Attention all Steam Deck users: Valve is finally addressing a long-standing frustration—the inability to turn off the screen while downloading games. But here's where it gets exciting: Valve is now testing a low-power mode that lets your Steam Deck complete downloads with the screen off, saving energy and extending battery life. This update, currently available in the Beta and Preview channels, is a game-changer for those who’ve ever wished to download games or updates without keeping the device running unnecessarily.
As someone who frequently downloads games and updates on my Steam Deck, I’ve often found myself wishing for this exact feature. Interestingly, when The Verge inquired about this two years ago during the Steam Deck OLED launch, Valve seemed content with the device’s existing capabilities. At the time, hardware engineer Yazan Aldehayyat pointed out that downloading consumes significant power, raising concerns about users accidentally leaving a hot device in their bag, thinking it was asleep. And this is the part most people miss: Valve’s new solution not only addresses power consumption but also ensures safety by allowing the device to enter a low-power mode while downloads continue.
Here’s how it works: With the update installed, pressing the power button during a download prompts a new dialog asking if you want to keep downloading with the screen off. If you choose to continue, the Steam Deck enters this low-power mode. While in this state, pressing a button or moving the device wakes it up to show download progress, giving you the option to fully wake the device or let it resume downloading with the screen off. The feature is enabled by default when the device is plugged in, and you can manually activate it for battery use in settings—though if the battery drops below 20%, the device will enter full sleep mode.
But here’s the controversial part: While this update is a welcome improvement, it raises questions about why it took so long to implement. Was it a technical challenge, or did Valve simply underestimate user demand? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—do you think this feature should have been prioritized earlier, or is it a perfect example of better-late-than-never innovation?
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