Steam Virtual LAN as completion of the "play together" functions

[IGOR CHERNOV]

Hello All,

I would like to bring back the idea of implementing a virtual LAN service into the steam client.
It has been brought up by User geeko in 2014 and the topic got closed.

However as steam now is at a completely different position regarding net services (remote play together for example) and the potential quality of life gained (not to say binding customers) is still existing.
Old thread:
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/10/540744475236448694/

Even though it is different to remote play together style of titles, the user case is similar.
I am not a tech person but I could imagine that some of the required base is already set by now existing functions and it could be more easy to implement than back in 2014.

So base function would be Virtual VPN (both users have the game in their account and running) and the "damn. thats nice" solution would be a play together approach, where both instances are simulated on the host but the display shown individually (not a split screen situation).

Would greatly increase the amount of (older) games that can be enjoyed together - hope there is a chance to give it another shot!

[Cathulhu]

Only very few older games would profit from this as you'd need to have a LAN multiplayer mode to utilize it.
And it would pose some big security issues when you do that with strangers and have a improperly set up VPN connection and open yourself up to all kinds of shenanigans.

[[N]ebsun]

Originally posted by IGOR CHERNOV:

I would like to bring back the idea of implementing a virtual LAN service into the steam client.

There are so many VPN / VLAN software available for use these days, that are complete working packages.

I don't think Steam really needs to implement yet another one. I would much rather use software that is designed for a specific purpose, than something that has a bit of everything but is half cooked.

[IGOR CHERNOV]

Originally posted by Nebsun:

There are so many VPN / VLAN software available for use these days, that are complete working packages.

I don't think Steam really needs to implement yet another one. I would much rather use software that is designed for a specific purpose, than something that has a bit of everything but is half cooked.

Fair point. However for the security concern I feel like the remote play is also vulnerable to some extent.
As the "temporary private vpn" would only consist of 2 consenting parties, it should be solveable by adding security features.
Mostly it could be an opt-in tick box that needs to be enabled first in the account settings by both and then have the classic "do not do this with people you don´t know or trust" advice.
Could re-appear before starting the actual network. Those dedicated services manage to do so as well.

To be frank: Yes- there are these services. However for me they look cheeky as hell
(Same level of trust as 00s torrent programs).
I would rather trust the security of a reknown company, which has in general more budget and staff for safety measures, than some random "freeware".

So far I can only see topics I estimate valve can handle.

I did not expect to be much conversation here. After all it is kind of an "people that loved the LAN games / old people" topic and I reckon that they are not active on those forums.

Overall it is most likely a question of how much effort it would be to develop compared to the possible userbase.
I assume that those are, like me, mostly not participating on the forums and therefore would be hard to estimate the userbase.

On the other hand it is an easy USP to tie the old whales :P