it would be great to see the same features ported over to Steam as first-party add-ons.
Custom launch animations, more layout options in certain windows, and possibly some extras like more in-game control over how certain games run and behave. With the Steam Machine on the horizon, only time will tell if this device manages to bring some of these features to a more static device, and if so, perhaps the same additions will make their way to all PCs as well.
Automatic detection of non-Steam applications
It brings these other platforms
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Running non-Steam games without manually adding them
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A comprehensive space for all games without opening other applications
Gamers who have used other platforms, such as the Xbox app for PC, will know that other programs can browse libraries and launch games without having to manually add them. Steam allows players to create their own programs, which can be games, media applications, or even Google Chrome within the client, but it still requires input from the player rather than automatic.
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For some specific apps it makes sense to add them one at a time, but for games there should be no reason why Steam shouldn't be able to detect other titles that players may have on other platforms. This wouldn't take away from the other services, but it would give players a more cohesive way to engage with all of their games rather than switching between them over and over again.
More review options
There is more to life than yes and no
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Many requests for neutral recommendations
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Wider scores needed for more divisive games
For over a decade, Steam's review system has remained in an antiquated state despite calls from the community for change. Players can choose to leave a positive or negative rating, and the total percentage of each is then factored into the game's overall score.
Many users have suggested adding a neutral score, reserved for games with problems or a more average overall score, but right now having to leave a black and white score for the less obvious versions can be quite annoying. The Maybe button could be a great addition or even a wider scope that could ensure games get the most accurate scores possible for as many players as possible.
Seamless library
Switching tabs can be annoying
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Access to the library or other windows in the store
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You can clearly see which games are owned as you browse
Anyone who has used the Steam client for a while knows how annoying it can sometimes be to switch between tabs when browsing the store or someone's profile. There is an option to pop up different windows, but it can feel quite messy and isn't as seamless as it could be.
One suggestion was to make it so that players could pin certain information, such as a list of their libraries, while looking at the store and game pages at the same time. This could be extended to other areas such as profiles, allowing users to browse between friends at once in a more user-friendly way than current methods.
Better integration of the mod into the workshop
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Improved the workshop to accommodate more mods
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Bridging the gap between third party sites
The video game modeling community is huge and includes millions of different creations across a number of titles. But right now, a large portion of these mods exist on third-party sites, forcing players to look elsewhere and follow tutorials that can often be complex for those unfamiliar with mod engines or system files.
Steam already has a community workshop that hosts new items, skins, maps and more that players can download with the click of a button. Adding more extensive mod support could make the community feel more welcoming and accessible to the masses, and while there may be issues with certain games, the vast majority could benefit from better and easier mod support.
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