Valve released update Steam client, adding a new version of the home screen for Big Picture mode. The updated interface was called Big Art Mode and replaced the standard game grid that was used previously.
The main difference between the new mode is the emphasis on the visual design of a particular game. Most of the screen is now occupied by the art of the selected title, and the library with covers of other games is moved down and occupies only a small strip.
This approach makes the interface more similar to modern media platforms and console shells, where the cover of the active content is brought to the fore.
In addition to the home screen redesign, Valve has added a screensaver feature to Steam. When the user is inactive for a long time, screenshots taken by the player himself or illustrations from recently launched titles begin to appear on the screen.
This allows you to turn Big Picture mode into a kind of digital frame with memories of your recent gaming sessions.
In addition to screenshots, the developers have provided an alternative version of the screensaver – a jumping Steam logo, referencing the iconic screensaver of DVD players. This logo has been the subject of jokes on the Internet for decades due to the fact that it almost never lands exactly in the corner of the screen, and Valve decided to play with this meme in its client.
The update is currently available in the Steam beta, where Valve traditionally tests major interface changes before releasing them to the main build.
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Big Picture mode was originally designed to make it easy to manage your game library on your TV and controller, so updating the visual style directly impacts the Steam experience on the big screen in your living room.
