Valve has introduced a major overhaul of Steam’s achievement system, bringing new Achievement Sets, improved progression tracking, and several quality-of-life improvements. The update aims to solve long-standing frustrations among players who enjoy completing games and maintaining a perfect achievement collection.
The changes entered beta testing on October 15, 2026, before receiving a wider rollout on November 11. Among the most significant improvements is the ability to track achievements separately across different parts of a game.
Steam Achievement Sets Make Completion Easier
Since Steam introduced achievements in 2007, the platform has combined base-game achievements and downloadable content into a single completion list. While this approach worked for smaller games, it eventually created problems for dedicated achievement hunters.
Previously, players could complete every achievement in a game and earn a perfect completion record. However, developers could later introduce additional achievements through updates or expansions, causing players to lose their 100% completion status.
Steam Achievement Sets aim to address this issue by allowing developers to divide achievements into separate categories.
For example, a game could feature individual achievement sets for its main campaign, multiplayer modes, and downloadable expansions. Each set receives its own progression tracker, making it easier to understand which portions of a game remain unfinished.
Completing an entire set also awards a profile trophy. More importantly, completed sets retain their completion status even when developers introduce additional achievements elsewhere in the game.
DLC Achievements No Longer Punish Players
One of the biggest improvements concerns downloadable content.
Under the previous system, players could lose their perfect completion status whenever developers introduced achievements tied to expansions they did not own.
With Achievement Sets, developers can separate DLC achievements from the base game. This allows players to complete the content they purchased without being penalized for skipping additional expansions.
Valve has also introduced an option for developers to archive achievements that players can no longer obtain.
This feature could prove particularly useful for older games with discontinued multiplayer services, expired seasonal events, or removed content. Previously, achievements tied to these features could make full completion permanently impossible.
By archiving unobtainable achievements, developers can prevent them from blocking a player’s completion progress.
However, developers must actively implement these improvements. The system does not automatically reorganize existing achievement lists.
Steam Achievement Interface Receives Major Improvements
Alongside Achievement Sets, Valve has redesigned Steam’s achievement interface to make tracking progress more convenient.
Players can now access improved filtering options and more detailed progression information. The updated interface also allows users to compare achievement progress with up to three friends.
Additionally, Valve has renamed the familiar “Perfect Games” category to “Completed.”
The terminology better reflects the new system, where players can complete individual achievement sets without necessarily finishing every achievement associated with a particular title.
Several games have already started adopting the updated system, including Portal 2, Team Fortress 2, and Forza Horizon 5.
Steam Takes Inspiration From Console Achievement Systems
Steam’s updated approach shares similarities with achievement systems found on Xbox and PlayStation.
PlayStation players have long been familiar with Platinum trophies, which generally reward completing a game’s main trophy collection. Xbox also provides achievement tracking and completion-related features.
However, Steam’s implementation offers a different approach by allowing developers to create multiple completion milestones within a single game.
Instead of focusing exclusively on completing an entire title, players can earn recognition for finishing individual sections.
This flexibility could benefit games that receive years of additional content, particularly multiplayer titles, live-service games, and games with multiple expansions.
Not Everyone Is Happy With the Changes
Despite the improvements, the overhaul has received some criticism.
Some players have expressed concerns about the redesigned interface, while others question how the new system could affect existing achievement statistics and completion records.
Another potential limitation is developer adoption.
Because Achievement Sets require developers to organize their achievements, older games might never receive support. Games from inactive studios could remain tied to the original achievement system indefinitely.
Valve has indicated that additional refinements are planned as the company continues collecting feedback.
Nevertheless, the introduction of Achievement Sets represents one of Steam’s most significant achievement-related updates in years. For players who enjoy completing games, the ability to preserve their accomplishments without worrying about future DLC achievements is a welcome improvement.
