The startup movie in Steam’s Big Picture Mode, while visually appealing, can become repetitive. Changing it is a relatively simple process that unlocks the power of personalization, allowing users to inject their own style and preferences into their gaming experience. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to customizing your Big Picture Mode startup movie.
Understanding the Basics of Big Picture Mode and Startup Movies
Steam’s Big Picture Mode transforms your computer into a console-like experience, optimized for use with a controller and displayed on a TV. Its startup movie, a short video played when Big Picture Mode launches, provides a visual introduction to the interface. While the default movie is a Valve production, users can readily replace it with their own creations, enhancing their overall gaming experience.
Why Customize Your Startup Movie?
Customizing the startup movie is more than just aesthetics. It’s about:
- Personalization: Reflect your individual gaming tastes and preferences.
- Branding: Display your own logos or promotional material.
- Novelty: Refresh your gaming experience and avoid the monotony of the default movie.
- Information: Display useful information or reminders before gaming.
Steps to Change the Big Picture Mode Startup Movie
The process involves locating the existing movie file, replacing it with your desired video, and ensuring the new file adheres to specific requirements.
1. Locating the Current Startup Movie File
The startup movie file resides within the Steam installation directory. By default, this is usually:
C:Program Files (x86)Steamtenfootmovies
However, your Steam installation directory might differ if you installed Steam in a different location. Inside the movies folder, you should find the file named intro.webm. This is the default Big Picture Mode startup movie.
2. Preparing Your Replacement Video
Before replacing the intro.webm file, ensure your replacement video meets the following criteria:
- Format: The video must be in
.webmformat. This is crucial for compatibility with Big Picture Mode. - Codec: Use the VP9 video codec and the Vorbis audio codec for optimal performance.
- Resolution: Aim for a resolution of 1920×1080 (1080p). While Big Picture Mode might support other resolutions, 1080p provides the best visual fidelity on most TVs.
- Duration: Keep the video short and concise. A duration of 5-10 seconds is generally recommended. Longer videos can become tiresome.
- File Size: Minimize the file size to ensure smooth loading times. Aim for a file size of under 10MB.
Numerous free video editing software packages, such as HandBrake or Avidemux, can convert videos to the appropriate .webm format with the correct codecs.
3. Replacing the Original File
Once you’ve prepared your .webm video file, rename it to intro.webm.
Crucially, back up the original intro.webm file by creating a copy and storing it in a safe location. This allows you to revert to the default startup movie if you wish.
Now, replace the original intro.webm file in the C:Program Files (x86)Steamtenfootmovies directory with your newly created intro.webm file. You might require administrator privileges to perform this action.
4. Testing Your New Startup Movie
Launch Steam in Big Picture Mode. The new startup movie should play instead of the default one. If the movie doesn’t play or the display is distorted, double-check the file format, codecs, resolution, and file size.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your custom startup movie isn’t working as expected, consider the following troubleshooting steps:
- File Format: Ensure the video is definitely in
.webmformat. - Codec Issues: Verify that you’re using the VP9 video codec and the Vorbis audio codec. Incorrect codecs can prevent the video from playing.
- Resolution Problems: Try reducing the resolution of your video to 720p (1280×720) to see if that resolves the issue.
- File Size Limitations: Reduce the file size by optimizing the video quality or shortening its duration.
- Permissions: Confirm that you have the necessary permissions to modify the
moviesfolder. Running Steam as an administrator might resolve this. - Steam Updates: Steam updates can occasionally overwrite custom files. If your custom movie suddenly stops working after an update, repeat the replacement process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I use any video format for the startup movie?
No. Steam’s Big Picture Mode specifically requires the video to be in .webm format with the VP9 video codec and Vorbis audio codec. Other formats will not be recognized.
2. What is the best resolution for the startup movie?
1920×1080 (1080p) is generally considered the best resolution for the startup movie, providing the best visual quality on most TVs. However, 1280×720 (720p) can also be used if you’re experiencing performance issues or want to reduce file size.
3. How long should the startup movie be?
Keep the video short and concise, ideally between 5-10 seconds. Longer videos can become repetitive and annoying.
4. What video editing software can I use to convert my video to .webm?
Several free video editing software packages can convert videos to .webm with the required codecs, including HandBrake, Avidemux, and FFmpeg.
5. Will Steam updates overwrite my custom startup movie?
Yes, Steam updates can sometimes overwrite custom files. If your custom movie stops working after an update, you’ll need to re-replace the intro.webm file.
6. Does the startup movie support audio?
Yes, the startup movie can include audio. Ensure the audio is encoded using the Vorbis audio codec.
7. What happens if the video I use is too large?
Large video files can cause longer loading times and potentially performance issues within Big Picture Mode. It’s best to keep the file size under 10MB.
8. Can I use a GIF as a startup movie?
No. While GIFs are visually appealing, they are not directly compatible. You would need to convert the GIF to a .webm video file using video editing software.
9. How do I revert back to the default startup movie?
If you created a backup of the original intro.webm file, simply replace the customized file with the backup. If you didn’t create a backup, you might need to reinstall Steam or search online for the default intro.webm file.
10. Can I customize other aspects of Big Picture Mode’s interface?
Yes, Steam’s Big Picture Mode offers various customization options, including changing the background, customizing the controller configuration, and adjusting display settings.
11. Is it possible to use a looping video as the startup movie?
Yes, you can use a looping video. However, consider the length of the loop. A very long loop might become tiresome. A short, seamless loop is the most effective approach.
12. Will this affect my games or other Steam settings?
No, customizing the startup movie only affects the visual introduction to Big Picture Mode and has no impact on your games, saved data, or other Steam settings.