Steam’s New Game Discovery Tool Is Surprisingly Useful
▼ Summary
– Steam Labs has introduced a “Personal Calendar” that tracks new and upcoming games tailored to individual user interests.
– The calendar uses algorithms based on user playtime and similar users’ wishlists to recommend games, updating daily with new data.
– It displays recommended releases for the next two months, allowing users to see at a glance which days have relevant game launches.
– Users can filter results by tags and adjust the number of games shown, from 10 to 500, to customize their recommendations.
– As a Steam Labs experiment, the Personal Calendar is a work in progress, and Valve is seeking user feedback through its discussion forum.
Steam has rolled out a fascinating new feature called the Personal Calendar, designed to help users track upcoming game releases tailored specifically to their tastes. This tool presents a visual timeline of games set to launch over the next two months, filtering out the noise by highlighting titles you’re most likely to enjoy. It’s a smart move for cutting through the overwhelming number of new games added to the platform each week.
The calendar works by analyzing your gaming habits and comparing them with players who have similar interests. Using complex algorithms, Steam identifies titles that match your profile and those frequently wishlisted by gamers with overlapping play histories. Valve notes the system updates daily with fresh data, though your core recommendations will stay relatively stable, new entries will mainly reflect imminent releases falling within the two-month window.
Valve shared that they wanted a clear, visual way for users to see how far off anticipated games are. The calendar takes a list of upcoming releases, filters it down to your most relevant picks, and lays them out across days and weeks. You might find some dates packed with multiple exciting launches, while others have just one or none at all.
Users can fine-tune their calendar using a tag filter and adjust how many games are displayed, anywhere from 10 to 500. A smaller number gives a focused snapshot of top recommendations, while expanding the view introduces a broader, more exploratory set of titles, some of which may be completely new to you.
While it’s easy to critique Steam’s heavy reliance on automated recommendations, the truth is that manual curation isn’t feasible given the volume of new games. Browsing the store can feel daunting, even with existing discovery tools. The Personal Calendar, by contrast, offers a streamlined and intuitive experience. With a quick scroll, you can spot recent releases you may have missed and see what’s coming soon, all personalized without any effort on your part.
As part of Steam Labs, the Personal Calendar remains an experiment, and Valve is actively seeking user input to refine it further. Players can share their thoughts and suggestions in the dedicated Experiment 16 discussion forum.
(Source: PCGAMER)
