Enhanced Steam Performance Overlay Now Displaying Real and Frame Generated Frames; Proton Standard on Linux Systems
Gamers dig information, but me? I don't give a hoot about what's happening inside my gaming rig - fans whirring, beeps emitting, you get the gist. But most gamers out there want to know their frame rates, GPU load, and what's hogging their RAM (usually the damn Chrome).
Steam, the tool nearly every gamer has installed, had a lackluster in-game FPS overlay – just a tiny counter in the corner of your screen. But yesterday's Steam client beta update has kicked things up a notch - say goodbye to the In-Game FPS Counter and welcome to the In-Game Overlay Performance Monitor.
I've taken it for a spin, and it's a bitchin' upgrade. In place of the old FPS tracker, Steam now provides a detailed performance analysis, including the current FPS, real vs. generated frames, GPU load, CPU load, and system memory usage. You can customize the display, move it to any corner of your screen, and adjust the text contrast and background opacity to make it visible against your game. It's sort of like Steam Deck's Level 2 performance overlay – almost, anyway (Valve's put out the deets if you want the gory details).
It's cool as hell, and hopefully, it means fewer gamers will have to install third-party programs for real-time performance analysis in the future. It's not the only thing Steam's been tinkering with in beta recently. As GamingOnLinux spotted, Valve has adjusted the default Linux settings, so Steam's Proton compatibility layer works for the whole library by default, making it easier for Linux users to run their favorite Windows games.
If you're down to explore the brave new world of robust HUD settings and Proton-by-default, head to the Interface section in your Steam client preferences and opt into the Steam Beta Update under Client Beta Participation. But me? I'd rather stick to my ignorance like a bad smell.
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Josh Wolens, PC Gamer staff writer, has been addicted to games since he snuck a peek at Quake 2 when he was too young to play (trust me, he's damn lucky that computer didn't catch fire). His work has been featured in Vice, Fanbyte, and the Financial Times, and he'll play anything. He's a sucker for CRPGs, immersive sims, and games with budgets bigger than their ambition. He thinks you're all way too harsh on Deus Ex: Invisible War.
Fun Fact:Valve's Performance Monitor doesn't just offer smoother gaming experience; it breaks down frame rates, ranks AI-generated frames, and flags when DLSS or FSR are active. Now gamers can truly see the wires behind the curtain!
Did You Know?The earliest recorded video game, OXO (noughts and crosses), was developed in 1952 by Alexander S. Douglas at the University of Cambridge. Game history, dickheads!
- Gamers could now analyze their game performance in real-time with the improved In-Game Overlay Performance Monitor in the Steam client beta update.
- The new performance monitor from Steam provides detailed analysis, including frame rates, GPU load, CPU load, and system memory usage.
- Fans of technology and game enthusiasts might appreciate knowing that the Performance Monitor also breaks down frame rates, ranks AI-generated frames, and flags when DLSS or FSR are active.
- It seems that the latest advancements in gaming technology, such as the Steam Performance Monitor, are pushing the boundaries, allowing players to truly see the workings behind the scenes.
