Steam Updates Video Player for Enhanced Trailer Experience

Valve Overhauls Steam Trailer Player

Valve has rolled out a significant update to the internal video player within its Steam store, promising a much smoother and more convenient experience for users watching game trailers. This extensive overhaul required Valve to re-encode approximately 400,000 existing trailers on the platform to integrate them with the new streaming system.

Key Improvements for Viewers

The updated player introduces several key features designed to enhance usability and performance across various devices:

• Responsive Design: The player now boasts a more intuitive and responsive design, making navigation simpler.
• Adaptive Interface: It automatically adjusts to fit any screen size, providing an optimized viewing experience whether you're on a desktop PC or a smartphone.
• Timeline Previews: Users can now hover their cursor over the timeline to see a quick preview of what's coming up in the video.
• Faster Performance: Expect significantly faster seeking and smoother transitions to full-screen mode, with Valve noting a reduction in lag when rewinding or fast-forwarding.
• Adjustable Quality: To help users manage data usage, the player now allows manual selection of video quality, with options including 360p, 480p, 720p, and 1080p.
• Aspect Ratio Support: The player supports videos with any aspect ratio, automatically scaling or centering the picture as needed.

Addressing Older Content

Valve did caution that some very old trailers might still display in lower quality. This is because the original source files for these older videos were not preserved within Steam's system. The company humorously admitted, "Yes, we are still trying to find the archive tapes with the original Portal trailer…"

This major update addresses long-standing feedback from the Steam community regarding the previous player's performance and design. Players can now look forward to a more modern, reliable, and visually appealing way to preview upcoming games and content directly within the Steam store, making the discovery process more enjoyable than ever before.