Valve has just announced the global launch of Steam Families, a new feature of the gaming giant's digital store and platform, now allowing multiple users to simultaneously play each other's games in a shared library.
The highly-anticipated upgrade to the platform's Family Sharing and Family View systems follows a lengthy beta testing period that began earlier this year.
Previously, users could only play games from friends' libraries while their friend wasn't currently in-game. Shared games can now be played offline, as well.
The new and improved feature also allows parents to set play time and content restrictions for their kids, as well as approve or deny requests to buy games.
Gaining 12,000 likes on Steam's store in under a day, the update is a welcome change to the platform's policies.
Steam Families is now out of beta and available for everyone! Learn more here: https://t.co/fhnJtvnkHJ
— Steam (@Steam) September 11, 2024
Steam has remained a bastion of PC gaming for over 20 years.
Its multitude of features, massive game catalog, and streamlined app design have made it the top choice for gamers everywhere.
Upgrading a platform, such as what Steam has done, is no easy feat.
There are so many things to consider in software development, like application programming interfaces (APIs) to ensure different systems work together seamlessly, databases, frameworks, and UI/UX design.
And this is why Steam's beta testing period took so long. Testing is highly important to guarantee that the platform will work properly, especially when a high number of people will be using it at the same time.
Steam Family Features
Steam Families allows multiple members to pool their game collections into one library, maximizing the number of games each member can play.
The feature also lets users have individual save files and achievements.
However, users can't play the same game together unless two copies of the game are present in the library, a restriction enabled for a majority of games on the platform.
Steam is the world's largest PC gaming platform, and since its inception in 2002, it has reached over 130 million monthly active users.
Originally a game development and distribution company, the company expanded to manufacturing hardware.
Earlier in May, Valve launched an OLED version of its flagship console, the Steam Deck.
Editing by Katherine 'Makkie' Maclang
