Steam Update: In-game overlay, notifications, and a fresh coat of paint ... Watch on That means some of the new features baked into the desktop client are also already available on Steam Deck.

A key element of any UI, though, is balancing style with usability and clarity. "Striking that balance was, to be honest, the most difficult part of creating the UI for this game," Ise admitted.

While the low poly baddies aren’t anything to write home about, it’s the loyal adherence to Sword Art Online’s lovably obtuse UI that brings it all together, making it feel strangely more ...

Some of these elements, like UI and code infrastructure, are core to every project. Others, like high-end 3D modeling or multiplayer backend, depend on the game’s scale and genre.