'add to library' for free games

[Charlie Foxtrot]

i can buy any game to be added to my library, no matter the OS i'm on and install from there with proton for linux. but i can't download a free game that isn't explicitly made for linux. why?
just add a "add to library" button for free games and demos, please.

does anyone have a workaround for that?

[lsdninja]

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

I'm not understanding what you're saying exactly.

'add to library' means you can add ANY executable software may it be games, or not and launch it via steam that on your device, but this does not give you free copy of said games on Steam, hence why you can't download from Steam if you didn't bought it from Steam.

Example if you buy game from Gog, and use 'add to library' on Steam you can not download said game from Steam as you never own the copy from Steam, hence why there no download option, the downlaod option is only for those that bought the game VIA steam.

Not every free game on Steam gives you a convenient blue "add to library" button, meaning you have to be on a compatible system before it'll install/run. I had a free game on my wishlist for ages because I couldn't add it to my library from my phone and was always forgetting to download it when I was on one of my Windows PCs.

The Homeworld 3 Demo is apparently an example of something more recent:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1840080/Homeworld_3/

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

To OP this is your workaround use Steamdb.info, search for game, then on the game page you're looking for tab to the left side as you scroll down for "related" there you want to click on game demo you're after, then on there click the "install" button at top right click yes / ok / open steam to promt your steam client to downlaod your demo, and yes this also add demo to your account when you do this.


https://steamdb.info/app/2495220/

Originally posted by lsdninja:

Originally posted by Dr.Shadowds 🐉:

I'm not understanding what you're saying exactly.

'add to library' means you can add ANY executable software may it be games, or not and launch it via steam that on your device, but this does not give you free copy of said games on Steam, hence why you can't download from Steam if you didn't bought it from Steam.

Example if you buy game from Gog, and use 'add to library' on Steam you can not download said game from Steam as you never own the copy from Steam, hence why there no download option, the downlaod option is only for those that bought the game VIA steam.

Not every free game on Steam gives you a convenient blue "add to library" button, meaning you have to be on a compatible system before it'll install/run. I had a free game on my wishlist for ages because I couldn't add it to my library from my phone and was always forgetting to download it when I was on one of my Windows PCs.

The Homeworld 3 Demo is apparently an example of something more recent:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1840080/Homeworld_3/

My fault, I was thinking of the "add a game" on the client.