Steam Beta Splits Achievements by Category

Steam is testing a long-requested feature that separates achievements into distinct categories, addressing a persistent frustration among players who chase 100% completion rates. The beta update introduces achievement sets, enabling developers to organize accomplishments by type—including DLC, updates, events, multiplayer, and single-player content—so that newly added achievements no longer reset a player's overall completion percentage.

The change addresses a core problem with how modern games evolve. As titles receive ongoing updates, expansions, and seasonal content, new achievements become difficult to discover and can inadvertently erase a player's previously earned 100% status. Each achievement set now displays its own progress bar, and completing an entire set awards a special trophy that appears on a player's profile. Games currently supporting the feature, such as Dredge, show an overall progress breakdown by category, with the base game represented in one color and DLC content in another.

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Beyond categorization, the beta introduces an archiving system for achievements that can no longer be obtained. Once archived, players who previously unlocked those achievements will still see them on their profiles, but they won't appear on profiles of players who missed the window to earn them, nor will they block progress toward set or game completion. This prevents outdated or limited-time achievements from permanently damaging a player's completion metrics. Valve has indicated that developers should archive achievements whenever they become permanently unavailable, addressing situations where time-limited events or removed content would otherwise lock players out of 100% completion.

The overhaul extends beyond these core features. The redesigned achievement page now allows players to compare progress with up to three friends simultaneously and pin specific achievements they're actively pursuing. Enhanced filtering options make searching for particular achievements more streamlined. Developers gain flexibility in creating custom achievement sets rather than being restricted to predefined categories, with Valve suggesting class-based sets as one example of the system's adaptability. The company also hints at additional rewards for completing all achievement sets within a game.

Players interested in testing these features can access the beta immediately through Settings, Interface, and Client Beta Participation. The update remains in testing and has not yet rolled out to all Steam users.