Steam's Latest Overlay Excites Community: "Steam Rendered Every Game Application Obsolete"


Valve has introduced the latest “Performance Monitor” through a Steam update. This monitoring tool not only replaces but also enhances the FPS display that was previously part of the platform, providing an array of intriguing information.

### Features of the New Performance Monitor

Steam users have always been able to show the frame rate of the current game as an overlay. Valve has now upgraded this display via a significant update.

**The overlay is now extendable to four different levels:**

– **Level 1:** The traditional FPS display
– **Level 2:** Comprehensive FPS statistics, including min/max values
– **Level 3:** Level 2 plus CPU and GPU utilization
– **Level 4:** Full overview featuring FPS, CPU, GPU, and RAM, complete with graphs

If you prefer the old display, there’s no need to make any changes. Nonetheless, the extra information is quite beneficial and could previously only be accessed through third-party applications.

The display can be personalized regarding size, color, and layout, and can be toggled on and off in real-time while playing.

A key feature of the Performance Monitor is that Steam identifies frame-generation technologies like DLSS or FSR, distinguishing between native frames—i.e., those rendered directly by the game—and additional frames.

This enables users to ascertain whether a seemingly smooth gaming experience is genuinely due to rendering performance or just visual enhancements. This understanding can be particularly useful for analyzing input latency, for instance.

Currently, this feature is available solely on Windows and specific hardware. Nevertheless, there are plans to incorporate CPU temperature readings and to identify common performance issues in the future.

The Reddit community has shown great enthusiasm regarding the Performance Monitor. Many users appreciate that Steam is providing such functionalities directly. They consider the feature a practical alternative to MSI Afterburner and a valuable addition to the renowned gaming platform.

The Performance Monitor was launched on June 30, 2025, and should be accessible on compatible devices after a brief update. You can locate it in the settings under “In-Game.”