Why Steam Is The Most Important Gaming Platform

Summary

Steam excels in game demos, offering easy access for developers and building hype.
Steam's frequent sales outshine other digital platforms, offering significant discounts.
Steam's open publishing policy benefits indie developers, fostering a diverse range of games.

Valve launched the Steam beta in 2002, before its official launch in 2003. Even though it was a bit broken at the time, it changed the industry forever as one of the first big digital platforms, as it evolved over time. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all learned from Steam when they set up their digital stores, but they didn’t all learn the right lessons.

That is to say, there are things Steam has consistently done better than digital platforms on consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. If those big three want to get as big as Steam, they need to learn how Gabe Newell and his team at Valve have become industry icons.

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Demo Derby

The Best Aspect Of The Platform

When it comes to game demos, 90s and 00s players remember getting discs with their magazines and loading up a whole slew of demos to check out. It was the best feeling beyond getting news updates, as that was the trend before the Internet became so prevalent. With the dawn of digital stores on platforms like the Xbox 360, demos were one-click away.

However, even at the height of digital stores on consoles, they never reached the sheer magnitude of Steam. Developers can release a demo at the drop of a hat and are encouraged during events like Steam Next Fest. It’s a great way to build hype. Strangely, even though console games like Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound get Steam demos, they often don’t release on consoles, and if they do, it’s long after the fact.

Constant Sales

Best Way To Buy Games Cheap

Steam Next Fest is a relatively new event series put on by Steam, but an older event is more dear to fans: seasonal price drops. There are summer and winter sales that never have strict return dates, but fans typically salivate at the prospect of getting a $60 game for a $1 whenever the seasons change. For example, the 2015 Mad Max game has consistently reached low prices, and fans of the films should pick it up because it is underrated.

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Seasonal sales aren’t the only times games get put on sale though, as single developers and bigger publishers can drop their prices whenever they want. Strangely, if a game is on sale on Steam, it is often cheaper compared to other digital stores like Nintendo’s eShop. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but whatever Steam is doing, they’re doing it right, because Steam sales are legendary and always benefit the player.

Backwards Compatibility

Play Some DEEP Cuts

Ten years ago, Microsoft changed the current gaming landscape by announcing that the Xbox One would invest hard in backwards compatibility during its 2015 E3 event. While not every original Xbox and Xbox 360 game made it to the Xbox One, it was still a good effort that still has value on the Xbox Series X/S. Other console platforms have made an effort to preserve the past too, but Steam wins yet again on this front.

Not only are several decades-old PC games available on Steam, but there are plenty of console games waiting to be rediscovered. For example, Cold Fear is an underrated horror game that takes place on a boat, which was released on PC, PS2, and the original Xbox. It cannot be bought on modern consoles, but it works just as well on Steam, and it deserves to be played in 2025 because this year marks its 20th anniversary.

Anyone Can Publish A Game

Indies Rule

There is a wild number of indie games on Steam, which is a bit of a problem. However, it’s a problem on console platforms too, as the shovelware is too real. One way Steam combats this is with their Wishlist system, which other digital platforms have too, but it seems more effective on Steam. It’s why Wishlisting a game is often plugged at the end of a trailer instead of asking for pre-orders.

Nearly anyone can get a game on Steam if they meet the right requirements, which seems to be easier than going through a company like Nintendo. Pizza Tower, one of the biggest hits of 2023, got its start on Steam before leaping onto Switch in 2024. This is a move made by many indie developers: test the waters on Steam, and then try out a console or two next. There are pros and cons to anyone being able to get a game on Steam, but ultimately, it should be seen as a net positive for the gaming industry.

Getting Mobile Games On PC

It’s The Perfect Bridge

Even though every adult probably has a smartphone, not all game fans want to play on their phones, even if a game looks promising. Recently, more and more free-to-play mobile games have been released on Steam as well. A recent example is Persona 5: The Phantom X, which is yet another Persona 5 spinoff that is quite popular despite the gacha-based mechanics.

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Other examples include Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis, which is a retelling of the entire Final Fantasy 7 franchise told through multiple chapters. These mobile games look and run great on Steam, which makes them more enticing for those who have a distaste for mobile gaming.

Steam Deck Potential

A Handy Portable That Just Works

The one form of mobile gaming that Steam fans do enjoy is through their Steam Deck. The Switch launched in 2017 and revolutionized the gaming market, as it was the first big hybrid that bridged the gap between the console and portable markets. Valve was one of the next big companies to throw their hand in the race when they announced the Steam Deck in 2021, followed by a launch in 2022.

Thanks to Valve for taking the leap in making what equates to a Switch clone, other companies felt safe in releasing their own PC-based portable devices. Even those aforementioned free-to-play mobile games, like Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis, run well on a Steam Deck. Not every game runs on a Steam Deck, but it’s still a great platform that is evolving just as fast as Steam as a platform has been since its official 2003 launch.