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What Steam Families sharing does
Valve launched Steam Families to all Steam users on September 11, 2024, replacing Steam Family Sharing and Steam Family View. Members can access eligible games in one another’s libraries while the purchaser keeps ownership. Each player uses their own saves and earns their own achievements.
Valve describes a family as a household group of close family members, with up to six people total: the person who creates it and up to five invitees. Valve says it may adjust participation requirements or the maximum size as it monitors use. See Valve’s Steam Families announcement and FAQ.
How many people can play at once?
There is no single limit on family members playing different games at the same time. The limit applies separately to each game: the number of people who can play a particular title simultaneously cannot exceed the number of copies of that title in the family’s libraries.
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| Family copies of a game | Players who can play that game at once |
|---|---|
| One | One |
| Two | Two |
| Three | Three |
For example, if one member owns Portal 2 and another owns Half-Life, one person can play Portal 2 while another plays Half-Life. But two people who want to play Portal 2 at the same time need two family copies of Portal 2. Valve’s September 11, 2024 announcement puts it this way: “If your family library has multiple copies of a game, multiple members of the family can play that game at the same time.”
Which games can be shared?
Not every Steam game is eligible. Developers decide whether their games support Steam Families, and technical restrictions can also prevent sharing. For example, some games that require a third-party key, account, or subscription cannot be shared.
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Check the game’s Steam store page for its current Family Sharing eligibility before relying on it. Valve’s FAQ states: “A game’s developer controls whether a game is eligible for sharing with Steam Families.” Eligibility is title-specific and can change.
Joining and managing a family
Games are shared automatically with other family members when a person joins, subject to each game’s eligibility. Adults can use parental controls to limit which games children can access.
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- A family slot that becomes vacant has a one-year cooldown before a new member can take it.
- Children cannot leave a family themselves; an adult member or Steam Support must remove them.
- If someone is banned for cheating while playing another member’s copy of a game, the copy’s owner is also banned in that game. Other family members are not affected.
Can you play shared games offline?
Offline play depends on the specific game. A shared game can be played offline only if that title supports Family Sharing in offline mode. Check the game’s requirements if offline access matters to your plans.
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