● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 neutral
Steam Updates Gifting and Wishlist Features for Easier Game Purchases
Key points
- Guest accounts can now purchase games directly on Steam.
- Games can be gifted via email links without needing a recipient's Steam account.
- Wishlists can be sorted into custom categories for better organization.
- Wishlist categories allow specific sale notification management.
New Gifting Capabilities
Valve has updated Steam's gifting system, allowing users to purchase games using a guest account, a feature previously limited to gift cards and hardware. This change simplifies the purchasing process for individuals without a Steam account.
Additionally, games can now be sent directly via email. Previously, a recipient's Steam account was required. Now, a link can be messaged to claim a game, even if the email is not associated with their account. Gifting is limited to recipients in the same country, and unclaimed games are automatically refunded after 30 days. For international gifting, users must be Steam friends, and the system automatically calculates regional costs.
Enhanced Wishlist Organization
Steam's wishlist feature now includes categorization, allowing users to sort saved games into custom folders or tags. Users can name categories as desired and add games from their store page or existing wishlist. Selecting a category filters the wishlist to display only games within that group.
Notifications for wishlist items going on sale can now be enabled or disabled for specific categories, providing more granular control over alerts.
Additional Wishlist Improvements
Further small tweaks to the wishlist include the ability to generate shareable links for an entire wishlist or a specific category. Users can also see if saved games have demos and play trailers for wishlist items by hovering over them.
Impact on Users
These updates aim to simplify the game purchasing experience, particularly for those less familiar with PC gaming who wish to buy games for others. The wishlist enhancements provide better organization and management for users tracking desired titles.
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Reporting from
Steam has introduced updates allowing guest accounts to purchase games and enabling direct game gifting via email links. The platform also added categorization and enhanced management features for user wishlists.