A patent published on September 21 details what appears to be an “instant play” feature that may allow Steam users to play games while they download. Documents cite the growing size of game files, which can be upwards of 100 GB, to establish the patent’s context and necessitate the new technology.
In fact, a feature like this is already available on Blizzard’s Battle.net. Users need only download part of a game before it is playable, but gameplay is often limited to only parts of the game. Game files have grown in size over the last decade, requiring long downloads and larger hard drives to write and store all of the data. While storage space has grown with file size, hardware reading speeds struggle to keep up. One aspect of file size that Valve is hoping to address is the ability to prioritize game files accessed most frequently by users. This is similar to when a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare update allowed PC players to uninstall unused game data.
As spotted by Twitter user Pavel Djundik, Valve’s patent explains that because game files today are so large, existing technology may lead to delays in game installation. This is reflected in the expanding HDD size in consoles as well. It also states that because games are so large “latency can arise at times when the PC is loading the game data from the HDD during a game session." This suggests that current models available to users to download and play games synchronously is resulting in latency. Valve is looking to improve on this model by providing remote access computing platforms that will “implement game-related features including, without limitation, ‘instant play’ of video games.” The patent also claims that this system may improve the functionality of user machines because, by providing instant access, games may be downloaded more intelligibly to reduce latency during downloads.
The feature may also free up local HDD and memory resources on PCs, giving users more room to store other games and conserve resources. The patent explains that if the user’s PC or the remote system from which games are downloaded determine that a user always plays multiplayer mode but never single-player mode, “the single-player game data for the video game can be deleted from non-volatile memory of the client machine.” Incidentally, the Steam deck is hitting final production stages and only has up to 512 GB storage capacity (depending on the model you buy). This new technology will certainly benefit users looking to buy and store a massive library of games on their Steam deck.
Technology advancements are usually a good sign for a company like Valve. Updates like this can help keep the company relevant in the modern gaming industry. This development may be the next step in how Valve will support the Steam Deck and other peripherals. But overall, Steam libraries have been a source of pride for many users. This new option means accessing titles within it will be easier than ever before.
Source: Pavel Djundik/Twitter
https://ift.tt/3j90WSL
September 23, 2021 at 02:43AM
