Valve is testing a low-power solution to full downloads in your Steam Deck with out having to go away the hand held working with the display screen on. As a part of an replace that’s at the moment on the Steam Deck’s Beta and Preview channels, the hand held can “full all energetic downloads in a brand new display-off low-power mode earlier than going to sleep,” Valve says.
I’m glad this variation is within the works; I obtain a variety of video games and updates on my Steam Deck and I’ve usually wished that I didn’t have to go away the show on whereas doing so. The Verge requested Valve about this two years in the past when the Steam Deck OLED launched, and the corporate appeared to suppose Deck was adequate with out it.
“We burn a considerable quantity of energy if you’re downloading,” {hardware} engineer Yazan Aldehayyat mentioned on the time, suggesting to us that gamers won’t wish to by chance depart a sizzling Steam Deck of their bag in the event that they mistakenly suppose it’s asleep. Valve’s resolution introduced right this moment appears to resolve a few of these issues.
With the replace put in, if you press the ability button whereas your Deck is downloading one thing, you’ll see a brand new dialog that asks if you wish to hold downloading however have the display screen off. If you happen to select Proceed, your Deck will enter the low-power mode. “Whereas on this mode, for those who press a button or transfer Steam Deck, a brand new standing display screen shall be proven with obtain progress,” Valve says. “From right here you may totally wake Steam Deck or let it proceed downloading with the display screen off.”
The characteristic is on by default when your Steam Deck is plugged in. You may as well select to allow it whereas working on battery in settings, although in case your Steam Deck falls under 20 p.c battery, your gadget will go into full sleep mode.