Steam Link

Steam Link

effcol 4 Sep, 2022 @ 4:32am
The app needs more features to work best with the Steam Deck
I love using the Steam Link app with my Steam Deck, it's the perfect dock replacement for anyone on a budget. But I have a few feature requests to help make useability with it much better. I've also posted this on the Steam Deck subreddit for more suggestions.

Here's my requests:
  • Allow for easier windows mode. Currently you can put the app into windows mode by adding a
    --windowed
    command line argument, but there really should be a button in the app you should be able to just press to enable this.
  • Copying and pasting of text should be enabled between your main desktop and the steam Deck desktop. This would so convenient. I've tried to absentmindedly copy things from the steam link to my windows desktop so many times.
  • Copying files over form windows to the steam link, and vice versa, by just dragging them in and out of the steam link app. this one might be a bit more difficult, or only work going form Windows to the Steam Link, but again it would make useability so much higher.
  • Resolution should scale to the Steam Link app resolution. If you've got the app Fullscreen, then the app shouldn't just scale up the small desktop of the steam deck to the size of your monitor, it should work like you plugged it in via a dock and actually show things at the resolution of your screen.

    Plus, if you've got the app windowed, you should be able to scale the app to one side of the screen and have the Steam Deck desktop scale to whatever arbitrary resolution you've moved it too to enhance useability.
  • Allow the steam Deck screen to be turned off using the app. This is so you don't needlessly have the Steam Deck screen on while doing things, saving its battery.
  • Allow the Steam Link app to maintain a connection while switching from gaming to desktop mode and vice versa on the Deck. currently it loses connection each time and you have to reconnect. Not sure how feasible this is though.
  • Streamline the app UI so it's more suitable to desktop users. Currently it's clearly deigned and ported over from the Steam Link device and then mobile app, so all the UI elements and menus are designed for controller or touch in mind. This is really awkward to navigate with a mouse and keyboard though, and should really be redesigned for desktop for easier use.
  • Add the app to Steam in some way. Currently you get the Mac app through the Mac App Store, and the Linux app from Flathub/Discover, which are both fine. But the Windows app has to be downloaded from a random hidden away forum post on the now dead Steam Link device Community hub. Where apparently there's an update for it, but I can't see anywhere you can actually download this update. Considering Steam is designed to auto update things for you, this is really strange behaviour of Valve.

    The app really should be added to Steam. There's even a Steam page up for Steam Link, which was for the hardware, but has been redesigned for advertising the mobile apps instead now. This page really should be changed to a software page, and have the Windows, Mac and Linux apps on it so people can download the app for via Steam if they want it.
  • You have to click on the app twice for it to activate if you move away from the window. This often catches me off guard till I figure out why my click wasn't registered. It would be best if you could just instantly do stuff on the app without having to click on it first.

That's all I can think of, hopefully you consider some of these. Honestly, I think adding the app to the Steam Store is maybe the most important one. Currently it's so hidden away, most people don't realise the app's on windows and desktop in general.
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Showing 1-5 of 5 comments
birolay 4 Dec, 2022 @ 7:54am 
+1
absolutely necessary
Sup 10 Mar, 2023 @ 8:00am 
+1
Boeloe 16 Mar, 2023 @ 4:42am 
+1
root 13 Jul, 2023 @ 7:12am 
++
AirDash 20 Apr @ 4:06am 
+1
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Showing 1-5 of 5 comments
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