PC gaming is typically a solo activity, with console players dominating the living room co-op scene. However, Steam has previously offered some sharing and parental control features, such as Family Sharing and Family View. Now, the storefront has consolidated these features into the new Steam Family system.
Steam Family has a user-friendly interface similar to streaming services like Netflix, complete with themed names and profile icons for different users. With Steam Family, you can share a single library among up to six users, each designated as an Adult or Child. The ability to share a game among multiple users for a single purchase depends on the developer’s discretion.
Parental controls are now seamlessly integrated into Steam Family, allowing parents to restrict access to games on an individual basis for each Child family member. Parents can also control access to the Steam Store, chat, and community features, as well as set playtime limits by hours per day. They can receive playtime reports, approve or deny game purchase requests, extend playtime, or access a child’s account password if needed.
These new features are currently available in the beta version of Steam and can be enabled or disabled in the Interface section of the Steam program settings menu.
