A new feature called 'Remote Play Together' is heading to Steam, which will turn local multiplayer games into online experiences.

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Perhaps the biggest boon to players is the fact that, like a traditional local couch gaming experience, the feature means you can enjoy a friend's game even if you don't own it yourself.Remote Play works by one player inviting a friend to join their local multiplayer game via the Steam Overlay. If their pal accepts the invitation, the game is run through the host's computer and they begin playing together. The host player handles all the processing, while their friends hook in with their connection, controllers, and microphone. The game doesn't need to already exist in the friend's Steam library.An email sent out to developers, and shared on Unity's forum , informed game creators that any games featuring local co-op, split screen, or multiplayer mechanics will be automatically supported when the feature goes live in Steam Beta on October 21."This feature is designed to add value to multiplayer games which do not already have native online capabilities," reads the email. "It will soon be enjoyed among friends online using the Remote Play Together Beta, enabling fans to introduce your local multiplayer game to new audiences. Note that multiplayer games which are not explicitly designed for local play are still best enjoyed using the game’s built-in online system."Watch our explainer of how games retailer cuts work in the video above.In other news, IGN recently crunched the numbers on how much of a percentage retailers take from games sold on their store. It turns out that Steam's 30 percent sits in line with the industry standard, despite rivals like Epic Games and Humble taking less.

Alysia Judge is a freelance writer and presenter. Chat to her on Twitter @alysiajudge.