Steam Question

[JordanXlord]

as someone who likes to collect Game boxes...but i also want to use steam with it...as someone who is new to PC gaming and i have a question

can i buy a physical copy of a game and then add it to Steam?

please answer

 

[omega_peaches]

as someone who likes to collect Game boxes...but i also want to use steam with it...as someone who is new to PC gaming and i have a question

can i buy a physical copy of a game and then add it to Steam?

please answer

Yes, you click the "add programs to Steam" button in the bottom right.

 

[Easton Dark]

Some games that are purchased at retail require steam to play.

So yes, certain games are added to your steam library when you install the disk.

Alternatively, all retail games can have the Steam Overlay in them by using Steam to add the executable. Then it'd be just like having the game on Steam, only you can't download/redownload.

 

[mad825]

Only games that support Steamworks can this be possible.

 

[Vicarious Reality]

I didn't know that... thanks

 

[JordanXlord]

ok thanks...so basically i could buy Deus Ex Human revolution at my local Gamestop and i can put it on steam and gain the achievements and other features like if i bought it off steam?

 

[redisforever]

Yes, you can. I love Steam.

 

[JordanXlord]

awesome! i can add Deus Ex to my Fort of Game Boxes

 

[Agayek]

as someone who likes to collect Game boxes...but i also want to use steam with it...as someone who is new to PC gaming and i have a question

can i buy a physical copy of a game and then add it to Steam?

please answer

It depends on the game. Some let you activate on Steam, some do not. To the best of my knowledge, the complete list is here:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-WUSF-3601

 

[fryzee]

Steam works games like New Vegas and MW3 are examples of games that you could buy hard copy but end up using steam.

 

[castlewise]

ok thanks...so basically i could buy Deus Ex Human revolution at my local Gamestop and i can put it on steam and gain the achievements and other features like if i bought it off steam?

I wouldn't be so fast. If you add the game as a "non-steam" game then you can use the overlay while playing the game but you won't be able to use achievements.

You can add some games to steam using the cd key but only for certain ones.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-wusf-3601

It looks like, from that link, that you can add Deus Ex this way. This is super nice because then if you ever want to play Deus Ex on a separate machine you can just download it like you bought it on steam.

 

[Dr_Horrible]

Under the 'games' tab at the top of the screen in your games library, you can click 'add a non-steam game.' I'm not saure of the achievements, but you can play with the steam overlay and so on.

EDIT: I had forgotten about 'activate a product.' If the game has a cd key, you should be able to add it and get the achievements and everything no problem.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

You can add the executable to the list from 'Tools'. After that you can launch it from Steam.

There is also the opportunity for you to put the CD key into Steam and it'll give you the game to download and launch from Steam for some games.

 

[Jodah]

You can do it with any game. However, it won't be perfect for non-steamworks games. You will have the executable on your list but if it doesn't use steamworks you cannot download it from Steam, nor track time played and such.

 

[thatonedude11]

Since Deus Ex Human Revolution uses steamworks, it will be automatically added to steam with a purchase of the boxed copy. Then it will be just like if you had downloaded that game from steam, only you have the nice fancy box.