Steam’s desktop app has undergone various revisions and updates over the years, culminating in the elegant SteamOS for the Steam Deck. Valve, on the other hand, has decided to keep its mobile app in the cutting-edge aesthetics of 2015. Today is a milestone because Valve is currently beta testing a completely new app for iOS and Android. It’s not simply a cosmetic change; Valve redesigned the framework, resulting in an app that looks and feels far superior to its predecessor.
“You’ll still be able to browse the shop, acquire Steam Guard codes, and confirm trades,” Valve writes in a blog post, “but now the app comes with QR code sign-in, smarter notifications, a better Library, and multi-account support.” Aside from the extra functionality, the app is considerably simpler to use. A lower navigation bar allows you to access the Store, News, Steam Guard (where you’ll discover the new QR code scanner), Notifications, and a menu. The UI is similar to that of the desktop app.
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A short peek at notification page now gives the pricing of the titles that are on sale. (However, the app may benefit from some text wrapping to keep lengthier titles from cutting off the price tag.)
The QR code scanner is another notable feature. Instead of manually entering in letters, you can sign in to your Steam account by scanning a QR code. This has been a long-standing feature in other programmes, so it’s wonderful to see Steam catch up. You can also try this functionality by enrolling in Steam’s desktop beta programme.
Overall, this big update pulls the mobile app into the twenty-first century. If you want to try it out, you may join up for the beta. Just keep in mind that there are a few idiosyncrasies. For me, messaging appears to be completely broken, and the QR code scanner required a fast restart to work. To sign up, go to your mobile device’s Play Store listing for the Steam app, scroll down, and click Join under the Join the beta header.
