Valve has expanded Steam’s feature set by launching its Game Recording tool for all users, following a beta phase that began earlier this year. This new addition to the platform is designed to make gameplay recording more straightforward, complete with integrated editing functions. The feature positions Steam as an all-in-one solution for both playing and capturing gameplay.
How the Game Recording Feature Works
The Game Recording tool comes with versatile options, including background recording, which saves gameplay automatically up to a user-set duration or storage limit. There is also a manual, on-demand mode that can be activated or paused whenever needed, allowing players to tailor the recording process to their preferences. Users will find the tool conveniently embedded within the Steam overlay, a feature that provides an interface for interacting with various Steam functions while in-game.
Source: Steam
One of the standout components of the tool is its marker system. Players can add markers to the timeline during gameplay to highlight important or memorable moments, making them easy to find later. Developers, through Steam’s API, can also embed markers tied to significant in-game events, enabling streamlined access to specific content during post-game analysis or sharing.
Editing and Sharing Capabilities
This recording tool not only captures gameplay but also offers basic editing features directly within Steam. Users can trim videos and create shareable clips, facilitating seamless distribution among Steam friends or for exporting as MP4 files to upload elsewhere. While Steam Game Recording is optimized for sharing within its ecosystem, exporting video files supports further sharing on platforms like YouTube or Twitch.
Privacy is a key focus, as the tool is designed to exclude desktop recording by default. It records only the active game window, maintaining the privacy of other open applications or the desktop itself. Audio from additional channels is not captured unless voice recording is specifically enabled by the user.
System Compatibility and Performance
The Game Recording tool leverages hardware video encoding on systems equipped with NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, which reduces strain on the CPU and enhances performance. Users without dedicated graphics cards can still use the tool, as it supports CPU-based video encoding for broader compatibility. Steam Deck users will find the tool certified for the device, although they may experience slight performance trade-offs due to its hardware constraints.
Customization options within the tool allow users to adjust the quality of their recordings. This is especially beneficial for fast-paced games that demand high-quality playback, such as first-person shooters, or for extending recording times in less demanding genres by lowering video quality.
Limitations and Streaming Notes
Despite its extensive recording functions, the tool does not integrate live streaming capabilities at this stage. Users must export recorded MP4 files for sharing on streaming platforms. This contrasts with competitors like NVIDIA’s Shadowplay, which includes built-in live streaming features.
Complementary Updates and Client Changes
The launch of Game Recording aligns with a broader Steam client update that includes several technical adjustments. Notably, Valve has discontinued support for Windows 7 and Windows 8, as well as macOS 10.13 and 10.14. Users still operating these versions will not receive future updates, as Valve shifts focus to maintaining security and enhancing functionality for more current systems.
The client update has brought fixes across all supported platforms. On macOS, the update resolves overlay issues and improves controller compatibility, including support for wired Xbox controllers on newer versions of the OS. Linux users see an increase in startup speed and adjustments to ensure better system integration, like streamlined client recognition for existing active processes.
Improvements in Remote Play and Steam Input
The updated client introduces AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) streaming support for high-end systems in Steam’s Remote Play feature, alongside bug fixes addressing issues such as black screens on Steam Decks during HEVC streaming. Controller support has also been extended, with added flexibility in settings for joystick and trackpad interactions, which now accommodate D-pad directions and custom mode shifts.
User experience enhancements are notable, especially within Big Picture Mode, where Steam fixed bugs related to keyboard input and on-screen keyboard visibility. The Discovery Queue animation has also been refined to make browsing smoother and more visually appealing.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:11 pm CET
