Jared is a writer, editor, and Communications Studies graduate who loves popular nerd culture (almost anything to do with Marvel, DC, Star Wars, or The Lord of the Rings) and the interactive storytelling medium. Jared’s first console was the PS1, wherein he fell for Spider-Man, Spyro the Dragon, and Crash Bandicoot.
Noticed by user TheRegularBelt on Reddit, Steam’s support page has curiously had a Steam Achievements FAQ added recently. Presuming that this means a new Steam achievements update is pending that gamers on the platform will soon need clarification for, fans are lying in wait and deliberating about what all the fuss might be about.
Valve Updated Their Steam FAQ
On Reddit, it is clear that gamers do have some expectations for what could arrive in a Steam achievements update, and they hardly seem irrational or overbearing. In fact, all that some gamers seem to want is a way to better organize or customize their Steam achievements, or for there to be a PlayStation Platinum trophy equivalent.
Cresting the list of updates that user _Concorde would like to see are “separate lists for DLCs/Updates like other platforms – and a proper platinum equivalent would be very welcome too,” and these are not uncommon sentiments among other gamers. For instance, user Johnhancock1777 is desperate for Steam to “separate the achievements into main game and DLC,” while user Neat_Damage3505 would be content with more quality-of-life updates for Steam achievements in general.
Discussing how seminal achievements are in games, user TheRealTofuey argues that “going to your friends house and looking at their shelf of collectibles” is an experience emulated in achievements and profiles that players and peers can view. If substantial changes are made to the Steam achievements system, including functionality, it will be intriguing to see if this supposed update is ultimately a boon that gamers can rally behind, especially with the impressive-sounding Steam Machine on the horizon and Xbox’s Project Helix confirmed to run PC games.
Achievements Were Added To Steam In 2007
Achievements have been a staple of Steam for nearly two decades, whether players indulge in trying to complete them for every game or not. Steam achievements may not have a formal title for full completion like PlayStation does with the Platinum trophy awarded for earning all trophies in a game, but unlocking all achievements on any platform with an achievement system is colloquially referred to as reaching “100%.”
Xbox’s version of this involves reaching a Gamerscore of 1000, for example, while Steam’s game pages will display a glorious medal ribbon once all achievements are unlocked.