Steam Family in beta: Finally a proper Steam Family Library
Steam is currently testing the Steam Family: with the update, up to six accounts can share a common game pool at the same time. Adults can also manage their children's accounts more easily.
In the past, people exchanged game CDs, today they use shared Steam libraries: soon, up to six Steam accounts can be combined to form a Steam family. All games from these accounts will then be available to the family in a shared pool.
The current family library also allows access to other people's games. In practice, however, this only works to a limited extent, as only one person can play in a shared game library at a time. In other words, if the wife plays any game from her Steam library, her husband cannot access her games at the same time.
This is set to change soon. With the update, all approved family accounts will be able to access all games in the shared pool at any time - provided the respective developer studios have agreed to the sharing. What's more, every purchase counts: if several accounts own the same game, it will be available for simultaneous play just as often in the pool.
Own scores and achievements, but shared penalties
When playing shared games, each account creates its own saves and receives its own Steam achievements. However, this also means that you cannot play with another person's score. You should also instruct all Family members not to cheat or violate any guidelines: If a player is banned from the game, this applies to all family accounts and also the owner of the game.
Parental controls and access rights
You assign the role of "adult" or "child" to other people when you join. Adults get access to all games, while you can set restrictions for children: for example, access to certain games, the shop or chats. You can also restrict the playing times. All adults in the family can manage the children's accounts.
Source: Steam-Client
The Steam Family is actually aimed at the closest Family members. However, Steam does not explicitly state that Family members must live in the same household. However, the company will closely monitor how the family library is used. The rules will then be adjusted if necessary.
You can try out the Steam Family right now if you allow the family beta in your Steam client. You can find out how to do this on the Steam website. After the update, you can create a new family or join a family.
Feels just as comfortable in front of a gaming PC as she does in a hammock in the garden. Likes the Roman Empire, container ships and science fiction books. Focuses mostly on unearthing news stories about IT and smart products.