Steam can now show game achievements in separate ‘sets’

Valve is adding a feature to Steam that lets developers organize game achievements into separate groups called achievement sets, allowing a base game and its downloadable content to be tracked independently. The feature is aimed at players who want a clearer view of what they have accomplished without sorting through one long combined list. Games that support sets still award achievements through normal play, according to Valve.

Under the system, Steam will divide the full achievement list for a game into the sets created by its developer. Each set carries its own progress bar, so players can see how far along they are in a base game versus its expansions or other grouped content. Players who finish an entire set receive a set complete trophy that appears on their profile.

Developers can also build seasonal achievement sets and later archive them. Valve said the temporary nature of those sets opens up possibilities such as achievements tied to season-based games or limited-time holiday events. The company framed the tool as a way for developers to experiment with achievements that are not permanently available.

Valve is redesigning the Steam Achievements page alongside the new sets. The updated page will present a summary of a player's overall progress, progress within each achievement set, and details about individual achievements. Valve described the change as a way to make it easier for players to see what they have finished and to find related achievements they could unlock next.

The new achievement features are available now in the latest Steam client beta, Valve said. The company has not indicated when the features will reach the stable version of the client. Steam is widely used by players in the United States, and the changes apply to achievements across the platform's game library.

The addition of sets gives developers a way to separate content that was previously merged into a single achievement list. For players, the practical effect is a more structured view of progress spread across a game and its add-ons. Valve's announcement did not include a timeline beyond the beta release.

More software news from TechManNews.