Steam client update of October 13, 2026 adds Big Art Mode and screensaver
Valve released a Steam client update with Big Picture Mode tweaks, including Big Art Mode, a Personal Calendar, and a new screensaver option.
- According to the patch notes, the update adds a Big Art Mode option, a Personal Calendar in the Recommended tab, and a screensaver option under Settings > Customization.
- In a shared comparison, Steam reached the library in 5.23 seconds, about 0.24 seconds faster than a preview build of the revamped Epic Games Launcher.
What happened
Valve rolled out a Steam client update around October 13, 2026, with changes for Big Picture Mode. The patch notes cited in the reporting include updates to the home screen and the screensaver feature.
According to those same patch notes, the update adds a new Big Art Mode option for the home screen. A Personal Calendar has also been added to the Recommended tab, while the screensaver feature can now be found under Settings > Customization.
The update also came into focus because of a speed comparison shared online. In a clip attributed to X user Girlglock_, Steam reportedly reached the library in 5.23 seconds after a cold start. In that comparison, Steam was about 0.24 seconds faster than a new preview build of the Epic Games Launcher.
That comparison lines up with earlier reporting on Epic Games, which reportedly showed off a revamped launcher preview that, according to its own chart, loaded faster than Steam. However, the available sources do not provide full independent confirmation of the test setup or the reproducibility of those numbers.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: the Steam client build mentioned in the reporting receives patch notes with changes for Big Picture Mode, Big Art Mode, Personal Calendar, and a screensaver option.
October 14, 2026: reporting on the revamped Epic Games Launcher includes a preview build that, according to its own chart, would load faster than Steam.
Around October 15, 2026: a shared clip on X reportedly shows Steam loading to the library in 5.23 seconds, slightly faster than the mentioned Epic preview.
Background
The discussion centers on two separate measurements: Valve's Steam update and a separate preview of the revamped Epic Games Launcher. The sources cite different figures, including 5.23 seconds for Steam, 5.47 seconds versus 10.07 seconds in an Epic chart, and an external post that puts Steam at 8 seconds on a specific system.
The available information makes clear that the reported load times depend on hardware, storage, and test conditions. The sources do not say the figures were repeated under identical conditions, so the comparison should be read as a snapshot rather than a definitive benchmark.
Sources
- GameRant: Steam client update today / patch notes
- TechPowerUp: New Steam Update Puts Startup Times Back Ahead of Epic's Vibe-Coded Launcher
- X post by user Girlglock_ via the provided context