Steam's New Achievement Sets Let You Keep Your 100% Record Despite DLC Additions

Valve has introduced a new feature for Steam called Achievement Sets, now available in the Steam Client beta. The system groups achievements into distinct collections, separating those from the base game and those from downloadable content (DLC). This means that when developers add new achievements via DLC, a player's overall completion percentage for the base game remains unaffected.

According to reporting by Engadget, the feature requires developers to update their games to define specific collections. The platform notes that a growing number of games already support the feature. Developers can create sets for various purposes, such as grouping single-player and multiplayer achievements or introducing seasonal collections like a Halloween event.

When viewing your unlocked achievements on your profile, you'll see them organized into these sets. Each set has its own progress bar showing how many achievements you've earned within that collection. Completing every achievement in a set earns you a "set complete" trophy that you can display on your profile. Importantly, your progress in a set will still show 100 percent even if the developer later adds more achievements to that set.

Steam divides the collections into two types: Base Game Achievement Sets and DLC Achievement Sets. Base game achievements and their progress bars appear in blue on your achievements page, while DLC achievements and progress bars are shown in purple. DLC sets will not count toward your overall game progress until you have access to the specific DLC they are tied to, ensuring that missing DLC doesn't lower your completion percentage.

Alongside the new sets, Valve has redesigned the achievements page to better display these collections and your progress. The new page also allows you to compare your progress with up to three friends, including rare achievements you've earned and the sets you've completed.

For players who care about maintaining a perfect completion record, this change addresses a long-standing frustration: the addition of DLC achievements that could suddenly drop a 100% profile to a lower percentage. By separating base game and DLC achievements, players can keep their base game completion intact without feeling pressured to purchase or play every piece of additional content. The feature also provides more granular tracking for developers who want to categorize achievements by mode or event.

However, the feature is currently in beta, and its success depends on developer adoption. Valve says a growing number of games already support it, but widespread implementation will take time. For now, players in the beta can explore the new achievements page and see which of their games have been updated. Those not in the beta will have to wait for a full release.

The update reflects Valve's ongoing efforts to refine Steam's social and profile features, giving players more control over how their accomplishments are displayed and compared. As the beta progresses, more details about developer tools and potential limitations may emerge.