Steam renovations offer faster downloads, quicker updates

By Adam Rosenberg Published July 18, 2011

dota-2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Basically, Steam downloads just got faster. There’s a technical explanation for what’s going on with the online video games e-tailer’s latest update, but the takeaway is simply that.

Valve announced the changes in a new post on the Steam website. The hefty feat is accomplished in a number of ways, starting with boosted bandwidth and more physical locations to send data out from. Content will also now be sent via HTTP, which apparently works better with firewalls and ISPs. In addition, game updates — which are themselves newly slimmed down — will now be downloaded as you play and applied after you quit.

Recommended Videos

The aim, as Valve puts it, is to have the “opportunity to write new tools for game developers and content publishers that simplify the process of both publishing and updating a game on Steam. Simplifying the publishing process means it takes the partner and us less time to ship each product, so we can ship more stuff to more users.”

With big competition rearing up from GameStop, thanks to its recent purchase of digital delivery service Impulse, and Electronic Arts, which is putting the full court press on its own Origin, Valve is going to need to fight to maintain its hold on the majority of the PC game download market.

Steam users can get a taste of the faster download rates right now by grabbing a 1280×720 (HD) trailer from the online store. The system will go into wider use soon, with Defense of the Ancients reboot Dota 2 pegged as an early example.

Topics

PC Gaming

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

Gaming

You can now buy a refurbished Steam Deck straight from Valve — if it’s in stock

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth running on the Steam Deck.

Have you wanted to buy a Steam Deck, but aren't sure about the price? The $399 LCD model is the least expensive, but it's worth a little extra for the Steam Deck OLED, which offers double or even quadruple the onboard memory. Good news: You can now buy a refurbished Steam Deck directly from Valve. Fair warning: These are selling like hotcakes on the coldest day of the year. At the time of writing, you could pick up a 512GB Steam Deck OLED for just $439, or a 1TB version for $519.

So what does refurbished mean, exactly? According to Steam, the units are put through all the same tests as brand-new retail units, and each Steam Deck receives a factory reset, software update, and thorough examination. All of the different systems are checked and tested, including the battery.

Gaming

Valve’s Fremont could be the successor to the Steam Machine

Valve Steam Machine Controller hands on in use

When the original Steam Machine was announced in 2015, it promised a massive change from traditional gaming experiences. The console-slash-PC gained a lot of attention, but a variety of factors stopped it from being a success. Poor performance sent many players back to standard PC gaming, while the high price meant Valve sold less than 500,000 units. Despite its failure, though, the Steam Machine had a lot of fans — many of whom have waited years for a follow-up. And now it might actually be on the way.

A Reddit user named u/coolbho3k spotted a reference to the Fremont project in the Steam Deck kernel. The code doesn't make it clear exactly what sort of device Fremont will be, but it references a platform called AMD Lilac. Users have also found references to the same platform on Geekbench, where it scores significantly higher than the Steam Deck. Were it another handheld, this platform would leave the Steam Deck in its wake — and that makes it all the more likely to be a TV box or set-top box of sorts, according to Tom's Hardware.

Gaming

The best video game deals of Steam Autumn Sale 2024

Key art for the Super Citizen Edition of Helldivers 2.

The Steam Autumn Sale for 2024 began earlier this week and runs until 10 a.m. PT on December 4. Thousands of great games will be discounted throughout that time, some with particularly big price cuts. It's a lot to sift through, so those looking for the best deals on games to pick up before December 4 might be struggling to choose what to buy. To help, I've rounded up six of the best deals that I've spotted during this Steam Autumn Sale. From Helldivers 2 to the shockingly reduced Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, these are some games you should consider buying during the latest Steam sale.
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 - Announce Trailer | PS5 & PC Games

Helldivers 2's base game usually costs $40, while its Super Citizen Edition costs $60. During the Steam Autumn Sale, both have been discounted by 20% to $32 and $48, respectively. While these aren't the deepest discounts available during this Steam Autumn Sale, Helldivers 2 is one of the defining games of 2024 and a must-play if you enjoy multiplayer titles. Its unique brand of chaotic, violent third-person shooting action is unrivaled, and playing this game with friends will create plenty of shared moments that you all won't forget anytime soon. If you haven't jumped on the Helldivers 2 bandwagon yet, this Steam sale is the lowest we've seen its price go yet on Steam.