A lot is changing for families on Steam – We have summarized the most important points for you
From today, you can share games with your family more easily on Steam. Since March, you have been able to test the function, simply called Steam Family, and now it is standard for all accounts. With the revision, the previous family library will be replaced in the future
Finally play at the same time
What’s new is that several members of a family can now play at the same time,as Steam announces This was previously reserved for only one person in the family in the family library
However, there are the following restrictions:
- Games may only be played as often as there are copies in the family library.
- The purchaser of the game must be online for this. However, the Steam app on mobile devices is also sufficient.
- Developers can prohibit the sharing of games.
An example:As the head of the family, you have purchased the gameInto the Breach. If you play it now, no other member of the family will be able to play it. However, all other games in your library are available. To play a game simultaneously with multiple members, it must be purchased multiple times
Each player has access to their own game saves, achievements and workshop content.
On Steam, 2,798 titles out of 66,620 are currently excluded for sharing. You can check whether a game is supported here
An improved parental control
Adult family members can set restrictions for underage members of a family
The parental control offers the following functions:
- Allow or deny access to games.
- Restrict access to the store, the community and the chat.
- Set game time limits.
- Track playing time.
- Children can request more playtime or access to certain functions.
- Restore the account.
Children can also make purchase requests that adults can approve. Payment is then made via the adult’s account, but the game is added to the child’s library
Where to find the new family function
The new function can be found under Steam ☻ Settings ☻ Family. If you still see the old options there, the latest update has not yet been installed. You can do this in Steam ☻ “Check for Steam client updates”
Steam family restrictions
Valve also answers some questions about Steam Family. The following points are of interest to players:
- A family can consist of a maximum of six members.
- Games can now only be shared with the family, instead of with any individual person per account as before.
- If you leave a family, you cannot join a new one for one year.
- The vacant place in the family can also only be filled after one year.
- Some games cannot be shared due to technical circumstances. Valve mentions games that require another third-party account or another product key.
With these restrictions, Valve primarily wants to prevent abuse
What do you think of Steam Family? Have you already used the previous options for families? Feel free to write us a comment
