I want to do some testing on multiplayer levels that will go into a stand alone game. These levels have custom media, but I would rather not upload it to steam workshop so every one can play it for free. Is there a way to keep things private?

You can host a level and walk thru it by your self.
Once you choose the level and it says your in the lobby, then just press start twice.

Workshop are stored on your machine, and if somebody wants to join that has GG, then the custom assets are passed to the user encrypted, and they can not open them. But can play them.

hi SGTBrown. I know where you are coming from and i was scared a little at first, too... but rest assured, all levels you upload to steam workshop are set on private per default, so no worries... you can build some cheap level and test it if you want, but it´s the steam workshop default setting... i set my test level to "friends only" after uploading, and i´d recomment that to you, so you have control over who plays them and who doesn´t...

to do that go to the top menues in steam,hover over your user name, klick "content" (or however, i got the german client, it´s called "Inhalte" there..., it´s the third from bottom) then in the next screen move to "workshop items", it should only show your own stuff...klick the content you want to change, SUBSCRIBE TO IT!! that´s a necessary step... after that you can change the privacy setting to friends, public or only yourself...

More great info, Thank you HarlsonRS.

Interesting info guys thanks .

Dave

you´re very welcome