Valve, AMD Team Up to Provide Gamers with Easy ATI Catalyst Driver Updates on Steam

[btarunr]

AMD today announced its collaboration with Valve to deliver ATI Catalyst graphics driver updates via its Steam platform, a leading platform for PC games and digital entertainment. Steam users can now detect and install the latest ATI Catalyst driver for their ATI Radeon graphics card directly from within Steam. Valve's most recent Steam Hardware Survey shows that fully 87 percent of DirectX 11 gamers are enjoying ATI Radeon or ATI Mobility Radeon hardware.

"Steam represents an evolution for PC and online gaming, and the availability of ATI Catalyst graphics driver updates directly on the Steam platform can help further enhance the PC gaming experience for users of ATI Radeon products," said Ben Bar-Haim, corporate vice president of software for AMD. "AMD Gaming Evolved and Valve share the belief that 'Gamers Come First' - we now have the opportunity to work together to help ensure the best possible experience for PC gamers."

"Valve is extremely pleased to be working with AMD to provide automatic driver updates for AMD's leading edge products on Steam," said Jason Holtman, director of business development at Valve. "PC gamers demand the most of their gaming hardware and providing these updates automatically will help ensure those playing via Steam are playing at optimal performance."

This announcement is another example of the AMD Gaming Evolved initiative in action. The program, which represents AMD's deep commitment to PC gamers, PC game development and the PC gaming industry, is dedicated to creating the best possible gaming experience on the PC. With auto-notification of driver updates delivered via Steam to users with ATI Radeon graphics hardware, this relationship will provide gamers the opportunity to optimize their PC gaming experience.

Designed to enable high performance, industry-leading stability and an intuitive gaming experience for ATI Radeon graphics customers, regular ATI Catalyst driver updates represent AMD's ongoing commitment to stability, performance and innovation.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Wow that was quick (though of course you may not have actually needed my submission of this 3 minutes ago)

This is cool news.

 

[W1zzard]

why not just put an updater module into catalyst?

 

[Breathless]

why not just put an updater module into catalyst?

Good point, but this is still really cool if it works properly.

 

[DannibusX]

All they need to do now is perfect portal technology so Steam can put a pizza on my desk.

 

[btarunr]

why not just put an updater module into catalyst?

Because then AMD will be poor paying Akamai for bandwidth. Instead, it's letting Valve's download servers distribute this.

 

[AndreiD]

I just jizzed my pants.

 

[cadaveca]

why not just put an updater module into catalyst?

I think they are looking for feedback on performance of drivers direct from Valve's infrastructure as well. Valve has so much info pumped back to them from users in source-based games...


Funny, I mentioned just that possibility last week, this week it's almost fact.



Anyway, this is a good move from AMD. It's only goiong to benefit us, the user, in the end, and that makes me quite happy.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

Because then AMD will be poor paying Akamai for bandwidth. Instead, it's letting Valve's download servers distribute this.

Ding Ding a winner!

Surely it won't auto-update without user approval though? Or auto-update functionality can be disabled?

 

[W1zzard]

Because then AMD will be poor paying Akamai for bandwidth

it's possible that amd did that to save cost, but i doubt valve will give it to them for free.

bittorrent works for world of warcraft .. would have been a more interesting move

 

[EastCoasthandle]

why not just put an updater module into catalyst?

I thought a new Cat using AMD instead of ATI was coming?

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

it's possible that amd did that to save cost, but i doubt valve will give it to them for free.

bittorrent works for world of warcraft .. would have been a more interesting move

Thats a good point. And they already host downloads of the installer...any auto updater wouldn't use more bandwidth would it? The detection part?

 

[RejZoR]

What makes me wonder even more is why not use incrimental update system? Instead downloading 160MB package each time, each user would on average download 20MB. Just drivers and minor changes in CCC if the driver requires any.

Btw, any news when this new AMD interface is suppose to show up?

 

[wiak]

why not just put an updater module into catalyst?

got a point but having catalyst in the downloads section on steam and get a popup when a new catalyst is out is a win for everyone

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

This provides more exposure for both parties as well.

 

[TheLaughingMan]

why not just put an updater module into catalyst?

It is there. It is just disabled because AMD/ATI said, "It does work 100% of the time." There is even a article on tomshardware.com about fixing a glitch with the drivers that shows how to re-enable the driver update option.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/catalyst-northbridge-driver-install-problem,2677-4.html

Second, I have 10.8a because Windows 7 update manager recommended the update. This means there will be 3 things harassing me about updates whenever they are released and I don't think I will like that.

 

[btarunr]

Btw, any news when this new AMD interface is suppose to show up?

To ease confusion, I think AMD will release (WHQL release) "AMD" interface when "AMD Radeon" products come out. That's the most sensible move I can think of. Then again, AMD tends to surprise us with its wisdom (or lack of it) sometimes.

 

[Phxprovost]

just out of curiosity, does this mean that steam is going to force the latest drivers on you?

 

[crow1001]

Lol can see it now, " steam notification-catalyst driver update available " 24 hours later " steam notification-catalyst driver hotfix available " you know it's true...

 

[Paintface]

i think its cause not everyone are enthousiasts like us keeping up with new releases on a daily basis, this will ensure that everyone will have the most recent drivers playing their games.

win win situation

 

[a_ump]

i personally think this is great. AMD getting its name out there. the more companies, things that AMD gets involved witht he better for them imo.

 

[Wrigleyvillain]

i think its cause not everyone are enthousiasts like us keeping up with new releases on a daily basis, this will ensure that everyone will have the most recent drivers playing their games.

win win situation

Yep and it mentioned their surveys show like 87% of users with DX11 hardware have AMD cards. Makes sense esp given how late Fermi was but still...

 

[RejZoR]

just out of curiosity, does this mean that steam is going to force the latest drivers on you?

Nah, just notify users that there are newer available...

 

[AsRock]

Sounds alright i guess but would of liked their own software to just check say every 4 weeks with options to turn off or ignore.

Or better still allow you to tell the software to check when you wanted.

 

[Kitkat]

thats nothing but great news