Steam front page overhaul makes it easier than ever to accidentally spend all your rent money on video games

The Steam Store front page has been overhauled with an makeover Valve is calling Steam Discovery Update Update 2.0.

Obviously you can just, you know, go to Steam to look at it, but Valve has also provided a visual guide to new features.

In the left column you’ll find links to a bunch of useful sections as well as short list of recently-viewed items, which is handy indeed.

The rest of the page is composed of modules like carousels and lists, but what makes them interesting is that every game tile offers quick access to a personalisation menu where you can add a game to your wishlist, mark it as “not interested”, or go off to edit your preferences. This should make it quicker and easier to hone Steam’s recommendations so you see stuff that interests you more often.

The main real estate of the page seems to be devoted to two carousels – one of featured games and another of featured deals. There’s more information on these panels than the old banner ad-style ones. We know Steam front page placement can be vital to the success of PC games so hopefully the new carousels encourage more diverse discovery.

Down below are some big blue buttons – Valve’s description – which give you different ways to browse, and then a section devoted to Steam curators for those who want someone else to help them make purchasing decisions (alas, there’s no “financial advisor” curator who cuts up your credit card and makes you finish doing your budget for the month).

Further down there’s a sub-$10 queue, a second list of deals and offers, and the option to keep browsing recommendations. If you’re logged in, you’ll also see what’s trending among your friends, your personalised discovery queue, and more tailored selections in each module.

Wow, it’s easier than ever to find things to spend your money on. I have very mixed feelings on this. One the one hand, I’ll be so glad to see worthwhile and interesting games getting more love. On the other, I’m desperately going to miss my grocery budget when I start digesting my own organs.