For subheading, see video below:
Games that utilize blockchain technology for either NFT’s or cryptocurrency are no longer welcome on Steam, per a recent update to the service’s guidelines.
What you shouldn’t publish on Steam:
13. Applications built on blockchain technology that issue or allow exchange of cryptocurrencies or NFTs.
Valve have yet to elaborate on why they’re banning blockchain use in these instances. But If i were a betting man, I’d put some money on the fact that cryptocurrency and NFT’s are currently being used to scam the absolute shit out of total rubes*.
*Not financial advice
This has affected certain developers already. Notably, SpacePirate, the devs behind Age of Rust. Their game assigns NFTs to everything, such as unique items and gear, and even quests. SpacePirate has stated that Steam has already notified them that Age of Rust will be removed from the store. According to them, it’s due to a general ban on in-game items that have real-world monetary value.
If I had to guess, the monetary value Valve doesn’t want on the platform is the massive speculative values that most blockchain-based currencies tend to accrue, and the volatility that follows. But it could also be a means of distancing themselves from the shadier side of the crypto/NFT market. These are things currently being used to scam people out of money, and Valve probably doesn’t want their platform associated with that. Especially after the number of fiascos CS:GO has managed to generate with its item economy.
Ah, but it wouldn’t be a story about Steam without mention of Epic Games, now would it? Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney sent the following tweet shortly after the news broke:
Which is an impressive turnaround, since the tweet he made last month stated, in no uncertain terms, that they weren’t going to get involved with the whole NFT thing:
lol.
Source: PC Gamer
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