Why it matters: SteamDB and Augmented Steam have offered rival browser extensions to enhance Valve's storefront for years, but the former has gained a significant advantage for trading card hunters. Users who regularly look through Steam's daily discovery queue might want to investigate SteamDB to speed up the process dramatically.
Those who browse Steam in a web browser with the SteamDB extension installed can now earn trading cards during Steam sales without clicking through the discovery queue daily. If only the new feature hadn't debuted just as the 2024 Steam Summer sale nears its end.
For years, Steam has offered rare trading cards during annual sales. Users earn them by browsing a curated product page lineup that updates daily, aiming to assemble themed event badges before the sale ends. Purchasing games during sale events also unlocks cards.
steamdb extension now has a button to claim the daily steam sale item/sticker from discovery queue page so you don't have to hunt for it pic.twitter.com/bskkJ0taX9
– Pavel Djundik (@thexpaw) July 9, 2024
However, SteamDB users can now skip browsing several pages of sale items by clicking on a new "Auto-discover" button in the queue. Selecting "Claim Reward" automatically sends the trading card or other small collectible item into a user's inventory. Find the discovery queue midway down Steam's front page or under Store > Discovery Queue.
Customers can also skim the queue when Valve isn't running sales to see games the Steam algorithm thinks they might find interesting. It presents up to a dozen titles that are either new, popular, or similar to games users have played. Steam's gargantuan daily release schedule contains a lot of dross, but browsing the queue can occasionally reveal hidden gems.
Regardless of interest in the discovery queue, all Steam customers should probably browse the store using either the SteamDB or Augmented Steam extensions. Both insert helpful info into product pages to enhance the shopping experience or provide a snapshot of a game's commercial performance.
Users can click links to a title's SteamDB or PCGamingWiki page, which has become nearly essential for looking up PC games. Twitch and YouTube links also provide quick access to gameplay footage. Those looking for deals can use either extension to see a game's historical lowest prices. Additionally, the extensions display player count estimations, and Augmented Steam includes information on each title's DRM.
This year's Steam Summer Sale ends on Thursday, June 11.
SteamDB browser extension now lets users skip discovery queue to earn event trading cards
