So you’re playing around with the renewed Steam Families beta, only to get an error stating you can create or join a new Steam family on some future date. The error message might seem confusing, but the reason behind this issue is actually addressed in the official announcement for the updated Steam Families feature. You can find this information on Steam’s website, specifically in the frequently asked questions section.
According to the FAQ, Steam has set up a system that restricts changes to your Steam family once a year. The countdown starts from the date you joined your previous or current family, not from the day you left. This means that if you joined a Steam family just a month ago, you’ll need to wait 11 months before you can switch families. If your joining date was six months ago, you’ll have to wait six more months to make any changes. However, if you joined your last family over 12 months ago, there will be no downtime, and you can change or join a new family immediately.
It’s important to note that the date you joined matters, not when you left your last family. Also, accounts trying to join a single Steam family must be from the same region. This restriction is primarily due to the different pricing models Steam uses in different countries, rather than actual geographic location.
These are the current rules, but since this is still a beta, they may change in the future. So, if you’re experiencing issues with Steam Families right now, just remember: patience is key, and these rules are in place to ensure a smooth experience for everyone.