Using the official Valve repository is my preferred method because it provides a direct line to the developers, ensuring you get the latest GPG keys and installer updates immediately without waiting for them to make their way through the Debian maintainers. While the Debian repo is convenient, it requires you to enable contrib and non-free components globally across your entire system. The method I suggested adds Steam as a specific source without cluttering your main package list with other non-free software. This also makes the installation more consistent across different versions of Debian. Whether you are on Stable or Testing, you are not at the mercy of Debian’s specific package transitions or library freezes, which can occasionally break the Steam bootstrap process in the community-maintained version. I do not believe either way is better, just different for different types of users.
Using the official Valve repository is my preferred method because it provides a direct line to the developers, ensuring you get the latest GPG keys and installer updates immediately without waiting for them to make their way through the Debian maintainers. While the Debian repo is convenient, it requires you to enable contrib and non-free components globally across your entire system. The method I suggested adds Steam as a specific source without cluttering your main package list with other non-free software. This also makes the installation more consistent across different versions of Debian. Whether you are on Stable or Testing, you are not at the mercy of Debian’s specific package transitions or library freezes, which can occasionally break the Steam bootstrap process in the community-maintained version. I do not believe either way is better, just different for different types of users.