Steam is testing a redesigned storefront for easier navigation and discoverability
This brings long-overdue usability upgrades to a platform that’s often felt years behind in user experience.
Anyone who has used Steam before knows how cluttered and unfriendly the interface can feel, especially for new users. Between the outdated sidebar filled with links, scattered menus, and buried filters, just trying to browse or discover a new game often turns into a chore.
That may finally be changing. Valve is now testing a redesigned storefront through the Steam Client Beta, aiming to simplify the user experience without stripping away functionality.
Steam’s refreshed layout moves key features like Browse, Recommendations, Categories, and Search into a cleaner top navigation bar. According to Valve, this redesign is meant to "provide easier access to the places Steam users most frequently visit."
The Browse tab gives users quick entry into top sellers, new releases, and discounted titles. Right next to it, the Recommendations section personalises suggestions based on your library, playtime, and community trends. Categories have also been revamped to focus on your most-played genres and suggest tags for related games.
Search has also received an upgrade. The search bar now surfaces popular search queries, your recently viewed titles, and trending genres. For those who want more control, there’s a quick link to Advanced Search, making it easier to drill down with specific filters and tags.
None of these tools is entirely new. What feels different is the way the redesign positions them front and center, so they are easier to find and use.
Steam has used algorithmic discovery tools before. Past updates in 2014 and 2016 offered new ways to highlight indie games and niche hits. This redesign builds on that foundation, but with clearer organization and less guesswork.
Testers even report that the interface now feels cleaner, faster, and more aligned with how modern gamers think. However, no official rollout date has been announced.
Regardless, this move brings Steam more in line with what competitors have already been doing to improve discoverability and navigation. Epic Games Store, for example, has leaned heavily into curated sections and a cleaner interface to highlight new and exclusive titles.
GOG has reworked its own storefront to focus on simplicity, emphasizing genre filters and personalized suggestions. Even console marketplaces like PlayStation and Xbox have experimented with machine learning-driven discovery in recent years.
Steam’s redesign doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it brings long-overdue usability upgrades to a platform that’s often felt years behind in user experience.
Oluwaseun Bamisile
