Valve announced updates to Steam’s gifting and wishlist features aimed at improving the game purchasing experience. Users can now gift games to others without the need for a Steam account, which broadens options beyond traditional methods such as gift cards and hardware.
Additionally, the wishlist can now be organized into custom categories, simplifying game management for users. The categorization functions much like a folder system, allowing users to name categories and add games from their store pages or existing wishlists.
The new gifting system allows games to be sent via email instead of requiring the recipient’s Steam account information. However, both the sender and recipient must be situated in the same country, and if the recipient does not accept the game within 30 days, it will be automatically refunded. For international gifting, senders must be friends with the recipient on Steam, and Valve will automatically calculate the game’s cost based on the recipient’s regional pricing at checkout.
Valve stated these changes should streamline the purchasing process, particularly for users who may not be as familiar with gaming platforms. Users can also enable or disable notifications for sales on specific wishlist categories, providing a more tailored experience.
Other enhancements include the ability to generate shareable links for wishlists or specific categories, as well as features to check if saved games have demos and to view trailers by hovering over wishlist items.
