Extra Copies

Article ID: 4502-TPJL-2656 FAQ ID: 750 Updated: July 2nd, 2009

HOW DO I RECEIVE EXTRA COPIES TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS?

Extra copies are a special promotion for users who:

• Purchase the “Left 4 Dead Four Pack” on Steam
• Own “Half-Life 2” and/or “Half-Life 2: Episode One” and then go on to purchase “The Orange Box” or the "Valve Complete Pack"
• Own “Half-Life 2: Episode One” and/or “Half-Life 2: Episode Two” and then go on to purchase the "Half-Life 2: Episode Pack”

This special offer will allow you to send your extra game copy or copies to a friend who does not already own the game.

If your Steam account meets any of the conditions above, you will automatically receive extra copies of the related games which you can give to friends.

How many extra copies will I get when I purchase one of these games?

You will receive one gift for each previously purchased version of “Half-Life 2” and “Half-Life 2: Episode One” in your Steam account. For example, if you already own both "Half-Life 2" and "Half-Life 2: Episode One", and you purchase The Orange Box, you will receive two free copies you can give to friends: one copy of each game.

You will receive three gifts in addition to a copy of the game for yourself when you purchase the Left 4 Dead Four Pack.

Do any other games available on Steam work this way?

No. This special offer only applies to “Half-Life 2,” “Half-Life 2: Episode One,” “Half-Life 2: Episode Two,” and the “Left 4 Dead Four Pack” as stated above.

GIVING AWAY EXTRA COPIES

When will I be able to give away my extra copies?

Your extra copies will be available to give away once the Orange Box or Episode Pack is registered to your Steam account.

How do I know when I have extra copies available to give away?

You will receive a message through Steam when your extra copies become available to give away. You will also see “Extra Copy” links beside your previously purchased games in your "My games" list. You can also find your extra copies under the "Games" menu listed as "Extra Copies".

Will my extra copies expire if I don't give them out quickly enough?

No, you can give your extra copies at any time as long as your Steam account remains active.

What will my friend receive when I send them my extra copy?

Your extra copy will arrive as a gift message. If your friend does not currently have a Steam account, your gift will be sent to his or her email address with information on installing Steam and accepting your gift.

If your friend already has a Steam account and you send them an extra copy using the Steam Friends feature, the game will immediately be linked to their Steam account. When your friend signs into Steam, a pop-up message will notify them of your gift. Your friend will also receive a gift message via email.

I already own both "Half-Life 2" and "Half-Life 2: Episode One". Can I give my extra copies to two different friends?

Yes, you can give your two extra copies to either the same friend or two different friends.

How can I tell if my friend already owns one of these games?

If your friends are members of your Steam Friends list, you can learn whether they already own the game you'd like to give. Your Steam Friends who already own this game will automatically be filtered out of the potential list of recipients. You could always just ask to make sure as well.

May I Buy, Sell or Trade my extra copies?

No. This violates the Steam Subscriber Agreement and may result in having your Steam account permanently disabled.

RECEIVING EXTRA COPIES

How do I use an extra copy given to me by a friend?

If you do not already have Steam, follow the link in the email you received to download and install Steam. Once you have Steam installed, you will be prompted to create an account or login to an existing Steam account. If you do not have an account, please create one. A pop-up message will notify you that you have received a game. Once you have accepted the game, you can download the game and activate your game subscription from the "My games" list.

I sent an extra copy to a friend, but that person never received it. What now?

You can resend extra copies in case your friend's email message was lost. If you are resending to a new (or corrected) email address you can resend the game immediately. If you are attempting to resend it to the same email address, the Steam system requires that you wait 24 hours to prevent the spamming of users. When you resend a game the previously generated email will become invalid and the “accept” link within it will no longer work. Your friend must use the latest version of the email when accepting the game.

I sent an extra copy to a friend using their email address, but it turns out that person already owns this game. Can I give this game to someone else?

Yes, provided your friend has not already accepted your extra copy using a different Steam account. To give your extra copy to a different friend, simply find your extra copies under the "Games" menu listed as "Extra Copies". From the Gifts and Guest Passes dialog, highlight the extra copy in question and select "Resend" to give your game to a new recipient.

Related Topics

• Steam Purchase Gifts and Guest Passes
• Guest Passes Guide
• Guest Pass Acceptance or Activation Failure
• Guest Pass Acceptance Page Cannot Be Displayed