Valve Adds Recently Updated Tab to Steam Store

The digital store for Steam has been updated to show users which of their existing games have been updated recently to encourage players to keep up with their older games and find new content.

The Steam Store now has a new section found on the front page that shows games that have new content available. This area, located below the "Featured" section, showw users three randomly selected games that have new updates. This includes new DLC being released for the games, the release of new levels, mods that have been created for a game or new patches that will improve gameplay. While only three games will show up at once on the homepage in the section, users can expand the section to show a complete listing of games on Steam that have been updated in the recent past.

This feature will help guide users to older games found on Steam and could encourage users to buy and download games they may have forgotten about instead of new games or games that are on sale. In addition, users will be able to scan the section for games they have purchased in the past and find out if they have new content waiting for them.

Valve may have decided to update the Steam Store to show off the changes to the vast library of games found on the digital platform to prepare for the launch of Steam OS and the Steam Machines consoles. Steam OS is the new operating system designed specifically for the Steam Machines that will help the consoles run current and future games found on the service. Steam Machines are PC-like home consoles that will allow users to play many different existing games on Steam in the living room while adding new games designed specifically for the new systems. Over a dozen different companies have confirmed they are building Steam Machines to launch in 2014 alone.

By giving users the chance to see what Steam games have been updated, Valve may be trying to give users the chance to see if games have been optimized for Steam OS and the Steam Machines as well as other accessories such as the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. Users looking to expand their catalog of games on Steam can see what sort of games are still active or if there's new content to explore since they have stopped playing.