Steam has announced a beta version of game sharing that will allow users to share their game library with up to ten family and friends. A feature that was originally announced on the "XBone 1", but then removed as part of dealing with DRM has been picked up by the GabeN army.

Currently you need to request access, and there are limitations. You can't share the game as in you both play it at once, but a friend can play a game while you play something else. As the primary account holder you would take priority. So if a friend is playing your copy of Payday 2, and you want to play, it will prompt the other user to buy the game and give them a couple minutes before the game shuts down.

It doesn't appear to have the option (yet) to allow you both to play the game together at the same time.

People here tend to have the same games already, but we could start up a FITES sharing pool. What are some thoughts? Does anyone want to take a stab at game sharing?

I'll work on devising a system. I'm sure I'll have to tag TheShoctor in on this to see what we can do to implement something on our site.

Look for a new post soon where I open up some ideas. Of course, this is all about a soon to come beta. No one knows what it will actually entail, but this could be really exciting.

I am down for this.  But call me jaded over the shafting gamers have gotten over the last few years...



There is no way this is gonna work, I'm sure once the legal teams for the various publishers are released from the hospital for that rash of aneurisms suffered (That strangely coincided with this press release) they will start to mess this up somehow...

I'm sure you'll get an email when a game you've borrowed from a friend shows up on sale.

Oh I remember the lovely shareware days. I think that's how I got my first bit of Commander Keen as well.

I have no doubt that once Micro$haft said they would do it on the new XBox, Valve looked into the logistics as well. Especially after people pointed out how awesome the feature on XBox was. And, to be honest, the original featured one on XBox seemed more robust, allowing you limited play of the same game at the same time. You had to play together, but it was a way to see if you and your friend would like the game at the same time.

To share my 400+ game library or not?