Valve is changing the way video audio streams are accessible to Steam. A developer has announced an update on the Steamworks Development blog today, two major changes are noted – optimizing the user experience and adding "new functionality" for developers and the audience.
Previously, video soundtracks were sold as a DLC to Steam, which made them available only when one had the video game in question. Say, for example, you wanted to buy Sayonara Wild Hearts soundtrack to Steam after playing the game on Apple Arcade. You can only access the audio track when you have purchased and downloaded Sayonara Wild Hearts to Steam. It was a mindless system actually.
There are other qualities that accompany this change, too, according to Valve:
customers can now download audio songs without having to download the basic game.
customers can browse and download their portable songs and download directly from Steam's new library.
customers can configure Steam's "music" directory where all audio track content will be placed, rather than any receipts under game content references.
Developers can download and manage the soundtrack content completely from the partner site, without using steamcmd.
Developers can sell audio tracks when the base game itself is not available for sale on Steam.
There are tons of sounds already available on Steam, many of which are still listed as DLC. The transition to a new system will not be there; developers will have to migrate their game sounds into a new kind of app. The new version of the app will make it easier for people to browse their sounds, and, with the added bonus of "related content," such as album and liner art. Along with these features, Valve has added a new interface for soundtracks, "designed to make it as painful as possible to perform the most common actions: playback, browse, and manage content."
Valve said it plans to "present these features in a comprehensive manner" at a January 20 sales event.
