Proving once again that Valve is run by a braintrust of kittens wearing wizard cloaks, the software company announced today that you wil be able to borrow digital PC versions of games, just like you would a physical disc.
The new program called Steam Family Sharing, will allow the sharing of games among 10 Steam accounts. I'll have access to your library of games and you'll have access to mine, with one catch. We can't be playing the same game at the same time. Think about it as if I'm lending you a physical disc, if you've got it, I don't. Those in your sharing circle will have their own save files and achievements, but if you try to play the same game at the same time, you'll be prompted to either purchase the game or get the boot. Here's the press release:
"Our customers have expressed a desire to share their digital games among friends and family members, just as current retail games, books, DVDs, and other physical media can be shared. Family Sharing was created in direct response to these user requests."
"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."
If this sounds eerily familiar, that's because Microsoft had a similar program in place with the Xbox One, but ended up dropping it for the time being. PC gamers have never had an easy time sharing games other than physically swapping them, and this is huge for gamers are primarily PC users.
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