Valve is overhauling Steam Achievements with a new Achievement Sets system that will let developers divide achievements into separate groups for the base game, DLC, multiplayer, seasonal content and other categories.
The biggest benefit is simple: completing a game at 100% will no longer necessarily be undone when developers add more achievements months or years later.
Under the new system, a completed achievement set can remain marked as finished even if another optional set is introduced through DLC or a later update.
The feature is currently available through the Steam Client Beta and requires support from individual game developers.
Achievement Sets Keep Completed Content Separate
Developers will be able to organize achievements into multiple sets depending on how their game is structured.
A single title could have separate sets for its main campaign, multiplayer modes, expansion packs, individual characters or major update eras.
Each set receives its own progress bar.
Once every achievement inside a set has been unlocked, Steam awards a set complete trophy that appears on your profile.
Most importantly, Valve says completion status will remain preserved if additional achievements are later introduced elsewhere.
| Steam Achievement Sets feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Separate achievement groups | Splits achievements by base game, DLC, multiplayer or other categories |
| Individual progress bars | Tracks completion for each set separately |
| Set complete trophies | Adds a trophy to your Steam profile |
| DLC separation | New DLC does not automatically ruin older completed sets |
| Seasonal sets | Supports limited time achievement groups |
| Completionist Showcase | Can display completed achievement sets |
| Developer control | Studios decide how achievements are grouped |
Base game achievement sets will appear in blue, while DLC groups will use purple.
Developers can also create seasonal sets for limited events such as Halloween. These can be archived after the event ends, allowing the achievements to remain associated with that particular period.
Steam's Achievement Page Is Also Being Redesigned
Valve is updating the broader achievement interface alongside the new grouping system.
The redesigned page includes a summary showing overall achievement progress and individual sets.
Global completion statistics are also available, along with a search function to make it easier to find specific achievements.
The friend comparison system has been expanded to support comparisons between three people.
Valve is also changing the existing Perfect Games section.
The tab will now be called Completed and will include both games that have been fully completed and titles where you have finished individual achievement sets.
Completed sets can also be added to the Completionist Showcase on your Steam profile.
Family Sharing Now Counts More Clearly
Steam is expanding achievement related support for Family Sharing as part of the update.
Games played through Family Sharing will now appear in the Games List.
Friends who have played a title through Family Sharing can also be included in friend comparisons.
Store and Library pages will additionally show whether a game supports Achievement Sets, making it easier to see which titles use the new system before opening the achievement page.
Developers Need to Enable the Feature
Achievement Sets are not automatically applied to every Steam game.
Developers must actively support the system and organize their achievements into separate groups.
Several games are already confirmed to support the feature, including Modern Warfare 4, Portal 2, Victoria 3 and Forza Horizon 5.
More games are likely to follow as developers update their Steam achievement configurations.
That means older games may continue using the traditional single achievement list unless their developers return to add support.
Steam Beta Users Can Try Achievement Sets Now
The new system is currently available through the Steam Client Beta.
You can access it by opening Steam Settings, selecting Interface and choosing the appropriate option under Client Beta Participation.
Valve has not provided a date for the full public rollout.
For achievement hunters, the change addresses one of Steam's longest standing frustrations. Finishing every achievement in a game will no longer have to become temporary simply because a new DLC pack or update adds another batch of tasks later.
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