Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending

Valve announces Steam Family Sharing will launch next week in limited beta form, allowing players to lend games to family and friends. Here's a bit from the FAQ: "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." Here's the announcement:
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 http://store.steampowered.com/sharing/.
View : : :
64 Replies. 4 pages. Viewing page 2.
Newer [  1  2  3  4  ] Older
44.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 17:06
44.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 17:06
Sep 11, 2013, 17:06
 
This would be useful if I could specify which games to share and not share. I'm quite happy letting the "family" PC have access to Crayon Physics or even Civilization, but I'd rather not shove Left 4 Dead into the kids' faces.

Oh well, it's still in Beta. Baby steps.
43.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 16:42
43.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 16:42
Sep 11, 2013, 16:42
 
What happens if my Library is being shared (and in use) and I log in via the website or the mobile app? Will friends get booted then too? can I contact them via Steam message somehow to tell them I am logging in, save your game, etc?

I can see this being handy with a few longtime freinds on Steam, especially when some of us are working opposite hours, or just away from Steam for long periods, so a friend can play a game that I own or vice versa... (without sharing passwords).
42.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 16:24
42.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 16:24
Sep 11, 2013, 16:24
 
FINALLY I WILL KILL THE BOSS!!! YES YES!!!! *You have been kicked from the game because the owner of the library launched Super Meat Boy" NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
41.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 16:22
41.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 16:22
Sep 11, 2013, 16:22
 
Deathbishop wrote on Sep 11, 2013, 16:19:
Yea, the only scenario I can see this benefiting from is the two PC home that has a stay at home wife. Guy goes to work and wife can access the steam library on the 2nd pc. The only true benefit is the wife isn't logging into Steam with the guy's login but really, what's the point of that? Lending to a friend makes some sense, the friend would have to know for certain that the owner is not on his/her account during a certain time. This gets much more complicated when you multiply by 9 more people (to a max of 10).

Like others said, it really only saves you from giving your credentials out (and to a certain extent, it makes sense due to wallet).

Well, I mostly spend my days at work or travelling. During that time my friends could play my games. Especially friends who work weird shifts, like night shifts. It's free games for them, and I have several people who could benefit in my life.
Avatar 56211
40.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 16:19
40.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 16:19
Sep 11, 2013, 16:19
 
Yea, the only scenario I can see this benefiting from is the two PC home that has a stay at home wife. Guy goes to work and wife can access the steam library on the 2nd pc. The only true benefit is the wife isn't logging into Steam with the guy's login but really, what's the point of that? Lending to a friend makes some sense, the friend would have to know for certain that the owner is not on his/her account during a certain time. This gets much more complicated when you multiply by 9 more people (to a max of 10).

Like others said, it really only saves you from giving your credentials out (and to a certain extent, it makes sense due to wallet).
39.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 16:02
39.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 16:02
Sep 11, 2013, 16:02
 
ItBurn wrote on Sep 11, 2013, 15:59:
Are you guys sure you have to be logged out of Steam for someone else to play your game? Seemed from what I read that you can play another game while the other guy plays the game from your library.

Edit: Yeah, I reread and it seems it's for the whole library.

It doesn't really specify what criteria will actually boot someone out, I think that's the only real unanswered question. They can already detect what you're playing at all times so logically the implementation would be to kick the borrower when the lender actually launches a game. Doing it by Steam login alone would be kind of silly, I am logged into Steam quite often despite being idle and login via the mobile app. So yeah you're probably right, the first scenario makes the most sense.
Avatar 51617
38.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:59
38.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:59
Sep 11, 2013, 15:59
 

It definitely creates awkwardness when your guest currently is playing a game from your library and then you login, effectively booting him off during that game?? So it is a pass for me. Unless I am misunderstanding how it works.

37.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:59
37.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:59
Sep 11, 2013, 15:59
 
Are you guys sure you have to be logged out of Steam for someone else to play your game? Seemed from what I read that you can play another game while the other guy plays the game from your library.

Edit: Yeah, I reread and it seems it's for the whole library.
Avatar 56211
36.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:52
36.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:52
Sep 11, 2013, 15:52
 
Very limited use, but it's more than what was possible a week ago, so it's progress.
Avatar 15604
35.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:46
35.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:46
Sep 11, 2013, 15:46
 
Not remotely useful in real practice.

"simultaneous usage of an account's library is not allowed" = dealbreaker

Do you stay logged into steam 24/7? I think my library would be very useful to others since i'm logged out of it a lot. The fact that I can always login in and get access to my library if needed seems like the only thing I'd care about.

I wonder if my friends list will turn into a "who's offline list!" Oh Tumbler's Online, well maybe he's just in a quick game of...civ V...fuuuucccckkkkk.
34.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:41
nin
34.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:41
Sep 11, 2013, 15:41
nin
 
nm, I see bats update
33.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:39
33.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:39
Sep 11, 2013, 15:39
 
Verno wrote on Sep 11, 2013, 15:28:
xXBatmanXx wrote on Sep 11, 2013, 15:19:
Actually very useful. I don't think people understand or know how to read....

Errr dude...

From the Steam FAQ:

"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."

Nevermind, saw your edit

The real question is what do they consider an active library? If I'm logged in? Or can I be idle but just not playing something? The latter would be very useful, I rarely actually logout of Steam.

Yea....sitting here leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling...thinking about how this will work. I can't imagine if I am logged in and my library is idle that I wouldn't be able to share it....that just doesn't make sense to me. There will probably be a timed lock on active library or something like that.....still thinking.....
32.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:34
32.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:34
Sep 11, 2013, 15:34
 
Verno wrote on Sep 11, 2013, 15:11:
DangerDog wrote on Sep 11, 2013, 15:09:
Going to be creating new accounts for major game purchases, what do you think is a fair price to charge for renting a game for a few days?

Oh man, I didn't even think about that. All you need for Steam is an email these days, don't even need the CC anymore due to Wallet cards being sold at retail. I suspect they would get pissed at a bunch of account creations from a single IP though.

They probably put in place limits on the ability to "revoke" those friends you've shared with, still the multi account setup would get around the part about all your games being locked down to just one person. Most people put too much emphasis on their Steam achievements and friends lists etc to want to go through the hassle.

I have multiple accounts on Steam, I don't see why they would have any issue with that.
Avatar 6174
31.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:32
31.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:32
Sep 11, 2013, 15:32
 
Not remotely useful in real practice.

"simultaneous usage of an account's library is not allowed" = dealbreaker
30.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:28
30.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:28
Sep 11, 2013, 15:28
 
xXBatmanXx wrote on Sep 11, 2013, 15:19:
Actually very useful. I don't think people understand or know how to read....

Errr dude...

From the Steam FAQ:

"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."

Nevermind, saw your edit

The real question is what do they consider an active library? If I'm logged in? Or can I be idle but just not playing something? The latter would be very useful, I rarely actually logout of Steam.
Avatar 51617
29.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:24
29.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:24
Sep 11, 2013, 15:24
 
.... nm
28.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:22
28.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:22
Sep 11, 2013, 15:22
 
Hunh, it sounds like I can let someone else use anything in my library as long as I'm not online. Maybe it's if I'm playing something.

I have Metro Last light, someone wants to play that, I enable him/her, I log off and do something else, they can play my games. If I login later it lets them know I need my library back and I'm good.

Hmmm, sounds like it's time to make some friends!

This is hilarious considering the 180 hinted at offering something like this.

*Valve* ...so you're NOT doing that?! BRB! FAMILY SHARING BITCH!
27.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:21
El Pit
 
27.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:21
Sep 11, 2013, 15:21
 El Pit
 
WOW! That's great! My nephew will be the happiest young man in this universe right now.
"There is no right life in the wrong one." (Theodor W. Adorno, philosopher)
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes." (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi)
Founder, president, and only member of the official "Grumpy Old Gamers Club". Please do not apply.
26.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:19
26.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:19
Sep 11, 2013, 15:19
 
...nm I can't read I guess..not the other way around.

I still find this pretty useful....although I am almost always logged in....

This comment was edited on Sep 11, 2013, 15:25.
25.
 
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending
Sep 11, 2013, 15:16
25.
Re: Steam Family Sharing Announced; Will Allow Game Lending Sep 11, 2013, 15:16
Sep 11, 2013, 15:16
 
Blue wrote on Sep 11, 2013, 15:02:
nin wrote on Sep 11, 2013, 14:51:
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.

Reading is fun!


Added this for clarity: "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."

Everyone becomes Prez' best friend in 3...2....1.....
64 Replies. 4 pages. Viewing page 2.
Newer [  1  2  3  4  ] Older