Valve’s GDC Reveal: Big Picture Mode for Steam

by Mike Bendel on February 28, 2011 @ 10:20 am


To sound off its GDC presence, Valve today announced Big Picture mode for Steam, which offers “controller support and navigation designed for television interaction.” If the comfy couch syndrome is one of your barriers to PC gaming, well, it seems like Valve is making an effort to change that.

“Our partners and customers have asked us to make Steam available in more places. With the introduction of Steam on the Mac, and soon in Portal 2 on the PS3, we’ve done just that,” said Doug Lombardi, VP of marketing for Valve. “With big picture mode, gaming opportunities for Steam partners and customers become possible via PCs and Macs on any TV or computer display in the house.”

Further details will be discussed at “partner meetings” at GDC. Additionally, Valve plans to divulge data it gathered on the launch of Steam Microtransactions in Team Fortress 2 late last year.

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Read more: Alan Wake Is This Week’s Humble Deal, Valve Launches Steam Trading Cards Beta, PSA: Bit.Trip Series Discounted on Steam, Watch_Dogs Dated for November 19 / 22, Rumor: Nvidia Readying GeForce Titan Ultra

Comments
Abe Froeman says:

This addresses the one an only reason why I don't game more on the PC.

Bran says:

Seriously, There are so many times I wish I could play some PC games on my TV so I can sit with my girlfriend.

FrozenIpaq says:

Now we just need more PC games featuring splitscreen multiplayer and multiplayer input controllers and then we'd truly be able to move the PC into the living room.

Adiuvo says:

Splitscreen multiplayer is horribly lacking on PC and I've never understood why. Even console ports that support it usually have it taken out.

Bran says:

I'm still of the opinion that LAN>split screen.

FrozenIpaq says:

When an option sure, but we're talking about bringing the PC into the living room and LAN isn't suitable for that.

Zero says:

Oh god yes, bring in splitscreen and television mode. Honestly, apart from the increased hardware load I have no idea why splitscreen has faded in recent years. Hell, PC hardware should be able to accomodate the increased load of splitscreen anyway.

The concept of a HTPC gaming system sounds damn good.

Bran says:

Just get two televisions, duh.

FrozenIpaq says:

And two PCs...that's a bit expensive :p

Zero says:

Imagine OnLive except for LANs, you hook up their box to your TV and the software runs off the main PC.

Juliet says:

Yeah, splitscreen support sounds cool. I'd never thought about that before.

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