Have you ever opened up your friends list to find that one of your buddies is playing a game that you want to play? Soon, instead of being jelly you can play the game for yourself.
Family Sharing has been announced for Steam. Similar to what Microsoft originally announced as a huge selling point for the Xbox One—which it would later remove—, it allows users to gain access to another Steam user’s complete digital game library.
The official page describes it as the following:
Once a device is authorized, the lender’s library of Steam games becomes available for others on the machine to access, download, and play. Though simultaneous usage of an account’s library is not allowed, the lender may always access and play his games at any time. If he decides to start playing when a friend is borrowing one of his games, the friend will be given a few minutes to either purchase the game or quit playing.
Each user can share their library with a total of 10 people. In other words, the days of missing out on AAA releases is over. Well, as long as you have friends who use Steam.
A beta will be available soon with a release to follow shortly after.
