Steam adds Achievement Sets, archiving and a rebuilt achievement editor
Valve has updated Steam's achievement system with Achievement Sets, archiving, and a new Steamworks editor with bulk tools. Developers can use them now on new and existing games without updating the game or the Steamworks SDK.
Digital Developer Desk, 15h ago, 3 min read
Steam has rolled out upgrades to its achievement system, according to a Steamworks announcement. The headline additions are Achievement Sets and the ability to archive achievements. Both are managed in Steamworks, and developers can use them for upcoming games and games already released.
Sets let you group achievements in ways that fit your game. Each set has its own completion progress for players. The announcement suggests sets for DLC, individual characters, and game modes such as single-player and multiplayer. A DLC set can be tied to DLC ownership, so only owners see it and it only counts toward completion for them. Developers can also use sets for seasonal or time-limited content, such as holiday achievements.
Archiving covers individual achievements or whole sets. Once archived, players who already unlocked an item still see it on their profile. Players who missed it will not see it, and it will not block their progress toward completing a set or game. Steam says an achievement that can no longer be unlocked should be archived.
The Steamworks achievement editor has been rebuilt. It supports bulk import and export of achievement definitions, set assignments, icons and localization through CSV and image files. A bulk move tool shifts many achievements between sets at once. When you upload an icon, Steam can generate a grayscale locked-state version, and you can still upload your own. The editor also flags any achievement or set missing text in one of your game's languages.
Developer-only sets are visible only to your team, so you can test unlock conditions, names and icons before players see anything. DLC sets stay hidden until the DLC releases, which allows setup ahead of launch without spoilers.
You do not need to update your game or the Steamworks SDK. Existing achievements, API names and unlock calls keep working. To get started, open your app's landing page in Steamworks, then go to Edit Steamworks Settings > Stats & Achievements > Achievements. Valve points to the Steamworks documentation for more detail, and a separate Steam blog post covers the player-facing changes.
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