Track playtime for non-Steam games

[Vurmiraaz]

For DRM-free games on GOG I'd like to add them as non-Steam games and launch them directly from Steam, so it would be nice if the Steam client can track playtime for non-Steam games as well.

[lsdninja]

Valve are never going to do that since they want you to buy games on Steam so they get their cut.

[Vix]

I use non steam games for software and mods too, it very much benfits using steam for me, its the only launcher I need running

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Vurmiraaz:

For DRM-free games on GOG I'd like to add them as non-Steam games and launch them directly from Steam, so it would be nice if the Steam client can track playtime for non-Steam games as well.

I've played "Your mom" for 200 hours!

That is an example of why they won't. There is no way for them to verify the game is what is stated. You could rename Notepad.exe to anything and it would be tracked, if such an idea was implemented.

[Vurmiraaz]

Originally posted by lsdninja:

Valve are never going to do that since they want you to buy games on Steam so they get their cut.

I agree, but some games are just not available on Steam, or have been removed from the Steam store, like Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, a childhood classic for me.

[seg_sea]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

Originally posted by Vurmiraaz:

For DRM-free games on GOG I'd like to add them as non-Steam games and launch them directly from Steam, so it would be nice if the Steam client can track playtime for non-Steam games as well.

I've played "Your mom" for 200 hours!

That is an example of why they won't. There is no way for them to verify the game is what is stated. You could rename Notepad.exe to anything and it would be tracked, if such an idea was implemented.

I mean sure, but people do the same thing on discord and it's just for laughs. The feature would benefit multiple groups of people. People like me who want to just track the hours of all my games in one place (also have that nice year review) and people who just want to joke around.

[oXz]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

Originally posted by Vurmiraaz:

For DRM-free games on GOG I'd like to add them as non-Steam games and launch them directly from Steam, so it would be nice if the Steam client can track playtime for non-Steam games as well.

I've played "Your mom" for 200 hours!

That is an example of why they won't. There is no way for them to verify the game is what is stated. You could rename Notepad.exe to anything and it would be tracked, if such an idea was implemented.

that isn't the end of the world. so what if they do such a gag, what will it achieve? oh no, i hope no one does a funny joke to show everyone they played [dumb name] for said amount of time, god forbid!

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by oXz:

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

I've played "Your mom" for 200 hours!

That is an example of why they won't. There is no way for them to verify the game is what is stated. You could rename Notepad.exe to anything and it would be tracked, if such an idea was implemented.

that isn't the end of the world. so what if they do such a gag, what will it achieve? oh no, i hope no one does a funny joke to show everyone they played [dumb name] for said amount of time, god forbid!

It would screw up statistics for one.
Used to insult others for another.

Would it be funny? Possibly at first, but it would get out of control and the require moderating by Valve.

I suggest thinking of the negative side, not just what you may find entertaining. You may find many suggestions are not practical after looking down the rabbit hole.

Like the suggestion often seen, where users who are on limited account shouldn't be allowed to post in any discussion. May seem fine for those who are not limited, but when you look on the flip side...

[Vurmiraaz]

On second thought, my suggestion is that Valve should maybe (very unlikely) co-op with other digital distribution platforms (Epic, GOG, etc.) and launch games from other platforms. Again that's barely possible.
However GOG galaxy 2 seems to be working in that direction.

[Retolam]

??? why