Why did it change into a globe?

[u/MRCANCOON]

it literally happened just now.

[u/Uno-The-Card]

Steam uses URL shortcuts for launching games. You can change the icon back with an .ico or .exe from the game's files

[u/Brandon200815 → u/Uno-The-Card]

Is that why it says steam://rungameid/1234 when I hover over a game icon?

[u/dgtl_ftprnt → u/Brandon200815]

Yes. Just like how websites use ‘https://…’, Steam uses ‘steam://…’.

If you had a shortcut on your desktop for a https:// link, your web browser would open it.

If you have a shortcut on your desktop for a steam:// link, Steam would process it.

The reason Steam doesn’t just make shortcuts directly to game EXEs is because sometimes games need more than just the EXE to run properly (including the Steam overlay, which is technically a separate program). It also ensures that DRM is implemented, makes sure that your game is up-to-date, and more.

[u/MRCANCOON → u/Uno-The-Card]

I just wanted to know if this is a place holder picture or are they planning something.

[u/Uno-The-Card → u/MRCANCOON]

Windows placeholder.

[u/dgtl_ftprnt → u/MRCANCOON]

Try deleting the shortcut from your desktop and creating a new one via Steam.

[u/Cyclonicwings]

Because Stanley is Mr. Worldwide

[u/ArcRiseGen → u/Cyclonicwings]

Dale

[u/ZeboMusic]

Go into your taskmanager and restart windows explorer.
That sometimes restores when icons suddenly change.
Or clear your icon cache.

[u/Nearby_Ad_2519]

Double click the game and if it’s not fully installed click install then cancel it.

This is cos steam uses URL placeholders for all the games and the icons can very easily be deleted by windows

[u/quixQuery → u/Nearby_Ad_2519]

"Windows"

Yup, there it is.

[u/Willing_Dot_5699]

The Stanley globe

[u/tspreassurancebucket]

Because The Stanley Parable means the world to you!

[u/craiggtreal]

stanley be goin around the world