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Steam Families lets close family members in a household access eligible games owned by other family members, each using their own Steam account. Remote Play Together lets a host run a supported local multiplayer game and invite remote friends to join a streamed session; guests do not need to own or launch the game. The features solve different problems: sharing a family library versus playing a host-run game together online.
What Steam Family Sharing lets you do now
Steam’s current family-sharing system is called Steam Families. It combines family-related features and replaced the former Steam Family Sharing and Steam Family View systems. Steam announced the transition on March 18, 2024; current membership and sharing rules are in Steam Support’s Steam Families User Guide & FAQ.
A Steam Family can have up to six members and is intended for close family members in a household. Members can access eligible games in a shared family library, but purchases remain in the purchaser’s own collection: sharing access does not transfer ownership.
Each person uses their own account
A family member launches a shared game from their own Steam account. Achievements belong to that account. Save behavior varies by game, so a shared library does not mean that players share the same progress.
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Different games can be played at the same time
Family members can play different games from the shared library simultaneously, even while another member is playing a title they own. To play the same title at once, the family needs enough copies of that game: for example, a second copy can allow a second member to play it at the same time. Steam Support uses Portal 2 and Half-Life to illustrate the distinction.
Not every game is shareable
Eligibility is set per game. Steam’s listed exclusions include games that require an additional third-party key, account, or subscription; free-to-play games and their purchased DLC; titles restricted by region or operating system; publisher opt-outs; and games an owner has marked private. Shareable DLC may be available when its owner has it, but publisher settings and differences in family members’ DLC can affect compatibility. A shared game can be played offline only if that game supports Family Sharing.
What Remote Play Together lets you do
Remote Play Together is for supported local multiplayer games. One person launches and runs the game on their computer, then invites Steam friends to join remotely. The guests do not need to own the game or start it themselves. Steam’s Remote Play page advertises up to four additional players, with more possible on fast connections.
The host streams the game session
Steam streams the game’s video and audio, as well as voice, between players. Participants can use their own controllers. The host can manage whether guests are allowed to share keyboard and mouse input, which can matter for games designed around shared local controls.
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Game support and connection quality matter
The game must support Remote Play Together, and the host needs to be ready to run it during the session. Streaming quality depends on the participants’ connections; Steam advises using a fast internet connection to support low-latency play. The available guidance does not establish a universal speed or latency threshold.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which feature should you use?
| What you want to do | Choose | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Let close family members access eligible games from one another’s libraries on their own accounts | Steam Families | Whether the exact game is shareable, how many family copies are available for simultaneous play, and whether DLC compatibility matters. |
| Play a supported local multiplayer game with remote friends when one person can host it | Remote Play Together | Whether the game supports the feature, whether players have suitable controllers or input access, host readiness, and connection quality. |
In short, Steam Families concerns access to eligible games owned by members of a family group. Remote Play Together concerns joining a host’s streamed local multiplayer session. Neither feature is a substitute for the other.
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