News Valve May Launch Chinese-Specific Version of Steam Next Week

[Admin]

A trusted industry analyst predicts that Steam China will see a public beta launch next week, which could mean huge changes to China’s PC gaming scene down the line.

Valve May Launch Chinese-Specific Version of Steam Next Week : Read more

 

[hotaru.hino]

I'm a little confused. Does this mean that a version of the client specifically made for China will be made, or will they finally make Chinese users connect to a database or something that's "government approved"? Because I'm pretty sure Steam already blocks game availability by region.

 

[Endymio]

Looks like Feb 9 is the day I cancel my Steam account.

 

[spongiemaster]

I'm a little confused. Does this mean that a version of the client specifically made for China will be made, or will they finally make Chinese users connect to a database or something that's "government approved"? Because I'm pretty sure Steam already blocks game availability by region.

It means there will only be one license for every game available and that the first sucker to buy each game will be the only person paying for it, while everyone else will get a fully working pirated copy of the initial purchase.

 

[COLGeek]

Taking a "disinterested third party perspective", seems a smart move for them to make money. HUGE market potential. Chinese users already acclimated to their internet environment, so a native environment for gaming is a boon for them.

Hope that corporate severability and other legal/cyber/intellectual property agreements are clearly established.

 

[Gurg]

CHICOM "reason behind the development of Steam China- monitoring and censoring in-game chat. "

 

[nuvon]

It means there will only be one license for every game available and that the first sucker to buy each game will be the only person paying for it, while everyone else will get a fully working pirated copy of the initial purchase.

Are you implying that Steam software engineers are so stupid that their games can be pirated easily? or that you are the dumb one?

 

[spongiemaster]

Are you implying that Steam software engineers are so stupid that their games can be pirated easily? or that you are the dumb one?

Wow. Didn't think that joke would need explaining.

 

[drivinfast247]

Looks like Feb 9 is the day I cancel my Steam account.

Why?

 

[Endymio]

Why?

"Feb 3, 2021 (AP) US 'deeply disturbed' by systematic rape, abuse of Uighurs in China "reeducation" camps...."

Just one of about 100,000 reasons. If Valve has received the PRC stamp of approval for operating in China, then it has acceded to their demands for censorship and content control, and essentially operating as a propaganda wing of the party. Sometimes the extra market share just isn't worth it.

 

[drivinfast247]

"Feb 3, 2021 (AP) US 'deeply disturbed' by systematic rape, abuse of Uighurs in China "reeducation" camps...."

Just one of about 100,000 reasons. If Valve has received the PRC stamp of approval for operating in China, then it has acceded to their demands for censorship and content control, and essentially operating as a propaganda wing of the party. Sometimes the extra market share just isn't worth it.

Very valid reasons. But unfortunately money talks and that market is huge.

With that said, are you sure you're not using any products made in China? Odds are if you're able to post on this forum you are using an electronic device made in China.

 

[Endymio]

That said, are you sure you're not using any products made in China?

I'm sure I am. However, a Chinese motherboard outrages me less than a company that actively participates in censoring information or other unethical behaviors. I did without Google entirely* while their Dragonfly project was active.

(* Hello, Bing...)