Valve Introduces Steam Families Program for Game Sharing

Valve has announced Steam Families, a new program designed to allow players to create a group to share and play games with close family members. This program, launching today in the Steam Beta Client, replaces the previous features of Steam Family Sharing and Steam Family View.

With Steam Families, up to six members can join a group, granting access to any sharable games in each member’s library. It’s important to note that not all games are eligible for sharing, as developers have the option to opt out of this feature for various reasons. Currently, notable games eligible for Family Sharing include Helldivers 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and more.

While playing a shared game, each family member will have their own save files, achievements, and access to workshop files. It’s worth mentioning that when a game is purchased, it still remains in the owner’s library only and does not transfer ownership to other family members.

However, it’s important to note that two members cannot play the same copy of a game simultaneously. This means that each member will need to have their own copy to play together.

Steam has also provided an FAQ addressing common queries about Steam Families, covering topics such as parental controls, managing child purchases, and other features. Some key takeaways from the FAQ include:

• Members can leave a Steam Family but have to wait a year before creating or joining a new one.
• Children in a Steam Family must be removed by an adult member.
• Shared family games can be played offline.
• Access to shared DLC is provided when playing a game owned by another family member.

There are certain restrictions on games that are ineligible for sharing due to technical reasons, such as those requiring third-party accounts, subscriptions, or region restrictions. It’s important to review the full list of ineligible games before setting up a Steam Family.

To create a Steam Family, users need to opt into the Steam Family Beta program by selecting the option in their Steam settings and restarting the client.

What are your thoughts on Steam Families? Are you planning to create one with your family members? Share your opinions with us in the comments!