Steam Client Beta October 28 fixes three frustrating friend-notification problems, makes the Quick Access Menu respond better in Big Picture Mode and refreshes the Linux updater. Valve released it to the testing channel on 28 October 2026.
The biggest change stops game-start alerts going missing when several friends begin playing within ten seconds. The rest of the update focuses on sounds, personal friend preferences and the Steam interface.
Steam Client Beta October 28: all patch notes
| Area | Change |
|---|---|
| General | Fixed game-start notifications dropped when several friends launch games within ten seconds |
| General | Fixed friend-online and game-start sounds ignoring the toast and sound preferences |
| General | Fixed individual friend notifications failing to override global settings |
| Big Picture Mode | Improved Quick Access Menu responsiveness |
| Big Picture Mode | Fixed per-friend notification settings being ignored |
| Linux | Restyled Steam’s updater interface |
Valve lists six changes: three General fixes, two Big Picture improvements and one for Linux. The notification-sound fix covers both online and game-start alerts.
Steam Client Beta October 28 fixes friend game notifications
When several friends started games close together, Steam could drop an alert despite your settings being correct. Steam Client Beta October 28 fixes this ten-second timing bug.
A game-start alert is separate from a multiplayer invitation or chat message. They have their own notification controls.
Friend-online and game notification sounds
The sounds for When a friend comes online and When a friend joins a game now follow the selected Show Notification Toasts and Play a sound when a notification toast is displayed settings. Previously, Steam could ignore those choices.
Custom friend settings also override your general notification choices. You can follow one friend’s game launches without enabling the same alert for everybody.
Big Picture Mode and Linux changes
In Steam Client Beta October 28, Big Picture Mode now respects individual friend settings and the Quick Access Menu responds better to controller input. It improves menu navigation.
Valve also restyled the Steam updater window on Linux.
How to install Steam Client Beta October 28
On a PC, open Steam > Settings > Interface. Find Client Beta Participation, select Steam Beta Update and restart Steam when prompted. Steam downloads the beta client automatically. You don’t need to reinstall your library.
To return to stable, select the non-beta option in the same dropdown and restart.
Steam Client Beta October 28 on Steam Deck
Valve also announced the same notification fixes in its Steam Deck Preview/Beta update. In SteamOS, press the Steam button, open Settings > System, then select the Beta system update channel under Beta Participation and restart.
For Big Picture Mode on a PC, go to Settings > System > Beta Participation, then set Steam Client Update Channel to Steam Beta Update. SteamOS system channels and client beta choices are different controls, so use the one for your device.
Is this fix available in stable Steam?
Steam Client Beta October 28 is identified as a beta release. The Client Beta Participation dropdown shows whether your own PC is on that channel.
GameInput and chat updates arrived on 26 October, HDR features on 22 October and Achievement Sets on 15 October. Those were separate beta releases.
Which October 28 change should you look at first?
If friends’ game launches are going missing, the ten-second bug fix is relevant. If your alert is visible but its sound behaves incorrectly, check the notification sound settings. If one friend’s notifications don’t match your chosen preferences, the per-friend override fix is the one to look at.
Steam Client Beta October 28 makes friend notifications follow your preferences more reliably. The Big Picture and Linux changes round out the update.
Related Guides
Official source: Valve: Steam Client Beta October 28 notes.
