How to Use the Steam Game Recording Feature

It's no secret that Valve has launched its dedicated video recording tool in the Steam client called Steam Game Recording.

This allows you to easily record footage with minimal impact on performance that you can then share, export and trim. In our guide we explain how to use it and we will show you some tricks:

How to Use the Steam Game Recording Feature

Activating Steam Game Recording:

Beta Client Participation: To gain access to the game recording functionality, ensure your Steam client participates in the beta program. Navigate to Steam (top left corner) > Settings and proceed to the Interface tab. Under Client Beta Participation, select Steam Beta Update or Steam Families Beta. Subsequently, restart Steam to download and install the necessary beta update files.

Understanding Recording Modes:

Steam Game Recording offers three distinct recording modes to cater to diverse user preferences:

Deactivated Recording: This mode entirely disables the recording function.

Continuous Background Capture: This mode functions silently in the background, persistently recording gameplay. This allows you to retroactively save up to the last two hours of gameplay (adjustable in settings) by creating a clip from the desired timeframe.

Manual Recording Control: This mode empowers granular control over recording. Initiate recording by pressing Ctrl + F11, and press it again to terminate recording.

Initiating and Managing Recordings:

In-Game Overlay Access: While actively engaged in gameplay, press Shift + Tab to access the Steam Overlay interface.

Recording Timeline: Locate the Timeline interface within the Overlay. This intuitive interface provides a consolidated space for viewing, managing, clipping, and exporting recorded footage.

Marker Placement: Right-click within the Timeline to strategically insert markers at specific points of interest within your recording, facilitating future reference and navigation.

Exporting Captured Footage:

Steam Game Recording equips you with a robust suite of video export options:

Clip Creation: Extract a designated segment of your recording and seamlessly save it to your Steam library for convenient organization.

Custom Export Location: Specify a particular directory on your computer to export the video file, ensuring it integrates seamlessly with your existing workflow.

Cross-Device Transfer: Effortlessly transfer the recording to another device, fostering broader content distribution.

Shareable Link Generation: Produce a shareable link for the recording, enabling online dissemination across various platforms.

Direct Friend Chat Sharing: Send the recording directly to a friend through the Steam chat interface, fostering personalized content sharing.

Video Format and Quality Control:

Universal MP4 Format: All exported videos are saved in MP4 format, ensuring compatibility with most media players and editing software.

Quality Customization: The Game Recording tab within Steam Settings allows you to adjust the video quality based on your preferences and storage capacity. This facilitates a balance between visual fidelity and file size.

Compatibility:

Non-Steam Game Support: Steam Game Recording extends its functionality beyond Steam titles. You can leverage it to capture footage from non-Steam games and applications, broadening its utility.

Steam Deck Integration: The feature is also incorporated into the latest Steam Deck beta build, providing a native recording solution for the handheld gaming platform.

Addressing Potential Issues:

While Steam strives to deliver a seamless recording experience, technical hiccups may occasionally occur. Valve actively refines the client and addresses user-reported bugs to enhance stability and performance. Should you encounter any technical difficulties, you can reference the Steam Community forums or contact Steam Support for assistance.

With these guidelines and by delving deeper into the capabilities of Steam Game Recording, you can effectively document your in-game achievements, cultivate engaging content, and share your gaming experiences with the broader community.