Adding non-Steam games on Steam: what does it really do?

[rafaellvx]

I just can't understand what adding non-Steam games to Steam does. As per the help page:

This will only add a shortcut to your game in the Steam client. This will not allow you to download updates for your game through Steam nor allow you to use this game as proof of ownership for your Steam account. Only games purchased or registered through Steam can receive automatic updates and function as proof of ownership for a Steam account.

Right, so it adds a shortcut to the game executable on the Steam client. What good is it for? That is, besides confusing the user about what games get updated, what games have added functionality, what games can get Steam DLC and where you got the other games from?

I'm probably missing something here.

[Ogami]

Escrito originalmente por Garibaldi9029:

i'm curious about this non steam add
just say a case i want to play a game together with my friends that steam dont sell anymore like dead island riptide (not definitive one)
just say i have the cracked one, if i add it to my library as non steam game, then my friend do the same thing with same version
is it possible to invite my friend to play together? like using steam to be our LAN or something like that?

No. Both need to own the game on Steam to use the online functionality.
Also i would remove that sentence about playing "cracked" versions.
Any talk about piracy will get you a permanent community ban on Steam according to the rules.

[𝅴󠀣󠁞󠁘]

you can use the steam overlay to upload screenshot (to steam) of your non-steam game.
i did it with a gog distribution of icewindale

[Просто Чел]

♥♥♥♥ me~!!!!!

[wojtek]

me

[VOVAMAS666]

[GP.Chillin]

how can i see my profile like this `In non-Steam game`?

[J4MESOX4D]

Escrito originalmente por GP.Chillin:

how can i see my profile like this `In non-Steam game`?

It will show to other users when you are playing a non-Steam game that you've added.

[Vapeila]

Escrito originalmente por Garibaldi9029:

i'm curious about this non steam add
just say a case i want to play a game together with my friends that steam dont sell anymore like dead island riptide (not definitive one)
just say i have the cracked one, if i add it to my library as non steam game, then my friend do the same thing with same version
is it possible to invite my friend to play together? like using steam to be our LAN or something like that?

A little late but...
You can't and have to use third party software like tunngle or hamachi in order to play together with your friends.

[ironclad4]

So if I add a non steam game to my steam like say Blade and Soul MMORPG or a Gog copy of Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 for example can I still get the controller support for those games like I do for steam copy of Star Wars the Old Republic & Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 2?..

[J4MESOX4D]

Escrito originalmente por ironclad4:

So if I add a non steam game to my steam like say Blade and Soul MMORPG or a Gog copy of Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 for example can I still get the controller support for those games like I do for steam copy of Star Wars the Old Republic & Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 2?..

It depends if the game supports controller support through GOG. Adding the Steam game to your library doesn't provide the supported features although most games across platforms have the same level of support included. A GOG game ran from your Steam library is still a GOG game.

[Landorous]

Near as I can tell adding it does jack sh*t. Nothing changed at all after I added 3 games.

[FFL2and3rocks]

Escrito originalmente por Landorous:

Near as I can tell adding it does jack sh*t. Nothing changed at all after I added 3 games.

What were you expecting to change?

[VinTJ]

I expect them to show up as game activity; i.e. it should say: "Playing: ___" for myself to my friends. shame that it doesn't seem to be the case just now when I tested it. I could almost swear it should.

[Eli]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.