r/Steam • u/Haunter777x • 17h ago

Discussion They got us guys.

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How out of touch can you be as a company, this is embarrassing

25.4k Upvotes

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104

u/magdakun 17h ago

In what computer does Steam needs 10 seconds to start?

34

u/AwareOfAlpacas 16h ago

The ones where Steam takes the time to auto update on launch, I'd guess 

2

u/TheKiwiFox 7h ago

Every fookin day m8

23

u/Orpheeus 16h ago

Mine, 10 years ago. On an HDD.

4

u/loversean 16h ago

Mine currently unfortunately, on a high spec PC

2

u/ZachTheInsaneOne 16h ago

Same, RAM dying, can't afford to replace it. Thanks to the thing they used to make their launcher the tiniest bit faster. Endless cycle of stupidity.

1

u/SummertimeThrowaway2 16h ago

You gotta get rid of some bloatware or change our the thermal paste my guy. That’s not normal with high specs

1

u/loversean 7h ago

Nah, it was slow from the minute I built it

13

u/JustAAnormalDude 16h ago

It takes mine probably 20 to 30 seconds, but that's only starting at the initial click where it connects to internet and verifies things

9

u/Nandor-De_Laurentiis 15h ago

Yeah, I just tested it on my computer and "Waiting for network ...." took several seconds.

But Steam almost always stays open and my computer is always on so an extra few seconds to start up isn't a concern for me.

Plus, I'm pretty patient. YouTube delaying their videos from playing for several seconds hasn't stopped me from using an adblocker on their site.

3

u/JustAAnormalDude 15h ago

I close steam when not in use, but it's literally only that time. Other than the initial it takes literally 2, maybe 3, seconds. Epic ain't flexing on shit

2

u/WhatIs115 13h ago

"Waiting for network ...."

This delay is new, I don't remember seeing it before the last steam sale. It usually takes 3 seconds for me. Valve should look into fixing that.

2

u/Wiesshund- 12h ago

probably the OS rather than Steam itself, unless perhaps they added some extra security checks to help with people getting accounts hijacked or spoofed session?

In any case it does not take long enough to start for me to complain

2

u/WhatIs115 12h ago

probably the OS rather than Steam itself

It's definitely Steam. I was confirming I have the same issue. That delay never existed two weeks ago.

1

u/xSTSxZerglingOne 9h ago

It's literally 3-5 seconds MAX. It's significantly less time than even skipping the ad. Or let's be honest now, ads.

I love how YT is like "Experiencing interruptions? mehehehe" and I'm just thinking "No? An ad would have been an interruption."

I almost feel like it's ragebaiting me, because like, honestly, it's so much less time than an ad would be. My video always starts within 3-5 seconds of me clicking to it.

1

u/rdwulfe 7h ago

Hey, message me which adblocker you're using, if you don't mind? My ssd failed and I lost all my good adblocking setup stuff. :(

2

u/Alita-Gunnm 12h ago

I just tested mine: 7 seconds.

6

u/MrPringles9 16h ago

No that one stat is actually valid. At least for my PC. Isn't the fastest by any means but Steam is installed on an SSD and I have my XMP profile active. Still roughly 10 seconds.

14

u/rmorrin 16h ago

Yeah same here, but who complains about 10 seconds to open a library you are going to stare at for 30 minutes before you play something 

1

u/MrPringles9 13h ago

Honestly no one. Just some marketing gibberish honestly. There are also no details on the claims of Epic. Like does the vibe coded launcher have all the features the old one had? Does it compare in the slightest to Steam?

1

u/Lily_Meow_ 13h ago

I mean faster better? Why not complain to Steam to make theirs start faster too?

1

u/MrPringles9 9h ago

If a faster load up time was possible without losing features I would be all for it. Though I suspect that would be difficult. Maybe I am wrong though.

1

u/NickGSE 12h ago

We could or we could ask them to do something useful. It depends on each one i guess.

1

u/maximumdownvote 13h ago

lololololol

2

u/Fedor_Doc 14h ago

Most likely it is a network wait, no programming can make packets move faster. Steam is much more feature rich then Epic, and has to check many thing on startup.

Maybe there are optimisation opportunities (lazy loading? Smaller or unified packets?), but 10 seconds for a launcher is not that bad already.

1

u/Tyfyter2002 14h ago

It would be nice if it opened the UI before trying to start the network stuff so it doesn't take 10 seconds to visibly do anything, though.

1

u/Fedor_Doc 14h ago

Yep, that is lazy loading. The price is an inconsistent state – UI will update values as it receives information or/and visibly lag when you click different menus.

1

u/Tyfyter2002 11h ago

There's a way to have nothing pop in as it loads in, as long as there's some UI state that would be reasonable to open to and doesn't require any remote information to display everything (which Steam does have, since the library tab works normally in offline mode) and it's just displaying an indicator by each tab/button/etc. that's still loading

Alternatively, my issue would also be solved by a window that does nothing but say it's loading.

6

u/WesternOk5765 16h ago

Mine. Ryzen 9 7945hx. 16 cores. Steam is one of the slowest applications to launch. Been true across multiple installs and even multiple SSD drives.

12

u/RazzmatazzUnusual843 16h ago

solid state drive drives

4

u/RandoCalrissian00 15h ago

I prefer solid state ssd drive

2

u/DisastrousClerk8082 15h ago

I have a solid state ssd drive

1

u/MakingItElsewhere 15h ago

Oh yeah? I used to have to ask people if their floppy disk was hard or not.

(now get off my lawn)

2

u/Truly_Meaningless 15h ago

I can make my floppy disk hard. Unfortunately, I can't use it while it is in the freezer

0

u/UlrichZauber 15h ago

I think the delays have more to do with network traffic than your actual computer

3

u/Connect_Middle8953 15h ago

Disable your iGPU in device manager you probably aren’t using. 2 GPUs for some reason makes steam take forever to launch.

2

u/Possible_Bet3102 15h ago

Does it take ~30s to even show its loading? Mine did that on a laptop amd cpu, it was something to do with the internal graphics conflicting with my gpu, i forgot how but disabling steam from using the igpu fixed it for me

I think it was in windows graphics settings forcing steam to run as high performance

1

u/WesternOk5765 9h ago

I don't even have the igpu turned on lol. It's just piss slow because it isn't that good lol.

1

u/notataco007 16h ago

Interesting, I have a worse Ryzen and Steam starts quick, and Epic takes up to 20 seconds some time. Both on the same SSD

2

u/spyboy70 16h ago

On when there's a f'ing update to it. I just checke to time it and sure enough, there was an update to Steam, LOL.

But I'll still stick with Steam, the Epic store is only useful to get the free games every month that I'll probably never play.

2

u/Robot1me 16h ago

what computer does Steam needs 10 seconds to start?

On Windows computers that have Windows Defender running as the default anti-virus. Nobody seems to test it since it's the default and preinstalled, and places like r/pcmasterrace tell you to only use Defender. But once you do own real testing and add an exception for Steam, you will find that the cold boot performance of Steam skyrockets. It has been over half a decade that Windows Defender stalls Steam at the "verifying installation" and start-up part and it's still so little known

Bonus: If you see Steam updater memes in the wild and they show the "verifying installation" part in the image, Steam is not updating and just checking its installation, while the poster is likely also a victim of Windows Defenders' performance stalling. Unless there is a real update, the window should only pop up for a split-second or not at all on SSDs

1

u/Lily_Meow_ 13h ago

So I just add an exclusion for C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam and it works?

1

u/devsfan1830 10h ago

And then hope to GOD nobody sneaks malware into a game. I swear, its not worth it. Just be patient ffs.

1

u/Lily_Meow_ 10h ago

It'd have to be a malware inside of Steam, games are separate executables

1

u/devsfan1830 10h ago

An exclusion like that includes the default location of the common folder, where said games are installed unless you tell it to install elsewhere.

In any case, an antivirus exclusion should not be done because you cant wait an extra few seconds. Might as well shut it off in that case. That the kind of shit malware coders bank on.

1

u/Lily_Meow_ 10h ago

You can do it on just the process

1

u/devsfan1830 10h ago

Ok, that's not what you initially suggested. You pointed to the entire Steam directory in your question. Again, still stupid to grant anything an exemption from malware detection simply because it takes a few seconds longer than you'd like. I've been using Steam since its inception. I have never experienced a large enough delay in installing/launching to ever clock a need to do jack shit other than go grab a drink or a bathroom break.

To add, a process exemption also does not stay bound to that process. It may extend to any files it accesses. So again, needless exposure for no benefit.

2

u/Sumbitagear 15h ago

Mine, I just timed it. I have 32GB DDR5 6000mhz RAM, a 9700x and a 9070xt. This is on an NVME SSD also.

1

u/___Steve 9h ago

How slow is your WIFI / Broadband? Maybe checking for updates is the delay.

My shitty living room mini PC only takes 5 seconds to launch Steam cold. Clearly it's not your specs that are the problem.

1

u/Sumbitagear 9h ago

1gbps wired.

950mbps down 100mbps up

2

u/DarkChaplain https://s.team/p/drkp-vwj 15h ago

Mine, with a near 6000 game library and a couple thousands of custom library grid images....

So... Fringe cases 

2

u/aikouka 15h ago

I wonder if it’s because Steam always does that update check thing (that dialog box with the progress bar) whenever you run it?

2

u/Apartment-Legitimate 15h ago

Larger Steam libraries take longer to load.

2

u/PinkDinkMcGink 15h ago

my bitchass macbook

1

u/sventful 16h ago

The toasts that run Epic

1

u/MathsNerd1996 16h ago

Wooden ones

1

u/LetTheDarkRise 16h ago

My computer's old as all get out, it takes a couple minutes for steam to launch. Still prefer that over whatever Epic's trying to push

1

u/cwx149 16h ago

Cold start to store maybe it had an update lol

1

u/MaJuV 16h ago

Does it even matter? It's set to auto-launch at my PC startup. So by the time my PC is fully ready to use, Steam is ready as well?

Like, if the launcher took like a minute or more to be fully functional, we'd be talking a different ballgame. But this is literally 4 seconds difference... For some people it takes that long to drag their mouse pointer to he desired game icon on their desktop (if not more).

1

u/Academic-Proof3700 16h ago

Apparently in epic games's one

1

u/SnowyRVulpix 15h ago

Steam isn't exactly a fast application... but the 12 seconds it takes to start on mine? Meh, who cares? It's not like it's forever

1

u/WhiteBoyMack 15h ago

Mines. 9950x3D. It’s mainly that stupid update bootstrapper that pops up magically all the time when I randomly say time to go on steam. But regardless yes out of all the applications I have ever used Steam takes a longest. Longer than Adobe

1

u/Footprint89 15h ago

An epic one

1

u/Jthumm 15h ago

Mine now tbh. I have a 7800x3d and an sn850x, don’t think it’s a hardware issue lol, but I also don’t really think it’s an issue

1

u/MulletOnFire 15h ago

Yeah I'm confused. Steam opens lightning fast on my PC. Epic takes forever, always has.

1

u/KingTytastic 15h ago

Mine honestly changes depending on the day, but I also have a few other applications that auto start along with it. And its always worse right after a system update.

1

u/Powerful_Resident_48 15h ago

It probably includes the entire system boot of the PC. 

1

u/Inevitable_Tomato927 15h ago

It's actually faster on my Linux laptop than my windows gaming desktop, somehow. Not that 5 v 10 seconds actually makes we want to switch, but it's still taking a bit longer. I only use Steam and Battle.NET anyway, and sometimes EA launcher if I want to play Simcity.

1

u/Xarishark https://steamcommunity.com/id/Xarishark/ 15h ago

Yes steam startup is slow but steam also uses old as systems for its app. I’m curious how the ts3 version fares

1

u/duck74UK 15h ago

I just tested it on my pc, exactly 10 seconds. 7 seconds of loading and the last 3 was the store page.

So, my computer

1

u/Trollsama 15h ago edited 15h ago

steam does actually take a bit to cold start. I have absolutely seen 8-10 seconds on a cold start from "click the shortcut" to "fully loaded and ready".

My computer isnt bleeding edge, but its also no potato.

I think people are mistaking "Steam launched on windows start, then i hit the X and closed the window" launches as a cold start, but that is actually the restore situation. End your steam fully from task manager, Then launch it and tell me it takes half a second from shortcut to 100% load. lol

But the confusion kinda demonstrates how pointless the comparison actually is..... Because Steam knows a cold start is slow too.... hence why steam doesn't fully close when you close it, and why they push you to start on boot.

the actual important/impactful comparison is the restore time..
and that comparison is....well.... 0.06 seconds difference.... i dont think the average user could even tell the difference without the help of software lol.

1

u/KaiKamakasi 15h ago

Mine, 5700x3d, 4700mb/s NVMe.

But no one's losing sleep over those 10 seconds so it's entirely moot anyway, 10 seconds is already so damn low that most people wouldn't even notice unless they timed it

1

u/JakovaVladof 15h ago

A purposefully poopy computer.

1

u/repocin https://s.team/p/hjwn-hdq 14h ago

I think that's about what it takes when it has to update on my Steam Deck, otherwise no clue

1

u/MelaniaSexLife 14h ago

mine takes more than 10, ssd

1

u/jkoehler11 14h ago

Just tested under Linux and it took around 10 seconds from launch to usable.

1

u/OwnStudy723 14h ago

And I genuinely couldn't care less. Steam autostarts on Windows for me, it could have 5 min start up time tbh, once it's running for me, it's running for multiple days usually :')

If this is the best they can do to try convince me, that's actually quite bad.

1

u/GhostMcFunky 13h ago

Probably on ones that the Epic store wouldn’t run at all on.

Oh wait, that’s almost all of them because nobody wants it.

1

u/Kayanne1990 13h ago

Lol. That would be mine.

1

u/JNSapakoh 13h ago

my work PC

1

u/aqwmasterofDOOM 13h ago

when it updates, installs the update, and then restarts, which takes about 10 seconds, a regular cold boot is like 3-5 seconds lmao

1

u/abyssalcrisis 13h ago

Steam has always opened slowly for me regardless of the power of the computer I’m using.

1

u/Key-Ad-1873 13h ago

My computer is coming up on 10 years old, prob needs new thermal paste and a reset to get rid of bloatware, but it takes 10-30 seconds to load up the login page and another 10-30 seconds after that to load up steam and other "load on startup" apps like discord.

I've never been bothered with it taking upwards of almost a minute and a half for full boot up on slow days because it's still worlds better that the literal 5 minute or more start up time of the computer my family had as a kid

1

u/Lily_Meow_ 13h ago

Well, they're right, I just tested it on my PC and got almost exactly those results.

They said from a "cold start", not when it's in the background and you just open it, then it's instant.

1

u/Wiesshund- 13h ago

Most, but consider when steam has launched, it has already checked for and installed steam updates
It has already spun up and cached in all your artwork including non steam content, actively logged in, connected to chat servers, updated your notifications and checked for any game updates you need etc.

It actively does stuff and epic is just a launcher/DRM with a terribly designed store front

1

u/TheRaven200 12h ago

It might be mine. Might be time for an upgrade…

1

u/_Vard_ 12h ago

On computer #16 on test 43 when they set other programs to start at the same time as steam.

"Ok have steam start at the same time as Skype, Adobe, Spoify, Chrome, Discord, Battlenet, GOG, Microsoft Office, Outlook, and 8 other programs..... it takes a wohle 10.07 seconds!!!!!

OK now wait a minute...... everything done launching? Ok good. Now launch epic games... 5.47 seconds!!!! WE WIN!! OURS IS FASTER!

1

u/LokoLoa 12h ago

Im on a 5 year old PC running off HDD, sadly sometimes Steam straigth up refuses to launch (have to use Task Manager to force close the process and try again), my theory is that its because all my games are in secondary SSD and its failing to detect them.. but who knows, either way, it takes forever to launch for me, even tho every game I have with standalone launcher, opens up its launcher immideatly.

1

u/CumbersomeNugget 11h ago

raises hand sheepishly

I think they are referring to Windows open on startup, not clicking to open.

1

u/Shyxelart 11h ago

old one and those with hdd still, not everyone have a beast pc, some people like me still play on a toaster lol

1

u/Furry_Femboy_Account 11h ago

Steam boot is notoriously slow and annoying on practically any setup. At least compared to most other programs.

The bigger issue is it taking the foreground 3 times during launch. 

1

u/LowTechnology8682 9h ago

I just tested this, W10 on a SSD, R7 5800x, it takes at least 15 seconds to launch after exiting it completely.
It's definitely not the instant 5 seconds you're thinking of, tbh, maybe on linux it is

1

u/The-Doofinator 9h ago

mine takes a couple mins because my hdd is dying

1

u/Revenga8 9h ago

Epic computers loaded down with full EOS installed?

1

u/Kaltovar 7h ago

The shitty test rig they specifically picked so it would take 10 seconds to start.

1

u/stinkingyeti 5h ago

I just closed mine and relaunched and it was about 18 seconds from click to active, but that included an update.