Steam’s New and Improved Family Sharing Feature Is Now Available for Everyone

Valve has officially rolled out its enhanced family-sharing system, Steam Families, to all users, offering a major upgrade over the previous family-sharing feature. With Steam Families, up to six members can now share their game libraries, and for the first time, multiple people can play different games from the same library simultaneously. However, if two members want to play the same game simultaneously, one must purchase an additional copy.

The new system also brings enhanced parental controls, allowing adults to manage and monitor what games their children play, set time limits, and approve purchases remotely through a mobile device or email. Steam Families also keeps each member’s save games and achievements separate, ensuring that everyone in the family has their own personalized gaming experience.

One important thing to note is that once you leave a Steam Family, you’ll need to wait a year before joining or creating another one. Additionally, if a family member cheats in an online game, the consequences could affect everyone in the family, so be cautious about who you share your library with.

Valve has confirmed that the old Family Sharing feature will eventually be phased out, so it’s a good time to transition to Steam Families by updating your Steam client. Along with this update, Valve has also included some other quality-of-life improvements, such as a redesigned screenshot manager.

Steam Families is a more feature-rich and convenient way to share games. It offers improved access, better control for parents, and a smoother overall experience for family and friends who game together.