Steam's newest feature will let you play any local multiplayer game online

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Only one player will need a copy of the game, up to three can join

(Image credit: Steam)

Remote Play Together is a new Steam feature that will let up to four players enjoy multiplayer games online. An email sent to developers from Steam outlines the plan, including that every game in the Steam library that has multiplayer, co-op, or split-screen capabilities are automatically included in Remote Play Together.

Some clarification is necessary, as it's a slightly confusing concept. The Valve email describes Remote Play Together as "handing a second controller to a friend" but in the virtual sense. A local split-screen game that allows four players will require the host to load up the title in split-screen mode and then stream to three other machines (yes, that means only one person needs to own the title). 

The host machine will have to do some heavy lifting, as it will have to seamlessly stream the game while also processing other controllers' inputs. Remote Play Together will show all of the participating players the same screen - it's a virtual mimic of everyone sitting together and gaming in the living room in college, minus the pot smoke. 

The beta for Remote Play Together will launch during the week of October 21 for anyone who's a member of Steam Client Beta (go into your settings menu on Steam and opt in if you'd like to get involved).

For more on the Epic Games Store controversy, see our piece on Epic CEO's belief that "gamers don't see" all the ways Epic Games Store is helping the industry. 

Alyssa Mercante
Alyssa Mercante
Former Features Writer

Alyssa Mercante used to be a features writer at GamesRadar+ and is now a freelance writer and editor. Prior to entering the industry, she got her Masters's degree in Modern and Contemporary Literature at Newcastle University with a dissertation focusing on contemporary indie games. She spends most of her time playing competitive shooters and in-depth RPGs and was recently on a PAX Panel about the best bars in video games. In her spare time Alyssa rescues cats, practices her Italian, and plays soccer.