Steam video buffering issues

[Fazzan]

I still haven't seen any solution to the steam video buffering issues. Full screen just doesn't buffer properly.

I've tried suggestions to clear cache etc.

I've tried using both -udp and -tcp.

I've tried fiddling with flash player settings (including unistalling and reinstalling)

I've tried changing various steam settings.

I have a download speed of about 10MB/s from steam. (100/100 Mbit/s)

Disabling antivirus does nothing.

Stuttering videos has been a problem for over a year, but nothing seems to be happening. Nothing that I can do seems to alleviate the really poor buffering.

[[wan-clan.org] Gordy Freeman]

Change ISP.

[Aridenar]

change ISP.

[Fazzan]

Doubt it. I'm having really good download speeds from steam. I can watch the same videos in HD on Youtube.

[[wan-clan.org] Gordy Freeman]

引用自 Fazzan：

Doubt it. I'm having really good download speeds from steam. I can watch the same videos in HD on Youtube.

Different ISPs use different CDN caching mechanisms.
Such as Transparent Proxy Servers, etc.
Therefore changing ISP will resolve the issue.

[saint_reborn]

I have had this problem for years and years now with several different ISPs (I moved a lot while in the military). I have ZER0 issues and never see buffering on YouTube or social media sites, and Hulu, Amazon, and Netflix load nearly instantly as well I have 250mb down and 50 up- I am on Spectrum ISP and can pull down games like The Witcher 3 or Diablo 3 in about 20min sometimes less!

It does not mattar how good the specs of the machine is either, I tried on various i7 machines and a i7 laptop same deal full screen or not and I have also tried the various fixes suggested in other threads. It would be really nice if Valve would do whatever networking magic is required for this video buffering or not playing at all to cease!

TIA if you have a fix for this

[Natteravn]

I can also confirm this is not an ISP issue. I've also experience this issue for years, and I've moved several times during that period, each time choosing a new ISP. I've also gone through three different computers, all of which had the same problem with Steam videos, nowhere else.

[Catnip Gemini]

I know this thread is from 2017 but guess what? It's still an issue. I've had this problem for years now. I've just tried to watch another video in fullscreen. Constantly stops & starts. If I watch in original small screen...Fine. Fullscreen, forget it. Every other video on the net is fine. Steam...Nope.

[solarmande]

I also have this problem frequently. It's not all the time, but I definitely see it, on multiple computers, with multiple ISPs, despite having PLENTY of bandwith, I dunno who thinks you should go to the trouble of changing your ISP to get Steam videos to play properly but, uh, reference please?

It's annoying. It's not the end of the world and it's not all the time, but it's frequent. And, listen up Steam, and publishers for that matter:

I have not purchased and/or wishlisted games on multiple occasions because of the buffering.

Steam is a great platform to check out new games, I've bought WAY more on here (and spent way more money, despite often getting stuff on sale) than I ever did on PC before, the layout for the store page and reviews are superior to any other option I've seen, this is one of my very few gripes about Steam (aside from Big Picture Mode's many issues but that's another story).

SO yeah, would also love to see this improved. Cheers guys.

[theFuzzyWarble]

I agree with Solarmande.
While their ISP may, in the rare case, be the cause of problems for a select few, offering that as a general solution is ridiculous.
If you can stream comparative quality video from youTube, or any other service and still have the issues with Steam. The issue is Steam.

And whether it occurs frequently or not isn't the point.
The point is, if your in spending mode and you are looking for a reason to put your money down, not being able to see a preview of what your getting is a detractor in the conversion funnel.
I personally have a list of items I've pushed to my Wishlist, to potentially come back to for the sole reason of not being able to watch a video in the moment of decision.

Sadly for the developer, I rarely comeback to it and purchase. I've usually moved on and am playing and enjoying something else by then.

I use Steam to buy games from Valve. If Valve wants to entice me with a reason to buy from them in the form of trailers, screenshots, reviews etc.. these services should just work.

Steam launched in 2013, it's now <INSERT YEAR HERE>.

If I need to go elsewhere to be sold on a Valve purchase, I can just go elsewhere to spend my money. No big deal, I've paid for and enjoyed my past purchases here and have used other services as well. If the title isn't a Valve exclusive then the game devs profit regardless, if it is.. sorry guys. You just lost a sale.

P.S. It's been over 15 minutes since I decided to write this post and neither the native client nor the web client has yet to buffer the paused video I was trying to watch. Time to move on..

[retrowave]

it's 2019 june now. i have the same problem too. no need to write same things, its written up here, and appearintly there is no solution that steam can help. maybe its time to move on to another game clients.

[fizlian]

Anyone suggesting ISP just because is wrong no matter what ISP it is.

I've had multiple ISP's and steam videos always buffer no matter what on any network.

It would never be an ISP issue to begin with. Steam is the only platform that hasn't managed to figure out videos. Somehow they manage to do streaming without buffering though, figure that one out.

I have 500mbps right now. I can watch any video on any platform instantly without buffering... ever.

Not steam though. It takes about 3 minutes to load a 1 minute video to avoid buffering.

Ridiculous.

[VOX]

I'm adding my voice to the choir. I have had my steam account since the dawn of it's birth, and every couple years I make the same google search: "Why is Steam's video buffering so bad?" or anything similar. It's been a problem since it's inception, never been dealt with.. and why? IDK. Why does my voice like so many other's now sound like an echo that goes on forever? With cheap replies like, "It's you're ISP" being the ONLY answer.. that is not one, that is nothing but a bark of the def. I too have moved over and over again, had every ISP out there, and I don't know who these people are, sticking to this idea of, "it's your ISP".. is that an answer? Does that say you preachers of ISP have never experienced trying to watch a video.. ANY video on steam, maximized, only to sit there hanging on countless 3-5 second cliffhangers of jarring slow ass bufferings of the vid banging into your head? WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE? WHAT DIMENSION DO YOU COME FROM?

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A STEAM VIDEO... EVER... NOT BUFFER LIKE CRAZY EVERY SINGLE FREAKING TIME!

It's so GAT-DANG annoying you spoiled brats! What are you on the MOON for crying out loud?!

I don't understand why this has never been resolved, as, like my fellow brethren have stated, watching any other stream of videos from any other platform will work flawlessly, but if we wish to watch a gat-dang one off of steam, forget it, and copy the title, and paste it on YouTube, because that's the only way we're ever going to watch it without a hiccup.

You rodents! Stay the way out of our path, for it has taken us many long years to amass the numbers required to finally be heard for this crisis we endure endlessly, till we tire and give up and go to youtube to be able to experience what it must be like to live in a world of magic ISPs who have the secret streaming codes and keys for untattered and unfettered bufferings...

You pigeons! Who poop all over our statue of dismay and dreams! You who are like bats in the bell tower!... I don't know what the ♥♥♥♥ I'm talking about, just fix the damn video stream, Steam, already. it's been over a decade. 💩

NO.. don't sit there and look at it from within your cushioned, magic ISP realm and see nothing wrong with it... go and visit your neibor! Go somewhere different. Somewhere with good ISP but NOT YOURs. And stop pretending like it and we don't exist!

this is the last time i speak of ISP and terrible bufferings.. farewell.. ..or is.. ..yes, goodbye..🦵
✍️ 🤏 👌 👉