Valve has officially released Steam Achievement Sets to all Steam users on November 11, 2026, introducing a redesigned achievements interface and a new way to track completion across base games, downloadable content and additional game modes. The update follows a beta that began on October 15 and addresses a longstanding issue where newly added achievements could remove a game’s previously earned completion status.
The company confirmed the wider rollout through an official Steam announcement, explaining that developers can now organize achievements into separate collections rather than maintaining one combined list. Each Achievement Set has its own progress bar and completion trophy, allowing players to distinguish between achievements earned in the original game and those introduced through expansions or later updates.
One of the most significant changes is how Steam handles games that receive new achievements after players have already completed them. Previously, adding more achievements could lower a player’s completion percentage, even when they had earned every achievement available at the time. Under the new system, completed sets remain completed when developers introduce additional achievement collections.
This also changes how downloadable content contributes to completion tracking. Developers can assign DLC achievements to dedicated sets, with their progress displayed independently from the base game. DLC-specific achievements only count toward completion for players who own the associated content, meaning players no longer need to purchase every expansion simply to maintain their base-game completion status.
The update also introduces support for retired achievements and achievement sets. Developers can archive objectives that are no longer obtainable, including those associated with discontinued seasonal events or removed game features. Players who previously unlocked those achievements retain their records, while archived objectives no longer prevent others from completing the available achievement requirements.
Alongside Achievement Sets, Valve has redesigned Steam’s achievements page to consolidate several tracking features. Players can now view overall game progress, individual set completion, achievement descriptions and Global Stats through the updated interface. Expanded search and filtering options make it easier to locate specific achievements or distinguish between locked and unlocked objectives.
Steam also supports direct achievement comparisons with up to three friends. These comparisons use updated achievement totals and allow players to examine their respective progress, including completed sets and DLC achievements.
The changes extend to Steam’s existing completion features. The former Perfect Games section has been renamed Completed, incorporating both fully completed games and games containing completed Achievement Sets. Players can also feature completed sets in their Completionist Showcase, while Steam’s Store and Library pages indicate whether supported games use the new system.
Valve initially introduced Achievement Sets through the Steam Client Beta on October 15, allowing developers and participating users to test the feature before its public release. Early supported titles included Portal 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Team Fortress 2, Forza Horizon 5, DREDGE, Crusader Kings III, Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator.
Although the updated Steam interface is now available to everyone, individual games still depend on their developers to organize achievements into sets. Valve has provided updated Steamworks tools that allow developers to configure these collections without modifying their games or updating the Steamworks SDK.
The rollout arrives during a period of broader achievement-system changes across PC and console gaming. Microsoft’s October 2026 Xbox update introduced Mythic Achievements, adding another distinction to how platforms recognize player accomplishments.
Valve says it incorporated feedback from players and developers throughout the beta and plans to continue refining the system. The November 11 release makes the new achievements interface broadly available, while the number of games offering dedicated achievement sets will depend on continued developer adoption.
