steam

Steam is a digital distribution platform and storefront operated by Valve Corporation. Launched in 2003 to provide automatic updates for Valve’s games, Steam evolved into one of the largest platforms for PC game distribution, supporting third‑party developers and publishers alongside Valve titles. The service offers a catalog of games, software, and other digital media, with regional pricing, customer reviews, and seasonal discounts.

It includes features such as Steam Cloud for cross‑device saves, Steam Achievements, and the Steam Community for friends, chat, groups, and guides. The Steam Workshop hosts user-generated content and mods, while the Steam Community Market allows trading and selling in‑game items. Steamworks provides tools for developers to integrate features like multiplayer, anti‑cheat, and cloud saves. The platform also supports Early Access, allowing developers to release unfinished games, and Steam Direct as the publishing route for new titles.

Steam supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, with Proton enabling many Windows games to run on Linux. SteamOS is a Linux-based operating system, and Valve’s Steam Deck is a handheld PC built around Steam software. In monetization terms, Valve typically retains about 30% of sale revenue, with developers receiving the remainder; Steam also runs sales and promotions. The service includes digital rights management (DRM) and anti‑cheat measures (VAC).