Steam now allows you to copy games to the Steam Deck and other PCs over a local network

Valve offers users with slow internet connections or limited bandwidth a new way to install games on their devices. The last add , a feature that allows you to copy existing files from one PC to another over a local area network. Valve says the tool can reduce internet traffic and decrease the time it takes to install games and updates, since you can use it to bypass the need to connect to a Steam content server over the internet.

“Local network game transfers are great for Steam Deck owners, multi-user Steam households, dorm rooms, LAN parties, etc,” the company said. . “No more worries about bandwidth or data caps when all the files you need are already nearby.” Once you have installed new software on your devices, Steam will first check to see if it can transfer a game installation or set of update files over your local network before communicating with a public Steam content server. If at any time one of the devices involved in the transfer becomes disconnected from your local network, Steam will re-download the necessary files from the Internet.

By default, the feature is set to only work between devices connected to the same Steam account, but you can also transfer files between friends on the same local area network. It is also possible to transfer to any user on the same network, which is something you would do during a LAN tournament. Valve has posted an FAQ with more information on LAN game transfers, including details on some of the feature’s limitations, on the .