Custom Steam Themes - The horrifying future

[Asp]

Long time user of steam, and i suppose a member of the theming community for almost just as long. From originally using custom themes before the original steam beta ui update in what I will call steam classic i suppose, to then assisting in development of numerous themes for the actual client for use.

In particular my own somewhat abominations Blue Pulse / Digitally unmastered, as well as the original Pressure theme with Dirt Diglett, it saddens me that years of casually working on alternatives to the default, it may become a reality where we have the get what you are given state.

I know it won't just be myself affected either, a good example is metro, which within the steam groups community page has 35k members roughly, and probably even more that still actively use the skin.

The plus side is if some functionality of steam theming remains, the change to using .css instead of VGUI would be a great time saver for theming and allow for so much more customisation, but only if Steam itself has any inkling to allow custom themes to still co-exist with the default or if this is truly the end of the era once the rest of the client moves towards the newer panorama-based ui style.

I suppose this is a plead, where I hope the theming community will still exist, and that we have options to create visual alternatives for the client going forwards (eg.. if we want something blue, we can have it... if we want something very different, we can have it... etc)

Anyway this rants gone on long enough... TLDR: Keep theming alive... please...

-
Asp

[Epic Store Exclusive]

+1. I want CSS themes

[Oser]

Pleas Valve, allow the modification of CSS files. Not everyone likes the default interface (myselft included).

[goodone]

+1

[The HopelessGamer™]

signed

[akino_germany]

+1. Skins can't die.

[moonrockers85]

Originally posted by Powder that makes you say "yes":

+1. I want CSS themes

Originally posted by akino_germany:

+1. Skins can't die.

Originally posted by goodone:

+1

Originally posted by The HopelessGamer™:

signed

KEEP SKINS ALIVE

[Pr3dλth1s]

+1

[BeerDone]

Could someone explain what I am missing here? Does this update hamper Steam skin development in some fashion?

And yes, of course, I am with you, +9000, I love custom skins.

[Amma Bogga]

Please, let the modification of skinning go on. My friends and I have always used the Metro skin / Windows 8 Skin and we cannot go back..

+1 Keep steam skins alive!

Originally posted by BeerDone:

Could someone explain what I am missing here? Does this update hamper Steam skin development in some fashion?

And yes, of course, I am with you, +9000, I love custom skins.

What I understand is that, any modified files are replaced by the original file the next time you update Steam to ensure people are not messing anything up.

[Messmeryzed]

+1

[Pocket Scout]

+1

[Asp]

@Ben this is correct, to local files directly utilised by the steam api, we have had for a while the option to edit effectively an allowed list of files within the skins folder itself if a modified version is included, but sadly so far, almost all .css files have not been in that list

Anything else we can edit the direct file for what I suppose i'll call a live edit (e.g custom cursors in big picture mode, custom backgrounds, the current chat/friendslist) but due to them currently requiring edits of the actual files utilised by steam, a restart or update will wipe all 'non valve' changes since it is different to the verified file that the client expects and checks for

[UnluckySpade7]

+1 I like the new theme but i know that some people like to use others, valve please don't remove a feature

[fuj1nman]

+1

[Tomi]

+1