Valve has launched Achievement Sets in a Steam beta, a change that prevents DLC from affecting a base game’s completion status. Players can test this new feature right now, according to PCGamesN.
This update addresses a long-standing issue. Many players would complete every achievement in a game, only to have a developer release DLC with new achievements. Suddenly, their base game completion drops from 100% to incomplete.
With the new system, achievements get organized into separate sets. TheGamer reports that this update divides single-player, multiplayer, DLC, and event achievements into distinct categories. Each category tracks progress independently instead of contributing to a single total.
Windows Central labeled this change as the most frustrating aspect of Steam achievements, which resonates with how many completionists view the problem. Time-limited event achievements complicate things further. Players can miss these and permanently lose their perfect record.
This change is currently available in beta only. Valve hasn’t announced a timeline for a stable release based on the sources we checked. They also haven’t clarified how developers can opt in or how existing games will transition to this new system.
| Feature | Steam Achievement Sets |
| Achievement categories split out | 4 (single-player, multiplayer, DLC, event) |
| Release status | Beta |
| Problem addressed | DLC lowering base game completion |
| Outlets reporting the change | 6 |
Community Pulse
The source material doesn’t include player quotes or Steam review data, so we’re not attributing any specific reactions. However, you can see the community’s feelings through the coverage. Windows Central’s “most infuriating” headline highlights a frustration that’s been echoed in achievement-hunting circles for years.
What To Watch
- Stable release timing: Valve hasn’t indicated when the beta will be available to all Steam users.
- Developer adoption: This system will be effective only if studios categorize existing and future achievements into sets, including those for older titles.
- Profile and tracker display: Keep an eye on how Steam profiles and third-party completion trackers show these splits, and whether any previously “broken” 100% records get fixed.
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is the Reviews and Guides Editor at Explosion.com. With a background in game design studies and 6 years of gaming journalism, Sarah brings technical insight to her reviews and creates comprehensive guides that help players get the most out of their games. She has reviewed over 200 titles across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. Her current obsessions include FromSoftware titles and indie roguelikes.
