Valve launched a new feature on the Steam platform called Steam Families. Read on to learn more about its features and how Steam Families works.
Valve Launches Steam Families
If a Family Member Gets Banned, You Do, Too
Currently available in beta, Steam Families replaces both Steam Family Sharing and Steam Family View. With this new feature, players can create a Steam Family group for up to six members, which can be managed conveniently from the Steam client, mobile devices, or web browsers.
Previously, Steam Family Sharing allowed users to share their game libraries but imposed restrictions on simultaneous access, where only one person was able to access a shared library at a time. However, Steam Families does away with this limitation and enables family members to play different games simultaneously.
Under the revamped system, each member of the family group will have their own individual saves, achievements, workshop files, and more. Additionally, Steam Families introduces new parental controls that allow parents to set limits on the games their children can access and monitor their gaming activities.
Adult members of a Steam Family have the authority to manage invites and apply account restrictions. Moreover, a new payment option enables child accounts to request an adult member to purchase games and items in their shopping cart. It's worth noting that joining a Steam Family automatically shares all games with other members, and adult accounts can use parental controls to regulate each child's game access.
"Family Sharing enables you to play games from other family members' libraries, even if they are online playing another game. If your family library has multiple copies of a game, multiple members of the family can play that game at the same time.
Family Sharing is a feature that developers may opt their games out of for technical or other reasons at any time," Valve stated in its announcement today. "If a family member gets banned for cheating while playing your copy of a game, you (the game owner) will also be banned in that game. Other family members are not impacted," further noted Valve.
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Introducing Steam Families
