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Steam
|
|
Valve Corporation |
Windows |
September 12, 2003 |
macOS (OS X) |
May 12, 2010 |
Linux |
February 14, 2013 |
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Digital Distribution
Key points
- DRM: Digital distribution platform with accompanying client required for downloading and often playing games as well. Games can also be DRM-Free or contain third party DRM.
- Refund policy: 14 days or 2 hours of playtime,; see the Steam Refunds and Pre-release titles are refundable through the Store Transactions
- Two-factor authentication: Steam Mobile app or email
- Some games sold through third parties activate on Steam; see Retail / Digital CD Keys.
- Periodic free weekend and individual publisher-driven events provide temporary and permanent free access to select titles.
- The Flatpak version of the client is available at the FlatHub database. [1]
General information
- Official store
- Official Support
- Account details
- Steam Community Discussions
- Steam Database
Steam Cloud
Steam Cloud is a feature of the Steam client that allows save game data to synced to the cloud. A list of Steam Cloud games can be searched for on Steam, though some games are not listed there even though they use Steam Cloud.
Steam Cloud implementation is very inconsistent among developers. Some choose to only sync configuration files, some force users to choose only a single slot to be synced. Some games list Steam Cloud as a feature, but do not sync any data whatsoever. Some examples of such games are Halo: Spartan Assault and Capsized.
- Free and built-in with the Steam client.
- Automatically backs up saves/settings on supported games.
- Not every game is supported; up to the developers to implement it.
- Some games only sync saves, while others only sync settings; dependent on the developers.
Big Picture
- This mode can be launched by clicking on the Big Picture icon, by pushing Alt+↵ Enter while the Steam window is on focus, or through the home button on a controller.
- See PC gaming on a TV and couch for general setup information.
- Allows Steam to be used with a controller.
Adjust font size DPI (Windows)
- Steam does not always respect the Windows DPI settings.
- Appears to work if the Windows DPI settings are also adjusted above 100% size.
Taskbar showing on top (Windows)
- This is caused by the incompatibility with DPI scaling in Windows.
Family Sharing
- Allows sharing games between accounts. Each account gets separate saves, achievements, et al. except for DRM keys, which are shared.[1]
- If the account's main owner is playing a game from their own account, or someone else is using family share on that account, you are presented with the "buy" option instead of install/play for the selected game.[2]
- VAC bans can apply to the both the perpetrator and the owning account of a shared game, and the Family Share feature can be revoked entirely.[1]
- Games with 3rd party DRM tied to account-locked keys (such as Uplay), have the feature specifically turned off by their publisher, or are VAC-banned cannot be shared and are not shown in shared accounts.[1]
Issues unresolved
Steam doesn't scale DPI correctly
Steam does not scale DPI properly over 100% DPI scale. Valve has still not implemented support for HiDPI resolutions.[3]
Issues fixed
Error 80 And Application Load Error P:0000065432
- Restart Steam.
Failed To Find Steam
- Restart Steam. If this doesn't work, then see Delete ClientRegistry.blob.
Failed to start game. App already running
- This may appear when launching the same game twice. Restart Steam if it still appears.
Game fails to launch or has odd gamebreaking issues
Lowered volume when using background Metro apps while Steam is open (Windows 8)
Make the Big Picture web browser faster (Windows)
- This feature is enabled by default for compatibility reasons. It can add significant delays when loading any content on the internet, and as such is not usually required.
- Certain browsers such as Chrome may benefit from this change too.
Steam fails to launch
- No error messages are present, placeholder.
Delete ClientRegistry.blob
- Steam updates sometimes fail to progress, or the message Failed to find Steam appears.
Reinstalling Steam
- If the other solutions don't work, then follow these instructions.
- Every Steam game should be installed in a separate folder, outside the main Steam installation location, this makes it easier to play and backup such games again.
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Changing the main Steam installation paths
- This is for games downloaded outside of the main Steam installation path.
Unable to download any games
- Steam servers are currently unavailable.
- Steam servers are too busy.
- The Steam servers are currently too busy to handle your request. Please try again in a few minutes.
Unable to log in
- Steam has an official support page for most network issues here.
Other information
Use Native Steam runtime mode on Linux
- Improves the performance for both games and the software itself
- On a 64-bit system you must install the 32-bit version of these libraries: openal, nss, gtk2, gtk3, libcanberra, gconf, dbus-glib, libnm-glib, libudev0-shim and libappindicator-gtk2 (so the tray icon would work).
- Some games may still require some additional libraries to work. You can use this page to learn which ones are needed for the specific software regardless of the linux distribution you are using. Most of the Ubuntu-based distros may already include them.
While the current Steam package already includes required libraries to work, they are sadly outdated as they are from Ubuntu 12.04. However, Valve included an option to force Steam to use the libraries used in your system, also known as Steam Native mode. This can be done by adding STEAM_RUNTIME=0
before the command for launching Steam.
It's best to create a separate executable file for it in order to allow easily switch between the Runtime and Native.
Once done, you will be able to run Steam Native with the steam-native
command on Terminal, you can add it to the Start/Program Menu if you wish, but it is also best to add it's .desktop
file as well, so it'd be available and automatically added.
ArchLinux based distributions only require installing steam-native-runtime
package which will automatically install required repositories and automatically set everything for you, once you install Steam.
Change a game's language
Delete files stored in the Steam Cloud
Disable Steam announcements
Playing without game updates
- The Only update this game when I launch it checkbox does not allow playing without updates, the only way to avoid updates is by playing Offline.[4]
- Some developers make earlier versions available under the Betas tab in the game's properties in the Steam client. Once selected and downloaded, this alternate version can be played without further updates.
Steam Offline Mode
- The Steam Offline Mode can only be enabled after logging in at least once with a working internet connection.
Toggle Steam Cloud per game
Toggle the Steam overlay per game
Copying a game from a different computer
Add Windows Store games as non-Steam games
Disable Steam's link filter
Steam sales
Steam sales occur on a regular basis, and can includes sales as high as 90% off. On any given date, a Steam sale will switch at 6pm UTC, e.g. a weekend sale may last from Thursday 6pm UTC to Monday 6pm UTC.
Regular deals
Daily deal or Today's deal
Single game only. Lasts for 48 hours from 6pm UTC every day.
Midweek madness
Multiple games, highlighted on Store page in the 'Spotlight'. Lasts from Tuesday 6pm UTC to Thursday 6pm UTC.
Weekend sale
Multiple games, highlighted on Store page in the 'Spotlight'. Lasts from Thursday 6pm UTC to Tuesday 6pm UTC.
Long sales
Steam is famous for having long periods of deep discounts which apply to virtually its entire catalogue of games. During this period, Steam will usually run daily discounts, further slashing prices (as low as 90% off). Therefore, it is a good idea to hold off buying a particular game unless the game is on a daily deal (or flash sale), or it is the last day of the sale.
Seasonal sales
Year |
Date |
Length in days |
Sale name
|
2009 |
Dec 23 - Jan 03 |
11 |
Holiday Sale[5]
|
2010 |
Jun 24 - Jul 04 |
10 |
Perils Of Summer Sale[6]
|
2010 |
Oct 28 - Nov 01 |
4 |
Halloween Sale[7]
|
2010 |
Dec 20 - Jan 02 |
13 |
Holiday Sale[8]
|
2011 |
Jun 30 - Jul 11 |
11 |
Summer Camp Sale[9]
|
2011 |
Oct 27 - Oct 31 |
4 |
Halloween Sale[10]
|
2011 |
Nov 23 - Nov 27 |
4 |
Autumn Sale[11]
|
2011 |
Dec 19 - Jan 01 |
13 |
Holiday Sale[12]
|
2012 |
Jul 12 - Jul 22 |
10 |
Summer Camp Sale
|
2012 |
Oct 29 - Nov 01 |
4 |
Halloween Sale[13]
|
2012 |
Nov 21 - Nov 26 |
5 |
Autumn Sale[14]
|
2012 |
Dec 20 - Jan 05 |
16 |
Holiday Sale[15]
|
2013 |
Mar 21 - Mar 29 |
9 |
Spring Indie Sale[16]
|
2013 |
Jul 11 - Jul 23 |
12 |
Summer Getaway Sale[17]
|
2013 |
Oct 29 - Nov 01 |
4 |
Halloween Sale[18]
|
2013 |
Nov 27 - Dec 03 |
6 |
Autumn Sale[19]
|
2013 |
Dec 19 - Jan 03 |
15 |
Holiday Sale[20]
|
2014 |
Jun 19 - Jun 30 |
11 |
Summer Sale[21]
|
2014 |
Oct 30 - Nov 03 |
4 |
Halloween Sale[22]
|
2014 |
Dec 18 - Jan 02 |
15 |
Holiday Sale[23]
|
2015 |
Jun 11 - Jun 21 |
11 |
Monster Summer Sale[24]
|
2015 |
Dec 23 - Jan 4 |
12 |
Holiday Sale[25]
|
2016 |
Feb 5 - Feb 12 |
7 |
Lunar Sale[26]
|
2016 |
Jun 23 - Jul 4 |
11 |
Summer Sale[27]
|
2016 |
Dec 22 - Jan 4 |
12 |
Winter Sale[28]
|
Price Comparison
During Steam sales, you can make sure you are getting the best price available by using a service like IsThereAnyDeal, CheapShark or SteamPrices, which compares pricing across multiple game stores/distributors/regions.
References