Simultaneous PC Logins

[BlackWaaltz]

Hi Valve!

With steam link working so well now, I find I have several PC's with my steam account configured with each PC hosting games depending on their capabilities and input configuration. My work laptop, my GPU beast, my entertainment room NUC for couch play games- they all use the same account. Why does Steam need to keep kicking me out of each session when I log into another machine? Why not simply gate single user on a *per game* basis. If I have a paused session of Age of Empires going on my PC, why can't I go play Doom Eternal on my projector without bothering with credentials every time?

Thanks!
BlackWaaltz

[Aachen]

The potential for abuse likely far outweighs the benefit of “user can play games online simultaneously on two separate systems.”

[Pscht]

You get kicked out to prevent multiple users accessing the same library, thus potentially lowering sales. No, they don't make exceptions if you say it's all you, pinkie swear.

[BlackWaaltz]

Is allowing another person to use my account considered abuse?

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

Is allowing another person to use my account considered abuse?

Yes, and its grounds for you to lose access to your account.

[BlackWaaltz]

I would also point out that Windows store doesn't enforce this kind of policy. I can be logged into as many Windows locations as I want.

If financials are a factor they could be easily offset by assessing a fee to add additional simultaneous logins.

[BlackWaaltz]

Originally posted by brian9824:

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

Is allowing another person to use my account considered abuse?

Yes, and its grounds for you to lose access to your account.

I see. Even so- my proposal is not to permit other people to use the account. My proposal is to permit individuals to access their steam libraries painlessly across multiple devices. I have a Steam Deck on preorder and adding a portable device to the mix is only going to exacerbate the issue.

[Gwarsbane]

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

Originally posted by brian9824:

Yes, and its grounds for you to lose access to your account.

I see. Even so- my proposal is not to permit other people to use the account. My proposal is to permit individuals to access their steam libraries painlessly across multiple devices. I have a Steam Deck on preorder and adding a portable device to the mix is only going to exacerbate the issue.

Just because you might not abuse it... there are over 1 billion accounts on Steam that easily could.

You have to think of the bigger picture with suggestions like this. Just how much could it hurt if 2, or 3 or 4 or 40 people use the same account to play games....

Think of all the people that would rent out steam accounts.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

Originally posted by brian9824:

Yes, and its grounds for you to lose access to your account.

I see. Even so- my proposal is not to permit other people to use the account. My proposal is to permit individuals to access their steam libraries painlessly across multiple devices. I have a Steam Deck on preorder and adding a portable device to the mix is only going to exacerbate the issue.

No way to tell what person is accessing a device, hence why the rule exists.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

Is allowing another person to use my account considered abuse?

Yes, yes it is. That's what family share is for, if they're family. If they're not, do not do it because your account may be locked.

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

I would also point out that Windows store doesn't enforce this kind of policy.

I doubt that, even then you made it clear you want other people to have access to it. Of which Microsoft wants one key per system because that's how they make money.

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

Originally posted by brian9824:

Yes, and its grounds for you to lose access to your account.

I see. Even so- my proposal is not to permit other people to use the account. My proposal is to permit individuals to access their steam libraries painlessly across multiple devices. I have a Steam Deck on preorder and adding a portable device to the mix is only going to exacerbate the issue.

Then put the system into sleep mode before using the deck?

Else, there's nothing to complain about its a security thing designed to prevent abuse and account sharing.

Its not going to happen.

[[N]ebsun]

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

Originally posted by brian9824:

Yes, and its grounds for you to lose access to your account.

I see. Even so- my proposal is not to permit other people to use the account. My proposal is to permit individuals to access their steam libraries painlessly across multiple devices. I have a Steam Deck on preorder and adding a portable device to the mix is only going to exacerbate the issue.

Just guessing here, but since you can login to the steam app on mobile and desktop devices simultaneously, the Steam deck might allow you to login at the same time as desktop.

[nullable]

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

I would also point out that Windows store doesn't enforce this kind of policy. I can be logged into as many Windows locations as I want.

And? Where's it written Steam needs to operate like the Windows Store?

or

If the Windows Store is that convenient for your use cases, sounds like you should start using it more.

[Gwarsbane]

Originally posted by Sankakoo:

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

I see. Even so- my proposal is not to permit other people to use the account. My proposal is to permit individuals to access their steam libraries painlessly across multiple devices. I have a Steam Deck on preorder and adding a portable device to the mix is only going to exacerbate the issue.

Just guessing here, but since you can login to the steam app on mobile and desktop devices simultaneously, the Steam deck might allow you to login at the same time as desktop.

You don't play games on the steam mobile app. Just like you don't play games with the 3rd party browser which you can log into while also using the steam up.

But the Steam Desk is designed to play games, so its nothing like the mobile app.

Since its not out yet, we don't exactly know if they are going to come up with a different solution or not. All people can do is wait till its released... which now has been delayed till February.

[Good Old Jim]

Steam ,like all companies, care about sales and income drastically more so than they do their customers.

[76561198407601200]

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

I would also point out that Windows store doesn't enforce this kind of policy. I can be logged into as many Windows locations as I want.

Then you have found the solution to your problem as I would also point out that this is not the windows store. Perhaps purchase games from there which will allow you to be logged into multiple devices simultaneously.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Originally posted by The Living Tribunal:

Originally posted by BlackWaaltz:

I would also point out that Windows store doesn't enforce this kind of policy. I can be logged into as many Windows locations as I want.

Then you have found the solution to your problem as I would also point out that this is not the windows store. Perhaps purchase games from there which will allow you to be logged into multiple devices simultaneously.

That, or just DRM-free games in general.

Anyhow, back to OP's inquiry:

I haven't tried this recently but I've previously been able to log into Steam at the same time on two computers next to each other, both connected to the same wifi network. Does this still work?

I can definitely see Steam "thinking" that your logging in at work (let's presume you have good reason to log into Steam at work, for the time being) will cause your home login to get kicked off. While I haven't tried this, I can imagine it'd be annoying. Though I'd personally just prefer to turn off my machines when I'm not using them, because it saves on my electric bill and is environmentally-friendly. But if I left a machine on, I'd be annoyed to have to log back in, yeah.

And furthermore, even Family Sharing locks out an entire account at once, so it's not like you can have Mini Metro running on your home machine and then play TF2 at work or even on a different machine at home by using Family Sharing. It'd be better to get DRM-free copies to do that, so you can just play them and leave them running wherever and whenever you want; Steam's DRM is getting in the way.