Steam
Steam is a popular digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation in 2003. It allows users to purchase, play and update games online. Steam offers frequent discounts on games and has a large community with discussion forums and in-game chat.
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Steam: Digital Distribution Platform
Steam is a popular digital distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation in 2003, allowing users to purchase, play and update games online, with frequent discounts and a large community featuring discussion forums and in-game chat.
What is Steam?
Steam is a leading digital distribution platform for PC games, software, and other media. It was launched in 2003 by Valve Corporation as a means to deliver automatic updates and new features to their games, starting with Counter-Strike.
Over time, Steam has grown into the largest digital storefront for PC gaming, with over 30,000 games available from major publishers and independent developers alike. Some of Steam's key features include:
- Seamless game downloads, automatic updates and cloud saves for supported titles.
- A friends list and chat client allowing users to see what their friends are playing and chat with them.
- A vibrant community hub with discussion forums, user reviews and guides for every game on the platform.
- Frequent seasonal sales offering deep discounts on a wide catalog of games.
- Early access to in-development games, allowing users to play unfinished titles as they evolve over time.
- Family sharing options to easily share libraries between accounts.
- Steam workshop where users can browse and install user-created mods and content.
With its vast selection, social features and convenience as an all-in-one platform for PC gaming, Steam has become the go-to destination for millions of gamers around the world.
Steam Features
Features
- Game library & storefront
- Social features like chat & forums
- Achievements & trading cards
- Remote play & streaming
- User reviews & curation
- Mod distribution
Pricing
- Free
- One-time Purchase
- Subscription-Based
Pros
Huge game library
Frequent discounts on games
Convenience of digital downloads
Social features allow connecting with friends
Remote play allows gaming away from PC
Cons
DRM restrictions on some games
No ability to resell digital games
Requires an internet connection and Steam client
Technical issues or downtime can prevent gaming
Security vulnerabilities exist
Official Links
The Best Steam Alternatives
Top Games and Gaming Software and other similar apps like Steam
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