Add option to change Steam ID

[Ðexter]

Pretty obviously this function should have been to Steam long ago already... Yes, I know you can change the nickname, but changing Steam ID should be possible too. Its quite frankly very irritating that you can't do this, and I'm sure many agree with this.

[Thesoxplace]

the way valve setup the original function of their database and what it ties too makes the ability to change such not possible, it was explained a long time ago by a valve employee about the situation, somebody might come along and post it for you.

[mimizukari]

Came here to basically say what Moe did, it's not possible. Or rather, anything's possible but it would cause them to have to restructure everything and the innumerable number of possible errors that could occur along the way probably don't make it look like an option they should consider right now.

[Nx Machina]

Obvious does not equal feasible.

Edit to add:

2007 - We do not have the ability to rename accounts, sorry.

2010 - Account name > "Primary Key" for various pieces of data.

What Is A Primary Key?
A primary key is a column(s) within a relational database table that uniquely represents each record in the table. For example, the ideal primary key for a table of students would be their ID number, as this would uniquely identify each student in the table.

What Is The Purpose Of A Primary Key?
Each table within a database will have its own primary key. The main purpose of designating a primary key is to identify each unique record in a particular table.

[Pierce Dalton]

Only you can see it (and Valve, obviously). There's no need to do that, and most importantly, no benefit at all.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

The usual idea is that they set up the login name to be the primary key of the database so they can't make it changeable anymore.

However, they could make the login name not directly the primary key anymore but a different thing. And after all, there already is a different field that's not even user-determinable that's unique to each account, the SteamID64.

Also, there are various benefits, from cosmetic reasons to (more importantly) security benefits of having the login name changeable -- especially for accounts that have been compromised (or at least subjected to hijacking attempts) before.

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by Quint the Alligator Snapper:

The usual idea is that they set up the login name to be the primary key of the database so they can't make it changeable anymore.

However, they could make the login name not directly the primary key anymore but a different thing. And after all, there already is a different field that's not even user-determinable that's unique to each account, the SteamID64.

Also, there are various benefits, from cosmetic reasons to (more importantly) security benefits of having the login name changeable -- especially for accounts that have been compromised (or at least subjected to hijacking attempts) before.

Good point, security reasons is a solid, concrete benefit. I completely forgot about that.

I'm afraid that must be a real pita for them to do, though, therefore very unlikely to happen.

Honestly, I would like to change mine too, but I don't feel that bothered.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

Originally posted by Quint the Alligator Snapper:

The usual idea is that they set up the login name to be the primary key of the database so they can't make it changeable anymore.

However, they could make the login name not directly the primary key anymore but a different thing. And after all, there already is a different field that's not even user-determinable that's unique to each account, the SteamID64.

Also, there are various benefits, from cosmetic reasons to (more importantly) security benefits of having the login name changeable -- especially for accounts that have been compromised (or at least subjected to hijacking attempts) before.

Good point, security reasons is a solid, concrete benefit. I completely forgot about that.

I'm afraid that must be a real pita for them to do, though, therefore very unlikely to happen.

Honestly, I would like to change mine too, but I don't feel that bothered.

Yeah, I don't expect Valve to make this a thing anytime soon, either. Doesn't hurt to suggest it though.

And a login name change feature would allow me to bring a much older login name in line with my current security practices.

[nullable]

Why do you need to change your ID? I mean do you go to the DMV and ask to change your drivers license number? It's just some primary key on a database. There's no point in trying to micromanage it.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Originally posted by Snakub Plissken:

Why do you need to change your ID? I mean do you go to the DMV and ask to change your drivers license number? It's just some primary key on a database. There's no point in trying to micromanage it.

Steam already has an assigned ID of that form; that's the SteamID64.

[[N]ebsun]

Originally posted by Ðexter:

changing Steam ID should be possible too.

Your SteamID identifies your account, you can change it by creating a new account and starting over.
Game server operators use your SteamID to ban you from their server/s (for whatever reason) so obviously changing the ID is, and should, not be possible.

[Yemeni inside]

agree

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Originally posted by Nebsun:

Originally posted by Ðexter:

changing Steam ID should be possible too.

Your SteamID identifies your account, you can change it by creating a new account and starting over.
Game server operators use your SteamID to ban you from their server/s (for whatever reason) so obviously changing the ID is, and should, not be possible.

Changing the long chain of numbers, is not possible, and should not be, because that's the unique identifier of the account.

You also can't change it by creating a new account, de jure or de facto, since your licenses can't be transferred to your new account.

But it should be possible to change the login name.

[76561197960287930]

agree

other clients, GOG, EPIC, UPLAY, Microsoft, Amazon, don't TAG their users with numbers like animals for others to follow them around, but then, they are not the BEST clients either. /s

[Pierce Dalton]

My impression about this subject is they should have done that long ago, in the early days of Steam. Doing this now probably would be the equivalent of removing the foundation of a building, causing a serious mess and forcing them to rebuild everything.

Like I said, even I would like to change my login, but when we suggest stuff, we gotta see the situation from all angles. Would you do that if you were Valve? Or more importantly, *could* you do that? Is it worth the pain?

We gotta consider all these things when making suggestions.

[[N]ebsun]

Originally posted by 76561197960287930:

agree

other clients, GOG, EPIC, UPLAY, Microsoft, Amazon, don't TAG their users with numbers like animals for others to follow them around, but then, they are not the BEST clients either. /s

How do you permalink to their account then ? there must be some way to uniquely identify an individual account on those platforms - something that is never changed that you will always be able to identify the account by.