Due to the strict censoring of media by the Chinese government, Steam has always been a majorly important loophole for video game enthusiasts in China looking to gain access to the wide world of video games. While the likes of Google, Twitch, and Facebook may all be banned in the country, Steam has always been one of the major services that players can access, allowing them to play over 30,000 games despite the harsh restrictions often enforced by the Chinese government. However, it appears a recent move by Valve might put that all in jeopardy.
As many will be aware, Valve has recently made the decision to develop an exclusive version of Steam known as Steam China, which will look to establish a brand of the popular digital video game marketplace specific to the country. The catch, however, is that this new China-specific platform will only release games that meet the parameters of the country's intensely strict licensing and censorship laws. With that in mind, Steam China will only launch with 40 games, which is evidently a massive step down from the thousands of experiences available currently on Steam's international marketplace.
This has led a number of Chinese developers to become increasingly wary of Steam China, with so many depending on the expansive network Steam provides to publish their games without adhering to the country's strict regulations. Although Valve has commented that nothing will change and Steam China will merely create a "better experience" for the country's developers, many don't believe the company and are worried that Steam's new branch will spell the end of numerous small Chinese game studios.
Speaking to PC Gamer, a number of developers have anonymously spoken out about the change in platform. One told the publication that "It's horrible. I'm not sure what it will be, but I hope players can still access international Steam," while another claimed "If Steam wasn't available, we wouldn't be doing this," following on by stating, "I think that's probably the case for most developers in China." Clearly, the loss of international Steam could be a massive influence on the lives of many incredible developers working throughout the country as well as potentially delivering a fatal blow against its indie scene. After all, as a final anonymous developer told PC Gamer, "I would say 100 percent of China's indie scene is alive because of Steam."
While Valve's position on the future of International Steam in China still remains somewhat obscure, closing the loophole it currently provides could be catastrophic for a number of smaller developers currently operating out of the country. Hopefully, Steam's newest venture can keep the smaller Chinese gaming scene alive in spite of its harsh regulations.
Source: PC Gamer