What Are Local Multiplayer Games?
Before diving into the specifics of Remote Play Together, let us tackle the basics. Playing local multiplayer games is not the same thing as playing on Local Area Network(LAN).
LAN refers to playing games using multiple copies across several machines connected by LAN. Local multiplayer, on its own, just needs a single machine that has a single copy of a game. Local multiplayer games also basically make use of several game controllers to play together on the host game.
To shorten it, local multiplayer gaming is a term that is used to refer to couch gaming. The definition came from playing together with your friends and close people within your own home.
For example, four people in a group playing on a home console with their controllers would be referred to as local multiplayer gaming. A group of people on multiple computers playing together through a local network is not referred to as a local multiplayer.
What Is Steam’s Remote Play Together?
Steam’s Remote Play Together allows you to play local multiplayer games over the internet. You will still have one host device and one copy of the desired game, but you won’t have to be in the same room.
If you’ve ever had issues getting your friends to play together, this feature wants to help you out. Only the game host will need to have the game purchased and installed before inviting others to play. Your game nights instantly become more streamlined by removing all of the legwork from everyone else.
Preemptively Addressing Feature Concerns
For anyone with privacy concerns, only the game screen will be visible to those that joined. You don’t have to worry about anyone accessing your desktop or other windows.
The host can also decide on the limits to access the game. If you are ever unsure, there are the options of disabling the mouse, keyboard, or controller support.
If you’re playing across different devices, the feature supports PC, macOS, and Linux crossplay. Remote Play Together seeks to make the group gaming as flexible as possible while also protecting the host from anything invasive.
How to Update Your Steam Client to Beta Status
Remote Play Together is at present in its beta version, so, in order to access Remote Play Together, you would need to update the Steam client to access the beta client. Once you have Steam open, go to Steam > Settings > Account > Beta Participation > Change. Once at the Beta Participation Steam menu, select “Steam Beta Update” from the drop-down menu there.
After that, you can now see an alert telling you that Steam needs to restart for the change to take its. You will then be required to download a small update. After updating, your Steam client application would restart as the new beta client application.
How to Use Remote Play Together
By now, you should be able to try Remote Play Together by using the following methods:
- Launch a Steam game from the list of supported titles.
- Once in the game, press Shift and Tab to bring up the Steam Overlay options.
- When it is visible, hover the friend you that you want to play with and click the arrow that is next to their name.
- Choose “Remote Play Together”.
- In this area, you may receive an error, and you might have to install extra drivers to make it work.
- Make sure your friend has accepted your invite. You’ll receive an on-screen notice once your friend has accepted.
- Repeat the process to invite any other friends that you might have.
- Once all the desired players have joined, press Shift and Tab to view the Remote Play settings. You can turn on or turn off the shared input of the mouse, keyboard, or controller here. You can also tweak the joined player’s volume.
- Play together.
As the Remote Play Together is in beta, you might experience some connection issues or latency problems, both depending on the host’s internet connection.
