Valve has recently introduced Steam Families on the Steam Beta Client, which offers a range of new and enhanced family sharing options designed to replace the existing Family Sharing and Family View features. This update aims to provide users with a centralized platform to manage their family’s games while giving them greater control over the gaming experience of other family members.
One of the key aspects of Steam Families is the ability to create a Steam Family consisting of the main account holder and up to five additional family members. By joining a Steam Family, users gain access to a wide range of games that support Family Sharing within their respective libraries. This means that family members can play each other’s games, even if the primary account holder is already playing a game. Additionally, each member of the Steam Family will have their own saved games, achievements, and workshop file access, according to Valve’s announcement post.
In addition to enhanced sharing options, Steam Families also provide new parental controls that enable adults to set restrictions on the types of games their children can play and when they can access them. Parents can monitor their children’s playtime from both the desktop and the Steam mobile app, and have the ability to approve or deny access to specific games, community features, friends chat, or requests for additional playtime.
A notable feature of Steam Families is the ability for child accounts to request in-family adults to pay for games in their shopping cart. This streamlined process aims to simplify the task of buying games for kids, which previously required gift purchases or sharing credit card details. With the new system, adult accounts can easily approve or deny game purchase requests via email or the Steam mobile app.
For users who are interested in trying out the Steam Families beta, Valve has provided a simple process to access the new features. By opening Steam, navigating to the ‘Steam’ option in the top left menu, and selecting Settings, Interface, and Client Beta Participation, users can opt into the Steam Family Beta. This allows them to experience the latest features and functionalities offered by Steam Families.
Overall, the launch of Steam Families by Valve represents a significant step towards providing users with enhanced family sharing options and parental controls within the Steam platform. By offering a more streamlined and intuitive experience for managing games and setting restrictions, Steam Families aims to cater to the diverse needs of families using the Steam service. Users interested in experiencing these new features firsthand can easily access the Steam Families beta and explore the benefits it has to offer.
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