Steam’s “Big Picture” mode to beta launch in early September

Steam plans to introduce its Big Picture mode, a new full-screen option for the PC client aimed at bringing your game library to the living room, early next month in its Beta phase. With the click of a button you’ll be able to see Steam reformatted for your TV and usable with a PC game controller, or a mouse and keyboard.

Coomer pointed out that some games are better at supporting controller input than others, so those will be the best experiences in the living room, but promised “everything will be there so you don’t have to give up your favorite stuff once you walk from the den to the living room.”

Valve first showed their big picture mode during the 2011 Game Developers Conference as part of a plan to reach a more mainstream gaming audience. Many believed this showed a move by Valve into the hardware/console market but ultimately that wasn’t to be. Although the Big Picture mode does give the almost-console experience to Steam users, the only difference is that the graphics won’t suck as hard as consoles.

Big picture mode will be available on Steam’s Windows and Mac clients. You may think Linux has been neglected but Steam is still chugging away at developing the Steam beta for Linux.

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