Steam Client Beta brings HDR upgrades to Remote Play

Valve has released a new Steam Client Beta update focused on Remote Play HDR, adding more control over how brightness and high-dynamic-range content behave across supported devices. The update also restores HDR on Steam Deck OLED after the feature was previously removed because of technical issues, according to Valve's announcement and independent reporting. ¹²

What the Steam update changes

The beta adds an advanced HDR setting with Automatic, On and Off options. Automatic enables HDR when HDR content is enabled, while On can increase brightness for SDR content. A new brightness slider is also available from the streaming overlay, giving players a quicker way to adjust the picture without leaving a Remote Play session. ¹

Valve says HDR capture now works for games and the Windows desktop, as well as Linux desktop systems using PipeWire and streaming from macOS. The update also enables HDR on Android phones running Android 15 or newer when they use the beta Steam Link app. These changes make the feature less dependent on one operating system, although the beta label means compatibility may still vary between devices and display setups. ¹

Steam Deck OLED support returns

The most notable change for handheld owners is the return of HDR on Steam Deck OLED. The Steam Client Beta announcement does not promise that every display or game will behave identically, so owners should treat this as a test-stage restoration rather than a final guarantee. Valve's beta channel is designed for changes that still need wider testing before they reach the stable client. ¹

GamingOnLinux reports that the update arrived on 22 October and links back to Valve's Steam Client Beta announcement. Its report also places the change in the context of the growing number of HDR-capable televisions and monitors, though that observation is editorial rather than a Valve specification. ²

Why it matters

Remote Play is increasingly used across PCs, handhelds, phones and televisions, so display handling can make the difference between a useful stream and a washed-out or overly dark image. The new controls do not remove the normal variables — the host game, streaming device, operating system and display all matter — but they give users more ways to diagnose and tune the result. The restored Steam Deck OLED support is especially welcome for owners who had lost a feature they had previously relied on.

Our opinion

This is a practical beta update rather than a flashy Steam redesign, but it targets a real annoyance. HDR streaming has too many moving parts for a single switch to solve everything, so exposing Automatic, On and Off modes alongside a brightness slider is the right kind of fix. The caveat is that beta support can move backwards again, and Android, Linux and macOS users may encounter different limits. Still, restoring Steam Deck OLED HDR while broadening capture support makes this a worthwhile update for players who use Remote Play regularly.