Valve has dropped a pair of updates for PC players on Steam, introducing significant changes to how the platform handles wishlists and gifting. The changes aim to make organizing large libraries easier while removing several longstanding friction points when buying games for friends and family.

Quick Facts

  • Platform: PC (Steam)
  • Year: 2026
  • New wishlist features include custom categories, tagging dropdowns, platform notification filtering, and "microtrailer" video previews on hover.
  • Shared wishlists now support links to specific categories or multi-filtered views.
  • Guest checkout can now be used to buy any game on Steam.
  • Users no longer need to be Steam friends to send gifts, and non-Steam users can purchase items directly from a shared wishlist link.

Wishlist Customization and Sharing

The updated Steam wishlist system lets users assign custom tags to games. Players can categorize titles by specific criteria—such as games best played with a controller, titles meant as gifts, or events where they first saw a game. Users can also add missing tags, like a grappling hook tag, directly from a store page dropdown when adding a title.

Wishlisted items now feature a prominent green "Demo Available" button alongside the option to set platform- and category-specific notifications. Hovering over a wishlisted game now displays "microtrailers" directly in the list view.

Sharing has also been expanded beyond a single static link. Players can generate links for specific categories, such as a dedicated birthday list, or filtered views of their wishlist. When shared with family or friends, recipients can purchase items directly from that link.

Streamlined Gifting and Guest Checkout

Alongside wishlist updates, Valve has reworked Steam's gifting system. Guest checkout is no longer restricted to digital gift cards and Steam hardware, and can now be used to purchase any game on the platform. Furthermore, users no longer need to be on each other's Steam friends list to complete a gift.

Cross-region gifting has been adjusted to eliminate the need for precisely calculated digital gift cards. Senders can gift directly to a friend, and Steam automatically calculates the cost in the recipient's region at checkout, provided the recipient is on the sender's friends list.

For non-Steam users purchasing from a shared wishlist link, or for guests wishing to send a surprise gift, purchases can be routed to any email address. Recipients receive a link to log in and claim the game to their Steam account within 30 days.