Explore the New Features of Steam Families and Enhanced Family Sharing
Steam Families: Enhanced Gaming for Families
Valve's new Steam Families feature is now available for everyone following a beta launch earlier this year. With Steam Families, parents can share games with their families, manage parental controls for their kids, and approve requests from their kids to buy Steam games.
Key Features of Steam Families
- Multiple users can play games from a shared library at the same time.
- Play shared games offline, adding flexibility for family gaming sessions.
- Each family member maintains their own save games and achievements.
- Up to 6 close family members can be included in a Steam Family.
Parental Control and Family Management
Steam Families are intended for immediate family. Adults can leave a Steam Family at any time, but they must wait a year before joining or starting a new Family. Children can only be removed by an adult or with Steam support.
In a recent announcement, Valve indicated that the old Family Sharing feature will be retired eventually, so it is advisable for users to transition to Steam Families.
To start using Steam Families, simply update your Steam client. The latest update also includes other enhancements, such as a redesigned screenshots manager.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.