Steam users now have a new reason to rejoice: the much-anticipated “Mark as Private” feature is officially out of beta and available to everyone. This feature allows users to discreetly hide any games in their Steam library, providing peace of mind to those who may have hesitated before purchasing certain titles.
The feature first made headlines last November when Valve announced its development. It entered beta testing in December, and now it’s fully operational. To use this feature, simply right-click a game in your library, navigate to Manage, and select Mark as Private. This function is distinct from the “Hide this game” option, which only removes the game from your list but still makes it visible on your profile and during gameplay. With this new update, users can now accept friend requests without the worry of exposing their gaming preferences.
Beyond the privacy feature, Valve has introduced several other enhancements to the Steam purchasing experience. Users can now gift games to multiple friends simultaneously, and their shopping cart will seamlessly transition across different devices. Additionally, the option to mark a game as private is available at the point of purchase, ensuring privacy from the outset.
However, for those using Steam’s family-sharing feature, it’s important to note that marking a game as private will remove it from the shared library. This ensures that your private games remain accessible only to you, adding an extra layer of confidentiality.
It’s surprising that this functionality wasn’t implemented when Steam first began offering adult games six years ago. Perhaps Valve’s libertarian approach delayed the development of such a privacy tool, but it’s a welcome addition for those who value discretion in their gaming choices.
With these updates, Steam continues to enhance its user experience, offering greater control and privacy to its vast community of gamers.
