Valve Begins Beta Testing Smartphone Steam App

January 26, 2012

Valve has started the closed beta testing phase of a new Steam App for both Android and iOS devices. While the device won't let you do too much beyond being social with your Steam friends and mucking about with your account, it's a first step into the world of mobile devices for Valve's popular PC games distribution platform.

The Steam smartphone app lets you chat it up with friends, view screenshots from games, browse the various community groups, read the Steam news feed and check out all the latest Steam sales. To get in on the beta, simply download the app and sign in with your account information. Of course, Valve will have to give you the okay to use it, but they are ramping up the amount of testers ever day.

So why would Valve create such an app? Because users asked for it, according to Valve.

"The Steam app comes from many direct requests from our customers," commented Valve boss Gabe Newell. "Seeing which of your friends are online and playing a game, sending quick messages, looking at screenshots for an upcoming game, or catching a sale - these are all features customers have requested.

"Mobile is changing way people interact, play games and consume media, and the Steam app is part of our commitment to meet customer demands and expand the service functionality of Steam to make it richer and more accessible for everyone."

Download the app here.

Source: Eurogamer

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Re: Valve Begins Beta Testing Smartphone Steam App

Wallets everywhere are now living in fear. The one place they were safe from Steam was being out and about. Now that you can check Steam from anywhere, though...

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Andrew EisenNeedless to say, a chunck of those might not be inclined to plunk down their dough for Nintendo's new console when they just bought a competitor's, compounded with the fact that Nintendo has shown little interest in catering to their needs.02/22/2012 - 5:43pm
Andrew EisenIf Nintendo is serious about courting the core gamer, it can't just ignore them until it releases the Wii U. They'll just get their fix somewhere else.02/22/2012 - 5:40pm
Andrew EisenA game which didn't light the sales charts on fire but didn't bomb either. In fact, from what I've read, NA sales make up a good half of that game's worldwide sales. Not to mention the good will Atlus garners by continuing to cater to gamers.02/22/2012 - 5:34pm
RedMageEspecially when the likes of Atlus seem to have no problem doing a great job localizing something niche like Catherine.02/22/2012 - 2:20pm
Uncharted NESEntertainment Industry Embraces New Business Model: Suing Google For Third-Party Android Apps That 'Promote Piracy'- http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120221/08245617830/entertainment-industry-embraces-new-business-model-suing-google-third-party-android-02/22/2012 - 2:07pm
Andrew EisenHard to imagine the games would sell so poorly that they wouldn't cover the reletively minimal cost of bringing them over (shipping, ESRB rating, new packaging, printing, etc.).02/22/2012 - 2:02pm
Andrew EisenA point I made in that YouTube video I did last summer. The games tend to sell more copies here so if the damn thing is already developed and localized, why not release it here?02/22/2012 - 2:00pm
RedMageThat's what I figured. It's especially ironic since the black and white data shows NA buys more of these games than Europe or even Japan.02/22/2012 - 1:57pm
Andrew EisenAnd honestly, at this point, most probably won't because they saw their were no more games and moved on.02/22/2012 - 1:55pm
Andrew EisenLocalizing for Europe is actually harder. Or at least, more work because typically, you do more languages. I don't think its a matter of difficulty but that Nintendo, for whatever reason, has no faith in NA gamers to actually buy these games.02/22/2012 - 1:54pm
Andrew EisenFatal Frame's localization was also announced! For Europe...02/22/2012 - 1:52pm
RedMageDefinitely the latter. I'd still like to know why Europe is apparently easier to localize RPGs for.02/22/2012 - 1:51pm
Andrew EisenDo you mean the quality of the localization itself or Nintendo's tone deafness when it comes to catering to the NA market.02/22/2012 - 1:45pm
RedMageThat being said, Nintendo still sucks when it comes to localization.02/22/2012 - 1:42pm
RedMageLast Story confirmed for North America in 2012! FINALLY! http://bit.ly/yDVyEY02/22/2012 - 1:42pm
Andrew EisenSounds like an interesting story. Nothing to do with video games I wouldn't think but we're big on free speech rights here. Darn shame Slashdot's link doesn't work.02/22/2012 - 1:32pm
Uncharted NESThe 'New' Righthaven Offers Discount To Techdirt Readers Who Want 'Spineful' Hosting- http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120221/03205417825/new-righthaven-offers-discount-to-techdirt-readers-who-want-spineful-hosting.shtml02/22/2012 - 1:30pm
Uncharted NESMan Ordered To Apologize To Wife On Facebook- http://slashdot.org/palm/17/12/02/22/1448242_1.shtml02/22/2012 - 1:28pm
Uncharted NESSeriously Zippy? Well Happy 36th. :)02/22/2012 - 1:11pm
james_fudgeBREAKING: Happy Birthday!02/22/2012 - 12:37pm

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