It’s with a quick glance in the rearview mirror, memes and obviously promotions that Valve is celebrating 20 years of its Steam platform.
The leader in dematerialized video games on PC launched on September 12, 2003. Sorry for the old news.
Valve celebrates 20 years of domination and great games
Today still the leader in the dematerialized video game market on PC, despite relatively convincing competition (GOG, EGS, Game Pass, etc.), Steam has just celebrated its 20th anniversary. The opportunity for Valve to thank players and developers for making the platform what it is today, but also to set up a dedicated web page.
Divided by year, from 2003 to 2023, it notably recalls the major games launched each year, most of the time with associated promotions. Valve titles are logically affected (Half-Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead, Counter-Strike…), but also other major licenses. For example, it’s an opportunity to break down, if you haven’t already, to Call of Duty, BioShock, fallout, Mass Effector far cryto name just a handful.
From gas factory to obligatory passage
Note, however, that this page does not review the history of Steam. It must be said that when it was launched in 2003, no one liked it. Heavy and impractical to use, the download/update software seemed above all a solution to trap players within it. Initially required for the multiplayer of Half-Life and of Counter-StrikeSteam will be one year after its launch also mandatory to be able to play Half-Life 2, even if purchasing a physical copy. If most games today are crippled with DRM, it’s probably because of Steam.
But thanks to the game’s cardboard, the practice will eventually become part of the habits of players, and also of publishers and third-party developers who will arrive from 2005. Subsequently, interface improvements, practical functionalities, support for mods, a (almost too) massive catalog of games, and above all, the famous Steam sales will allow Valve to leave in its wake the solutions subsequently launched by other publishers like Ubisoft and EA. Even Blizzard is back on Steam today.
And you, what was the first game you bought on Steam?
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- An essential service for any PC gamer
- A pleasant social network side
- Voice chat that gets the job done
Steam is undoubtedly one of the essential software for any PC gamer. A leader in the field of selling digital games, Valve’s platform also allows its users to benefit from features that have become inherent to online video gaming, including voice and written chat. In other words, Steam brings everything together in one piece of software: the social aspect and communication between friends, but also the direct provision of games. An all-in-one that has been successful at Valve for almost a decade.
Steam is undoubtedly one of the essential software for any PC gamer. A leader in the field of selling digital games, Valve’s platform also allows its users to benefit from features that have become inherent to online video gaming, including voice and written chat. In other words, Steam brings everything together in one piece of software: the social aspect and communication between friends, but also the direct provision of games. An all-in-one that has been successful at Valve for almost a decade.
Source : Steam
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