Steam Enhances User Experience with Default Auto Game Updates

Valve, the American video game company, is testing a new feature in the beta version of the Steam client. This feature will ensure that game updates are installed automatically only when you launch the game.

According to Valve, “Steam will download game updates shortly after they are released” for titles that users have recently played. Steam might choose to download the update while you’re asleep or wait a few days to bundle numerous updates together for games you haven’t played in a while.

Gamers will have greater control with this new default setting that delays update downloads until they are ready to play the game, according to Valve.

Under the Downloads area of the beta Steam client’s settings, you’ll see the new option. “You can set the default to: let Steam decide when to update the game (based on factors like when you last played the game, bandwidth availability, etc.) or wait to update until the game is launched,”  Valve noted.

You can still change the download settings for specific games under their properties, and those modifications will be applied to the global settings. Valve took note of the improved clarity of these choices’ descriptions. The beta now lets you modify the settings for specific game updates using the standard download options in the Steam client.