Question about the old Family Library Sharing system

[Vance Finiraldi]

Has Valve stated anywhere if/when they will phase it out now that the new Steam Families feature is available for all users?

I'm asking because it seems that the old system suits my needs more at the moment and I'm concerned that I will eventually be forced to migrate to the new system if they try to streamline things and make Steam Families the only way to share games between users.

To those curious as to why, it's because:

A) One of the people I'm currently sharing with isn't in the same physical household as I am, when the support FAQ for Steam Families makes it clear that they're intended for people who are, even though it seems that part is not currently being enforced

And B) I don't want to force the people I'm currently sharing with to share with each other if we can only be in one Steam Family, even with the removed restriction from the old system that only allowed one person access to a particular user's library at any given moment.

[Nx Machina]

No fixed date is given in advance.

They will only release it to the standard Steam Client when they feel it is ready, usually with a news annoucement.

[Ogami]

Originally posted by Nx Machina:

No fixed date is given in advance.

They will only release it to the standard Steam Client when they feel it is ready, usually with a news annoucement.

The new Family system was just released today and left BETA, thats why they asked.
They want to know how long the old system will keep working.

@OP
As far as i remember from the BETA thread they stated that they will allow a grace period to switch to the new system after it hits the main client branch.
The old system will continue to work for a while but will remind you to join the new Family system. After a while a update will remove the old system completely.
How long that will take, who knows?
But i would not count on being able to use the old system for very long anymore.

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by Ogami:

The new Family system was just released today and left BETA, thats why they asked.
They want to know how long the old system will keep working.

@OP
As far as i remember from the BETA thread they stated that they will allow a grace period to switch to the new system after it hits the main client branch.
The old system will continue to work for a while but will remind you to join the new Family system. After a while a update will remove the old system completely.
How long that will take, who knows?
But i would not count on being able to use the old system for very long anymore.

Wasn't aware as I am always on the beta. Thanks for the update.

[BunBun with a GunGun]

im not particularly happy about it either. my partner is out of country and i cant create a steam family with them due to the fact they have purchased games in said country.. im hopeing some sort of support ticket will maybe help, but i doubt it.

[phynto]

Originally posted by BunBun with a GunGun:

im not particularly happy about it either. my partner is out of country and i cant create a steam family with them due to the fact they have purchased games in said country.. im hopeing some sort of support ticket will maybe help, but i doubt it.

You likely wouldn't be able to play those games anyway. I'm not 100% on this, so take it with a grain of salt, but I'm pretty sure if you buy a game in another country, that game can only be played in that country. Hence why, if you buy third party Steam keys, there's an EU key, an NA key, and so on.

[videomike_Ultimate_Plushie]

Originally posted by BunBun with a GunGun:

im not particularly happy about it either. my partner is out of country and i cant create a steam family with them due to the fact they have purchased games in said country.. im hopeing some sort of support ticket will maybe help, but i doubt it.

I doubt it to, this is pretty transparently Valve going full Netflix and trying to control people deciding who they share with rather than following Gabe's own words: piracy is a service problem. start of the spiral if you ask me, though I hope not for everyone's sake.