Valve Are Changing How Steam Works

Summary

Valve is revamping Steam with updates to user reviews, demos, and store pages for a cleaner and more streamlined user experience. User reviews are being reworked to prioritize helpful feedback, while demos have become standalone products with their own pages and reviews. Store pages will be restricted to game-specific content, banning off-site links and advertisements for other games. Additionally, Valve is exploring bringing Steam OS to third-party devices, with ongoing work to support more handhelds, potentially revolutionizing handheld gaming with improved performance and battery life.

Takeaways

• 😀 Valve and Steam are undergoing a 'clean' with updates on demos, store pages, and user reviews.
• 🔄 Steam user reviews are being reworked to downplay less useful reviews, using a combination of human moderation and machine learning algorithms.
• 📊 Demos on Steam are now separate products with their own pages and reviews, allowing for more direct feedback and better discoverability.
• 🛍️ Store pages on Steam are being streamlined to focus solely on the game they are promoting, with policies against advertising other games or external links from September.
• 🆕 Valve is working on Steam OS support for additional handheld devices, indicating a future where more devices could natively run Steam OS.
• 🎮 The change in demo handling on Steam led to issues with the 'New and Trending' page, prompting the introduction of a 'Trending Free' section.
• 🤖 Machine learning is being utilized by Valve to help scale human judgment in the review moderation process.
• 🚫 Valve's policy changes aim to prevent store pages from becoming de facto websites for developers, focusing instead on a clear and simple user experience.
• 📝 The script mentions the potential of improved performance and battery life in future handheld gaming devices, thanks to advancements in chip technology from companies like Qualcomm and Apple.
• 🎉 The video also discusses community engagement and the importance of user reviews serving an educational and informative purpose for consumers.
• 🔒 Valve assures that they have no intention of deleting any user reviews, as long as they adhere to the platform's terms of service.

Q & A

What major updates has Valve been rolling out for Steam?

Valve has been rolling out updates that affect user reviews, demos, and store pages on Steam. They are reworking the way user reviews are displayed, making demos separate products with their own pages and reviews, and shifting store pages to focus solely on the game they are promoting without advertising other games or external links.

How will the updated Steam user reviews system work?

The updated system will downplay less useful reviews on the store page. Valve will use a combination of the 'was this review helpful' button, human moderation, and machine learning algorithms to determine the visibility and usefulness of reviews.

What changes are being made to Steam demos?

Demos are now separate products on Steam with their own pages and user reviews. This allows developers to receive direct feedback on demos and improves discoverability for users.

Why did Valve decide to make demos separate products on Steam?

Valve wants to provide developers with a way to receive real user feedback on demos, which can be valuable for development and marketing. It also helps with discoverability, as a demo can gain its own popularity and positive reviews.

What issues arose from making demos separate products on Steam?

The change disrupted the 'New and Trending' page on Steam, as many chart spots were taken up by demos for an extended period. Valve responded by adding a 'Trending Free' feature to give paid games their visibility back.

What is Valve's stance on banning certain types of content from Steam store pages?

Valve is enforcing a policy to ban off-Steam links, advertising of other games, and imagery that replicates store functions on Steam store pages. This is to ensure that store pages remain clear and focused on the game they are promoting.

How does Valve's policy change for store pages affect indie developers?

Indie developers may find it more challenging to redirect traffic from Steam to their own websites or community hubs like Discord. They will need to focus on building their own presence outside of Steam.

What is Valve's current focus regarding Steam OS?

Valve is continuing to work on adding support for additional handhelds on Steam OS. They are also considering third-party device support, but it is not yet ready for out-of-the-box use.

What does the future hold for Steam OS and third-party devices?

While Steam OS is not yet ready for widespread third-party device support, Valve is actively working on it. The future could see more handheld devices natively supporting Steam OS, offering improved performance and battery life.

How does the script relate to the potential impact of new ARM-based chips on gaming devices?

The script suggests that ARM-based chips, similar to those used in Apple's M1/M2 chips and Qualcomm's offerings, could significantly improve the power-to-performance ratio in handheld gaming devices, potentially leading to a renaissance in handheld gaming.

What is the script's perspective on the importance of user reviews in informing consumer decisions?

The script emphasizes that user reviews are crucial for serving consumer needs, providing education, and informing purchasing decisions. It advocates for useful reviews, whether positive or negative, to be prioritized over less informative content.