Steam: Difference between revisions

*Users do not own purchased games; they only receive limited licenses.<ref name="subscriber-agreement">[https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement "Steam Subscriber Agreement."] ''Steam''. September 26, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2025.</ref> Although some games work without [[Digital rights management|DRM]], information about this is hidden to users.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Jan 2026 |title=The big list of DRM-free games on Steam |url=https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/The_big_list_of_DRM-free_games_on_Steam |url-status=live |access-date=28 Jan 2026 |website=PCGamingWiki}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 Apr 2022 |title=Post newly-discovered games here |url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/drm-free-and-client-free-games/discussions/0/5456682769561852541 |url-status=live |access-date=28 Jan 2026 |website=Steam}}</ref>

Steam also offers a community market where players can buy and sell different types of items, like in-game skins or trading cards, for a fee of 5% (with a minimum fee of $0.01). Any profits made from the market are added to the user's Steam Wallet and can't be withdrawn. This serves as another essential source of revenue for Steam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam Community Market |url=https://steamcommunity.com/market/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=Steam}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Market FAQ |url=https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/61F0-72B7-9A18-C70B |url-status=live |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=Steam}}</ref>   

In an update for Steam's Rules and Guidelines for developers,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steamworks Documentation - Onboarding |url=https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/gettingstarted/onboarding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250719092925/https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/gettingstarted/onboarding |archive-date=Jul 19, 2025 |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=Steamworks Documentation}}</ref> a new rule was added within the section detailing what content can not be included on Steam:<blockquote>15. Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors, related card networks, banks, or internet network providers. In particular, certain kinds of adult-only content are used.</blockquote>This addition was made with pressure from payment processors such as [[Visa]], [[Mastercard]], and [[PayPal]]. Most, if not all, content taken down from the platform was adult in nature <ref>{{Cite news |last=Bonk |first=Lawrence |date=Jul 16, 2025 |title=Steam now bans games that violate the 'rules and standards' of payment processors and banks |url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steam-now-bans-games-that-violate-the-rules-and-standards-of-payment-processors-and-banks-164222173.html |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Engadget}}</ref>however, allowing both payment processors and ISPs to judge whether or not content on the platform can be taken down puts consumer choice at risk. Reportedly, Japanese developers creating "adult-oriented" games were also refused payment via their banks just after this rule change.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Jan 30, 2025 |title=Adult game devs in Japan can’t receive revenue from Steam as Japanese banks reportedly make the “comprehensive decision” to block transfers |url=https://peoplic.com/adult-game-devs-in-japan-cant-receive-revenue-from-steam-as-japanese-banks-reportedly-make-the-comprehensive-decision-to-block-transfers/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=peoplic}}</ref>

In addition, game developers and consumers have noticed that some content was removed or delisted despite not being 18+ while having LGBT tags or themes. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Gossling |first=Cedric |date=2025-08-01 |title=Steam and Itch.io Delist LGBTQ+ and NSFW Content Following Payment Pressure |url=https://www.gameshub.com/news/news/steam-itchio-delist-lgbtq-nsfw-games-2790936/ |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Gameshub}}</ref>