OBS Studio has released a significant update with version 31.0, introducing a variety of new features and enhancements while removing support for Ubuntu 22.04.
This latest version brings notable improvements such as preview scrollbars, which allow users to navigate previews with ease, and preview zoom/scale info that helps track any changes made to the viewpoint.
A key addition is the background blur filter, designed for systems equipped with compatible NVIDIA RTX GPUs and recent drivers. This feature detects the subject within a video and applies a blur effect, enhancing video quality. However, it’s not clear if this feature works on Linux, as there are no explicit mentions regarding its compatibility with this operating system.
Additionally, OBS Studio 31.0 introduces QSV AV1 SCC support for newer Intel platforms, promising a quality improvement of up to 40% for users who can utilize it.
First-party YouTube Chat features have also been emphasized in this update. While many features were previously available, this version enhances user interaction by including:
- Poll creation and management
- Q&A session management
- Rich emoji input
- Moderation tools
Furthermore, users can expect various enhancements including:
- Updated Chromium for browser sources/docks
- Relative coordinates for scene items
- Enhanced noise suppression and audio effects
- Improved messaging for virtual camera failures on macOS
- Removals for legacy QSV code supporting outdated devices
Sadly, the drop of Ubuntu 22.04 support signifies the end of official builds for this version, but the snap package is expected to continue functioning. OBS Studio has also addressed several Linux-specific bugs and packaging issues within this release.
Downloading OBS Studio 31.0 is possible through the official project website for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Users looking for Ubuntu-specific installers can find 64-bit DEB files for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and 24.10, as well as available versions on Flathub and through an unofficial Snap package.
For those on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, considering alternative methods such as snap or Flatpak is recommended since the official PPA will no longer provide new packages for this version.
For more details, visit the official OBS Studio download page.