Family Sharing "X wants his shared library games back"

[Nuclrpriest]

Sooo ... Necro'ing a long dead thread here, my bad. But OP is https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/627456486261835025/

So I get the idea behind library sharing. I get the idea behind Steam wanting EVERYONE to have their own copy of the game, but realistically, think back like 10 years, more specifically when this OP was made.

Every company wants everybody to own their own everything, that's how they make money, I get it. But look through the Steam Store at new games, and specifically their prices. Now look at those SAME games prices for a physical copy through Amazon, Best Buy, MircoCenter (they still exist? haven't been in a while), Target, Walmart, etc. The CONSOLE versions, and in most cases PC physical versions go for the same price as what we're paying on Steam. Sooo .... why can't we loan "our" games out through Steam, that when new cost the same, like we could with physical copies?

And before any "enter derogatory phrase of choice here" say anything, I am admitting, yes. Steam allows for Library sharing which is a wonderful feature, I get it, few if any other services offer such features, that's not the point I'm making. And, yes, it's "LIBRARY" sharing, I can read, people. But if I "own" a license to play game A, and I "own" a license to play game B why can't I PLAY game A while someone else in my family plays game B, like I could with a physical copy.

The point I'm trying to make, if you've gotten this far, if we are expected to pay "retail" price, the same as we would for a physical copy, and they offer services to share games, why can't we share games digitally, like we can physical copies?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Nuclrpriest:

Family Sharing "X wants his shared library games back"

Sooo ... Necro'ing a long dead thread here, my bad. But OP is https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/627456486261835025/

So I get the idea behind library sharing. I get the idea behind Steam wanting EVERYONE to have their own copy of the game, but realistically, think back like 10 years, more specifically when this OP was made.

Every company wants everybody to own their own everything, that's how they make money, I get it. But look through the Steam Store at new games, and specifically their prices. Now look at those SAME games prices for a physical copy through Amazon, Best Buy, MircoCenter (they still exist? haven't been in a while), Target, Walmart, etc. The CONSOLE versions, and in most cases PC physical versions go for the same price as what we're paying on Steam. Sooo .... why can't we loan "our" games out through Steam, that when new cost the same, like we could with physical copies?

And before any "enter derogatory phrase of choice here" say anything, I am admitting, yes. Steam allows for Library sharing which is a wonderful feature, I get it, few if any other services offer such features, that's not the point I'm making. And, yes, it's "LIBRARY" sharing, I can read, people. But if I "own" a license to play game A, and I "own" a license to play game B why can't I PLAY game A while someone else in my family plays game B, like I could with a physical copy.

The point I'm trying to make, if you've gotten this far, if we are expected to pay "retail" price, the same as we would for a physical copy, and they offer services to share games, why can't we share games digitally, like we can physical copies?

The old Family Sharing, the one described in your link is being replaced by the new Steam Families that allows you to play different games at the same time.

https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/054C-3167-DD7F-49D4

[Nuclrpriest]

Ah! Wow, that's new. Added in ... March? It's nice to see it was expanded!

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Nuclrpriest:

Ah! Wow, that's new. Added in ... March? It's nice to see it was expanded!

Keep in mind that new restrictions have also been added.

For example, the users have to use the same store in their country. So someone in the US can't share with someone in Canada.

If you leave or are kicked from the family group, there is a one year cool down before you can join another. I think (not 100% sure) that the cool down stars from when you joined the group, not when you left. You can also rejoin the same group during that time.

Everyone in the group shares games with each other. You can't choose, but you can make games private or select the games you share if one of them is a child account.

You also can't join multiple groups, so if you have an alt account you share games with you main on, then you will just have to log onto the alt when you want to play instead.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Don't forget that all adults have the same controls for the group.

[Ogami]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Don't forget that all adults have the same controls for the group.

:winterbunny2023:

I actually get that because its meant for close family members you actually have contact with in real life. So its much less likely that someone will do something stupid like disolving the group for fun or kicking/inviting someone.
That risk is much higher with internet "friends" so it encourages actually some thought put into it who you invite to your Steam family and as what kind of account.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Ogami:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Don't forget that all adults have the same controls for the group.

I actually get that because its meant for close family members you actually have contact with in real life. So its much less likely that someone will do something stupid like disolving the group for fun or kicking/inviting someone.
That risk is much higher with internet "friends" so it encourages actually some thought put into it who you invite to your Steam family and as what kind of account.

I've already seen spouses do this after a dumb fight, irl.