This sounds pretty cool to me, particularly for those users who live with data transfer caps or shaky internet. This setting can be amended to include other users on your Steam Friends list, or any other user connected to your local network. Transfers are also limited to 'self only' by default, meaning local transfers will only happen between machines signed into the same Steam account.

Transfers only currently work between PCs, or from PC to Steam Deck, and both sender and receiver must be opted into the Steam Beta. If the connection drops, Steam will revert to using Steam's content servers as before. If such a PC is found, it will transfer as much of the files as possible across your local networkrather than downloading them from the internet. When you try to install or update a game on Steam, Steam 'will first check if there are other PCs running Steam on your LAN (local area network) that could transfer the needed game content to you directly.' This Steam support page offers more of an explanation of how it works. No more worries about bandwidth or datacaps when all the files you need are already nearby,' says a followup tweet. 'Local Network Game Transfers are great for Steam Deck owners, multi-user Steam households, dorms, LAN parties, etc.

Valve announced the feature on Twitter via the official Steam Deck account.

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