Steam's recently launched game recording system has sparked significant discussion in the gaming community, particularly regarding its performance across different platforms and hardware configurations. While the feature brings innovative timeline markers and sharing capabilities, user experiences vary significantly, especially on Linux systems.
Linux Performance Concerns
The most prominent discussion point among users centers around Linux compatibility and performance. Despite Valve's strong commitment to Linux gaming, several users report mixed experiences with the new recording feature. Performance issues appear particularly pronounced for AMD graphics card users on Linux:
In my experience only NVENC is supported by most video recording tools, and if you are on AMD, it's using the CPU, thus slowing everything to a crawl. AMD should be using VA-API but it's not a very good system as it fails or breaks if you look at it the wrong way. Source
Advantages Over Existing Solutions
Users are particularly impressed with the system's reliability compared to alternatives like NVIDIA ShadowPlay. The new feature's background recording mode addresses a common pain point - forgetting to start recording before noteworthy moments occur. Some users have reported switching from ShadowPlay due to audio sync issues and general reliability problems with NVIDIA's solution.
Timeline Integration Innovation
A standout feature receiving positive feedback is the timeline and event markers system. The integration with game events and achievements provides contextual markers that make finding specific moments much easier. This represents a significant step forward in game capture functionality, though some developers express concerns about implementation overhead.
Storage and Format Considerations
One notable limitation identified by users is the lack of raw footage storage options. Currently, the system only saves compressed video, which could limit post-processing options for more serious content creators. However, this approach may benefit casual users by reducing storage requirements.
Steam Deck Integration
The feature has been particularly well-received on Steam Deck, where users report positive experiences using it to document bugs and share gameplay moments with developers. However, some users note limitations with high-resolution recording, particularly at 4K 60fps.
The new recording system represents a significant step forward in integrated game capture solutions, though its success may ultimately depend on how Valve addresses current performance issues, particularly on Linux systems with AMD hardware. The timeline feature and Steam Deck integration show particular promise, suggesting potential for future improvements.