Steam needs to allow multiple device login (Play separate games) and multi users

steamopen Steam client

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#8177 · opened 2021-10-25 by ruineka · updated 2022-03-05 · 4 comments · github

Rruineka 2021-10-25 github

Your system information

Steam client version (build number or date): All up to current
Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Any (Pop OS 21.04)
Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] Yes
Have you checked for system updates?: [Yes/No] Yes

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Describe what you expected should happen and what did happen. Please link any large code pastes as a Github Gist

Steps for reproducing this issue:

Use big picture mode where the system is used by the family to realize you need multi account/user support for a proper console experience.
Have your steam account logged into both your desktop and your console PC/Steam Deck to realize you will be logged off on opposite device you try to play a game on. Steam should only disallow you from playing the same game, not lock your entire library when you are playing say Path of Exile on your desktop, and somebody wants to play Resident Evil 2 on your TV/Console PC.

Kkisak-valve maintainer 2021-10-25 github

Hello @ruineka, for the first half, if you start Steam with steam -bigpicture -steamos, then Steam might behave the in the way you're looking for.

For the second half, Steam does support having your account logged in from multiple devices, however, for most games (but not all), there is a limitation of one player seat using an account at a time, similar to #4184.

Rruineka 2021-10-25 github

games

I appreciate the reply I'll look into the solution for the first issue, as for the second I'd recommend a policy change to enable this to allow people to use their steam deck as well as their PC at the same time. This is particularly useful in MMO gaming sessions where you are likely to play two games at once using multiple devices. For me personally I play a game called Ark Survival Evolved and I also play games on the side, having to have a second steam account is a hassle. If you are playing two separate games I don't see the issue, I believe the Xbox and PlayStation platforms allow this sort of behavior.

Rruineka 2021-11-02 github

Hello @ruineka, for the first half, if you start Steam with steam -bigpicture -steamos, then Steam might behave the in the way you're looking for.

For the second half, Steam does support having your account logged in from multiple devices, however, for most games (but not all), there is a limitation of one player seat using an account at a time, similar to #4184.

I tested the steamOS option and that works almost as expected for the multiple users. The only thing missing is the option to save login information or allow a button combination login to get back into a user account. Having to retype the information to log back in is a horrible user experience on a controller.

Rruineka 2022-03-05 github

I have been using the new SteamOS UI on my desktop in the living room and have SteamOS (franknlinux) on my OneXplayer (homemade steam deck) and the issue caused by not being allowed to have different games played on separate devices using a single account is a serious headache especially when you get this on the Playstation and Xbox. In my honest opinion Valve really needs to address this, I don't want to maintain a "living room" steam account and "personal" steam account. When I'm on my hackindeck playing Ark Survival Evolved my kids can't play Sonic All stars Racing in the living room unless I go into offline mode and it's annoying. Also please give the user an option to not require a password to login when switching profiles on a trusted home PC, at the very least allow the user to assign controller combos to login (The xbox does this!). Sorry about the rant, just a bit of tough love :P

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