Steam Is Testing New Accessibility Options For SteamOS, Like UI Scaling

Today, Valve unveiled a fresh version of their Steam Client Beta, concentrating on enhancing accessibility within Big Picture Mode for computers and SteamOS on portable computer devices such as the Lenovo Legion Go S and Steam Deck, by incorporating additional options.

To put it simply, Valve has introduced several accessibility features in SteamOS and Big Picture Mode. These include a UI scaling option, high contrast mode toggle, reduced motion settings, extra screen reader options, and color filter settings. All these new options are now conveniently located in an Accessibility sub-menu within the settings menus of both SteamOS and Big Picture Mode. A visual representation of this new menu can be seen in the provided image. Valve suggests that users who need features such as screen readers should use Big Picture Mode instead of the regular Steam client for a more accessible experience.

The Screen Reader and Color Filter updates on SteamOS will bring noticeable advantages for users. With the updated Screen Reader, players have the ability to customize its pitch, pace, and volume, ensuring a consistent audio reading of each highlighted item. On the other hand, new filters such as Greyscale, Invert Brightness, and Invert Colors have been introduced, enabling users to tailor the visual display of both Steam and games when using SteamOS.

The Steam Client Beta continues to include these specifications, and Valve hasn’t specified when they will leave the beta phase yet. In a recent blog post, they expressed their dedication to enhancing accessibility on Steam, hinting that “these new adjustments are merely the initial accessible features we’re developing.” Furthermore, Steam has introduced tools for game developers to showcase the accessibility features within their games.

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2025-06-19 19:09