Valve’s latest Steam beta update is great news for PC gamers with slow internet connections or bandwidth caps. The feature allows users to transfer game installations from one PC to another on the same local network, including the Steam Deck. This means you can download a game once and copy it to your other devices instead of downloading it multiple times, saving time and bandwidth.
According to Valve, the feature is perfect for a home setup with multiple PCs or Steam Decks on the same network. Once a game is installed on one PC, all other devices can install or update it by transferring files directly from that PC. The transfer speed can reach up to 100MB/sec, but it’s recommended to avoid intensive tasks during the transfer.
However, this feature is not an all-or-nothing thing and can switch between a local transfer and an internet download if your PC gets turned off. By default, the feature only allows transfers between systems logged into the same Steam account, but it can also support people on your Steam friends list or any users.
The feature has a few limitations, such as the transferring Steam client needing to be idle and the game needing to be released to the public and playable by both Steam users. Only a PC running in Steam desktop mode can send files, so Steam Decks, PCs in Big Picture mode, and custom launchers can currently not transfer files out over the local network.
Overall, this feature is a real blessing for PC gamers with restrictive bandwidth caps, especially considering the storage hogs of 100GB+ PC games these days. While it may not benefit those with unlimited gigabit internet connections, it’s an excellent solution for many gamers.