Steam to Follow Netflix-Model: Family Sharing, but Only for Single Households

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As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for multiplayer experiences and a bit of a nomadic streak, I find the Steam Family feature intriguing but somewhat limiting. The fact that it only works within a single household feels like a missed opportunity to expand the gaming community in a more organic way.

Through Steam Family Sharing, you can now gift games to the people closest to you. Quite convenient, isn’t it? However, here’s a catch: this feature is only applicable when everyone involved resides under one roof.

One Family Means One Household

In essence, family sharing on Steam can only apply within a single household. Therefore, creating a “family” among friends for this purpose won’t work out. Upon closer inspection, the allure of Steam Family might not be as captivating as initially perceived. However, it does provide parents with an easier way to supervise and manage the games their children access.

Individuals opting to become part of a Steam Family will be required to select either an ‘adult’ or ‘child’ role. Similar to traditional streaming platforms, adults possess greater privileges, such as the ability to control which games are accessible for children. Therefore, this feature provides parents with some utility by allowing them to manage their children’s game access.

How to Start a Steam Family

Still interested? Then follow these steps:

  1. Go to Account Details on the Store page to set up a Steam Family.
  2. Click on the Family Management section.
  3. Click ‘Create a Family’ and enter a name to create a new Steam Family (the family name can be changed at any time in the future).
  4. To invite other family members, select ‘Invite a Member’ and choose or search for family members to invite.
  5. Decide if the new member should be added as an adult or child. Any adult family member can manage invites and set account restrictions.
  6. Voila!

Enjoy Steam Family, if you can.

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2024-09-16 18:39