Steam Family Sharing

SkeeterUK

SkeeterUK

SkeeterUK

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http://store.steampowered.com/news/11436/

Press Releases - Valve 22:22
Coming Soon: Players who share computers can also share their Steam games

September 11, 2013 – Steam Family Sharing, a new service feature that allows close friends and family members to share their libraries of Steam games, is coming to Steam, a leading platform for the delivery and management of PC, Mac, and Linux games and software. The feature will become available next week, in limited beta on Steam.

Steam Family Sharing is designed for close friends and family members to play one another's Steam games while each earning their own Steam achievements and storing their own saves and application data to the Steam cloud. It's all enabled by authorizing a shared computer.

“Our customers have expressed a desire to share their digital games among friends and family members, just as current retail games, books, DVDs, and other physical media can be shared,” explained Anna Sweet of Valve. “Family Sharing was created in direct response to these user requests.”

Once a device is authorized, the lender's library of Steam games becomes available for others on the machine to access, download, and play. Though simultaneous usage of an account’s library is not allowed, the lender may always access and play his games at any time. If he decides to start playing when a friend is borrowing one of his games, the friend will be given a few minutes to either purchase the game or quit playing.

For more information about Steam Family Sharing and the beta program, please visit store.steampowered.com/sharing.
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Sounds like what xbox one was gona do doesnt it?
 
See that was good up until the point :
If he decides to start playing when a friend is borrowing one of his games, the friend will be given a few minutes to either purchase the game or quit playing.
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e:Nice to see a bit of sexism by Valve :D
 
Metalface Mark said:
that sounds brilliant, my daughter currently shares my account
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So you're saying when your daughter is using the account you're not using it? I'd rather shell out the extra £10 and buy the game again because lets be honest, if you've just bought a release game then you're going to be playing it so nobody else will be able too so it's not going to be an expensive game
 
Fire_fly said:
I like the idea, but I would also like some more detailed information into how exactly its works.
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Follow the link at the bottom of the announcement, you get more info and can sign up for the Beta there:

  • I want to try this! How can I join the Family Sharing Beta?

    To express interest in beta participation, join the Family Sharing Group on the Steam community. The Family Sharing beta will begin in mid-September, when a thousand Steam accounts from this group will be granted access to share their Steam libraries. You’ll know you’ve been selected when you receive an email from Steam inviting you to try out the new feature.

  • How do I enable Family Sharing on my computer?

    Family Sharing is enabled in one of two ways: You can either locally enable sharing in Account Settings, with Family Sharing & Devices, or remotely respond to a user’s Steam request to share your previously installed games via email.

  • Is there a limit to the number of devices I can authorize to share my Library?

    Yes. A Steam account may authorize Family Sharing on up to 10 devices at a given time.

  • Can I share specific games, or do I have to share my whole library?

    Libraries are shared and borrowed in their entirety.

  • Can all Steam games be shared with friends and family?

    No, due to technical limitations, some Steam games may be unavailable for sharing. For example, titles that require an additional third-party key, account, or subscription in order to play cannot be shared between accounts.

  • Can a friend and I share a library and both play at the same time?

    No, a shared library may only be accessed by one user at a time.

  • When I authorize a device to lend my library to others, do I limit my own ability to access and play my games?

    As the lender, you may always access and play your games at any time. If you decide to start playing when a friend is already playing one of your games, he/she will be given a few minutes to either purchase the game or quit playing.

  • Sometimes the games I’ve borrowed are unavailable for me to play. Why?

    Borrowed games are only available on devices that have been authorized by the lender. Borrowed games will be unavailable on even an authorized device when the lender’s library is currently in use on another computer.

  • Who owns and can access the DLC and in-game content associated with a borrowed title?

    A borrower will have access to the lender’s DLC, but borrowers may not purchase DLC for a base game they don't own. Any player may purchase, trade, earn, or otherwise acquire in-game content while playing a game, but in-game items cannot be shared between accounts. These items remain the property of the account that purchased or acquired them, whether borrowing or lending the base game.

  • Can region-restricted content be shared across regions?

    No, any region restrictions will remain in place when lending or borrowing content.

  • Will I be punished for any cheating or fraud conducted by other users while playing my games?

    Your Family Sharing privileges may be revoked if your library is used by borrowers to conduct cheating or fraud. We recommend you only authorize familiar computers you know to be secure.
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From what I read, the entire library is locked if someone is using it? Not on a game by game basis?

Can a friend and I share a library and both play at the same time?
No, a shared library may only be accessed by one user at a time.

I would assume a lot, or most people leave steam open.
 
Can I share my account with my nephew who is on a different computer? The computer is on the same network, but downstairs in the living room.
 
My main annoyance with this, is that while its great I can share my library with my friend.. if my friend is playing my tomb raider, I can't play FTL without them being kicked off..

Would be nice if it was on a 'per-game' basis
 
ChrisJSY said:
From what I read, the entire library is locked if someone is using it? Not on a game by game basis?

Can a friend and I share a library and both play at the same time?
No, a shared library may only be accessed by one user at a time.

I would assume a lot, or most people leave steam open.
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Leaving it open is not the problem it's that if you want to play a game you can't share your library.

@above I agree, you're completely right however this is only a beta and it could be done with Valves resources.
 
nitram100 said:
Can I share my account with my nephew who is on a different computer? The computer is on the same network, but downstairs in the living room.
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Sounds like you'd have to install your games on his machine, get him to sign into Steam using his account and then request sharing on his machine from you. You wouldn't be able to play at the same time though.
 
Hyburnate said:
I interpreted it as leaving steam open itself would cease others being able to use your library which isn't the case.
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Well, yeah I meant accessing the library.
Take particular note that they discern the difference between "accessing a library" and "playing a game" of which the former prevents the latter.

But I think we're on the same track, in that it's pretty cool but for active gamers it'll just get in the way if you actually wanted to use it :p
 
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