Steam getting remote game downloads

Steam's getting the option to initiate game downloads remotely through a web browser, so your games can be ready and waiting for you when you get home from work.

23

How many times have you slumped at worked, idly day-dreaming about playing a certain game when you get home, only to have your dreams shattered when you realise it'll take hours to download? I never have, because I enjoy every last second of my job, but for you lot, good news!

Steam is getting the ability to install games on your home PC remotely through a web browser, so you'll never again stumble through your front door, let your brave face slip and burst into tears, then collapse on your bed squeezing your terrified cat.

To initiate a remote download, all you'll need to do is log into the Steam website, go into your games list, and click install. Your computer needs to be turned on for this to work, obviously. One imagines that the feature will also be added to the Steam mobile app.

You can supposedly try remote downloads in a new Steam beta client, but the download options don't seem to be on the Steam site yet. Still, if you want to get in for when they are, go into your Steam settings and look for the 'Beta participation' section of the 'Account' tab.

Filed Under
From The Chatty
  • reply
    May 2, 2012 6:30 AM

    Alice O'Connor posted a new article, Steam getting remote game downloads.

    Steam's getting the option to initiate game downloads remotely through a web browser, so your games can be ready and waiting for you when you get home from work.

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 6:43 AM

      That's nice and all, but I want Steam gift cards dammit!

      • reply
        May 2, 2012 7:50 AM

        Being able to buy Steam gift cards in Best Buy, Wal-Mart, etc., would be great.

        • reply
          May 2, 2012 7:58 AM

          hopefully thats next on the horizon, would allow people to give a physical something and let them use steam. it'd be great.

          • reply
            May 2, 2012 7:59 AM

            It would also allow you to trade console games in at Best Buy and use the credit to buy Steam games. :D

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 6:44 AM

      This sounds pretty damn awesome.

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 6:47 AM

      That...is badass!!!

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 6:49 AM

      So...now can Steam update the way it does downloads? There's no way to make them queue as opposed to the way it does now where everything downloads all at once...unless I'm totally missing something.

    • gmd legacy 10 years legacy 20 years mercury mega
      reply
      May 2, 2012 6:50 AM

      maybe Gabe should initiate half life 3

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 6:52 AM

      Awesome.

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 6:56 AM

      gg obama

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 6:56 AM

      yes. finally!

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 7:16 AM

      Great article. My brave face slips all the time.

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 7:41 AM

      This is absolutely full of awesomness!!

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 7:49 AM

      FUCK. YES.

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 7:53 AM

      Hey while you're at it, add the ability to install to other disks as well please. I know we hardcore types can work around it but for the average joe it's a bit of an issue probably.

      • reply
        May 2, 2012 8:34 AM

        Why not just install steam to wherever your data disk is? Then all subsequent downloads will go in THAT steamapps folder. That's what I did.

        • reply
          May 2, 2012 8:59 AM

          Same here.

        • reply
          May 2, 2012 9:06 AM

          1 words. SSDs.

        • reply
          May 2, 2012 9:19 AM

          Are you saying:

          - Install Steam to a drive, say your D drive (not your Windows drive), install a bunch of games
          - Install Steam again to a different drive, like your E drive, then install a bunch more games

          ?

          Because if you're saying just don't install it to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam, of course I didn't do that and I installed it to my data drive. Which is nearly full now. Lots of games yo.

      • reply
        May 2, 2012 10:26 AM

        An average joe doesn't need to do this! It's a catch 22!

        • reply
          May 2, 2012 10:57 AM

          An average joe doesn't 'need' to install anything outside of /Program Files/Whatever, yet how up in arms would we all be if installers didn't give you a choice?

      • reply
        May 2, 2012 12:19 PM

        mklink

        • reply
          May 2, 2012 12:20 PM

          Oops posted prematurely.

          Use mklink to redirect SteamApps folder to another folder on another disk.

          • reply
            May 2, 2012 1:30 PM

            He covered that in his post!

            • reply
              May 2, 2012 3:30 PM

              Word, I didn't think mklink was that hardcore so I figured he was talking about something else.

              • reply
                May 2, 2012 3:44 PM

                Word of wisdom: If you have to use a command line, it's hardcore as fuck

                  • reply
                    May 2, 2012 8:02 PM

                    You're right, this obscure open source Google Code project will totally make sense to the average joe.

                • reply
                  May 2, 2012 8:55 PM

                  I use Junction Link Magic... easy to use and it works fine. I create alternate paths for individual games (folders), not just the SteamApps folder. I do have to install in the default dir first and then move the game data and create the link... but only takes a couple of mins.

                  eh.

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 7:55 AM

      Now they just need the ability to throttle downloads so the internet is still usable when someone decides to download a game.

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 7:57 AM

      yay this is awesome

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 8:02 AM

      I should be able to do this with the Steam app

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 8:16 AM

      Steam really needs to add a way to limit download speeds a la Bittorrent. Playing TF2 while your roommate starts downloading a game? Get ready to lag like a motherfucker. Want to watch a movie on Netflix while your new game is downloading? Tough shit, Steam hogs all available bandwidth.

      • reply
        May 2, 2012 4:10 PM

        Agreed - why hasn't this been implemented yet? Such a pain to have it basically be "all or nothing" bandwidth wise.

      • reply
        May 2, 2012 4:44 PM

        You can use this for now
        http://seriousbit.com/netbalancer/

      • reply
        May 2, 2012 5:46 PM

        I got around this by playing with QoS settings on my Router, basically made my PC the highest priority and every other PC normal priority + other devices (NAS / phone / tablet ) low priority.

        Works well and I can be torrenting / downloading without any noticible lag on my games.

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 9:54 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 10:29 AM

      Thank you, virus!

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 12:11 PM

      Next step, Steam app allowing store browsing, purchasing, and initiating download on my PC

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 12:21 PM

      Brilliant. About time.

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 12:21 PM

      I hope I can do this from my phone with the app!

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 12:23 PM

      OMFG. I'll be able to start downloads from my phone then... how convenient.

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 2:01 PM

      The future is now

    • reply
      May 2, 2012 2:09 PM

      Fantastic idea indeed. Win to Valve

Hello, Meet Lola