Just like with any file format, it takes time and code to handle it.
so if we have MP4 format already and most are uploaded that way due to rules or systems.
maybe MP4 is more widely used then say FLAC or VLC.
so if Valve supported FLAC at the moment then they only see use in....say USA or UK where FLAC is supported, but if you are a steam user in say Asia then your system has no clue what FLAC is...or how to play it. same thing with YouTube, it's got AV1 video support but not a lot of users/computers can handle it...so people can't upload it into AV1 without converting it online or downloading the encoder onto a computer...but so to do you need Chrome or something that can de-encode it.

Originally posted by shak59:

...At least give devs the option to upload soundtracks as FLAC.

They already can. My DD:DA ost is in flac.

On Steam->Settings->Music there is a "download high quality audio files" option. If you enable it, it will download the flac files.

Originally posted by shak59:

Support FLAC

FLAC audio for soundtracks. Come on.

Why does steam not have FLAC audio AT ALL?

At least give devs the option to upload soundtracks as FLAC.

Game devs already can... https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/application/soundtrackapp#3

Originally posted by RB-99:

Just like with any file format, it takes time and code to handle it.
so if we have MP4 format already and most are uploaded that way due to rules or systems.
maybe MP4 is more widely used then say FLAC or VLC.
so if Valve supported FLAC at the moment then they only see use in....say USA or UK where FLAC is supported, but if you are a steam user in say Asia then your system has no clue what FLAC is...or how to play it. same thing with YouTube, it's got AV1 video support but not a lot of users/computers can handle it...so people can't upload it into AV1 without converting it online or downloading the encoder onto a computer...but so to do you need Chrome or something that can de-encode it.

Wtf are you talking about?

Originally posted by shak59:

FLAC audio for soundtracks. Come on.

Why does steam not have FLAC audio AT ALL?

At least give devs the option to upload soundtracks as FLAC.

It does. I have several soundtracks which have mp3 and Flac.

Works fine for me, many games use or have FLAC files available to use.

Originally posted by RB-99:

Just like with any file format, it takes time and code to handle it.
so if we have MP4 format already and most are uploaded that way due to rules or systems.
maybe MP4 is more widely used then say FLAC or VLC.
so if Valve supported FLAC at the moment then they only see use in....say USA or UK where FLAC is supported, but if you are a steam user in say Asia then your system has no clue what FLAC is...or how to play it. same thing with YouTube, it's got AV1 video support but not a lot of users/computers can handle it...so people can't upload it into AV1 without converting it online or downloading the encoder onto a computer...but so to do you need Chrome or something that can de-encode it.

MP4 is a container, not a video or audio format.
Flac isn't region locked at all.
Youtube you can upload av1, and they will convert it as needed.
Most web browsers and applications are chrome at the core, even steam is chrome.

Originally posted by The Commendatore:

Originally posted by shak59:

...At least give devs the option to upload soundtracks as FLAC.

They already can. My DD:DA ost is in flac.

Does the Steam music player play FLAC?

As a PSA, note that Windows 11's Media Player doesn't seem to support FLAC, though Media Player Legacy (the version from Windows 10 and earlier) does if you install the K-Lite Codec Pack.

Originally posted by Crashed:

Originally posted by The Commendatore:

They already can. My DD:DA ost is in flac.

Does the Steam music player play FLAC?

Q: Which audio formats are required? Which are optionally supported?

A: It's mandatory for each soundtrack to contain standard MP3s. Other formats, including raw WAVs, FLAC, AAC, etc. can also optionally be included, but do not remove the requirement for MP3s to be present. The Steam client will preferentially play lossless files when available and fall back to lossy files if necessary. The Steam client currently supports playback of MP3, FLAC, M4A, and WAV files.

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/application/soundtrackapp#5