Steam Client Update Allows Account Switching During Gameplay
A new version of the Steam client enables users to switch game accounts while a game is running. The update also tests improved cloud save synchronization.
Valve, the developer behind the Steam gaming platform, has released a new update to the beta channel of its Steam client, introducing significant improvements for account switching and cloud save synchronization.
The most notable new feature is the ability to switch user accounts while a game is active. When a user opts to switch accounts during an ongoing game, the system will warn that the current game will be closed to facilitate the account change. The update also enhances the closing logic for the Steam application; it will now wait for the cloud save of the recently exited game to synchronize before proceeding with the shutdown process.
Additionally, users can now opt to have the client prompt for account selection at startup through the client's settings. Redundant confirmation pop-ups for account switching have been removed in most scenarios. While a game is running, switching accounts will directly invoke the account selection dialog, and upon confirmation, Steam will automatically restart and log in to the chosen account.
This current update is being rolled out exclusively to users participating in the Preview and Beta testing channels. The stable, general release version has not yet received this update. Any subsequent fixes or improvements will be pushed to the stable version after stability has been verified.