News
Steam In-Game Browser Goes Public
Check Gamervision During Counter-Strike Matches!
by Coop
Valve has un-betafied the in-game web browser they have been toying with for the past few months, allowing for the Steam overlay to launch websites mid-game. In fact, I'm writing this while running a game through Steam. Neat, huh?
Well, I was writing it through their browser, but then it started acting all kooky on me - the whole thing still reeks of "beta," but we'll give them time. Truth be told it isn't really that fast and there are some issues that prevent it from ever being an actual replacement or full browser (like a lack of tabbed browsing and customization), but it works fairly well. With a little more effort, Valve could prevent the need to minimize or, for that matter, ever stop gaming.
Further experimentation showed accessing content was generally easy, and browsing gaming news or FAQs is made even simpler thanks to the update. I think that this was the final straw I needed before launching every PC game through Steam, though the constant invitations to Left4Dead matches might become tiresome. It's all available by clicking the Web icon during a Steam game, so be sure to check it out!
Wow, I made it through that whole article without referencing the fact that you can watch porn while playing Left4Dead. I should reward myself somehow. Hmm...
Left4Dead Patch is Live on Steam
Comments
Man, you will just stick that tongue tolerance line anywhere you can find a place for it, won't you?
Coop, Do you think this opens up a new vector through which to push advertising? It would obviously have to be pretty unobtrusive or passive somehow, but still... it's a possibility. I'm not trying to sound pro or con... just spit-balling and speculating.
Good call Vice. The reason most sites end up adding new features is as a way to make themselves more attractive to advertisers.
Valve's been fairly good at keeping their products low on external advertisments, but maybe it will create a situation where more developers use Steam exclusively for PC software. I'm looking at you, EA.