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View All SourcesValve bans blockchain games and NFTs on Steam
3/4Age of Rust (@SpacePirate_io) October 14, 2021
WHATS AN NFT?
Games that use blockchain technology or let users exchange NFTs or cryptocurrencies wont be allowed on Steam, according to a rule added to Valves What you shouldnt publish on Steam list. The change was pointed out by SpacePirate, a developer working on an NFT-based game, who said that the change was because the company doesnt allow game items that could have real-world value. But Steam could also be avoiding controversy with the move.
Looking at a Wayback Machine capture of the rule page from late August, there are only 12 rules and no mention of cryptocurrencies or NFTs. The new rule is also missing from other documents it currently doesnt show up on the Joining the Steamworks Distribution Program page
Steam's point of view is that items have value and they don't allow items that can have real-world value on their platform. While I respect their choice, I fundamentally believe that NFTs and blockchain games are the future. It's why I started this journey with all of you.
Steam has a history of making controversial moderation decisions, especiallywhen it comes to games with sexual content. In this case, though, it doesnt seem like people are pressing F to pay respects to NFT games a majority of the replies and quote tweets to SpacePirates tweets are praising Valve for the move (or mocking those that are upset about it).
around NFT / crypto games.
Its perhaps understandable why Steam would want to avoid having NFTs on its platform. Besides the justification cited by SpacePirate that they could have real-world value (which seems a bit weak, given the massive commercial communities around things likeCS:GOskinsandTeam Fortress 2hats), NFT and crypto-based games dont have the best reputations. Theres the infamous Evolved Apes saga where a developer sold NFTs with the promise that theyd be included in a fighting game but thenseemingly took the money and ran. There are somepotentially interesting game concepts that use NFTs, but its hard to say how many of them wouldve been a good fit for Steam even if they were allowed.
While Steam is one of the most well-known PC game stores, its not the only one. Developers may not have much more luck with some of its bigger competitors, though Epics CEO Tim Sweeney has said that the companyisnt interested in touching NFTs, though its unclear whether that just applies to the games Epic makes or its store as well. I reached out to Sweeney to ask but didnt immediately receive a reply. Its likely, though, that any platform or store that moderates content will have to make a decision about whether it wants to allow apps or games to sell NFTs one of the biggest question marks right nowmay be Appleand how it handles apps likeOpenSeaandCoinbaseshould they decide to start letting users buy the digital tokens.
Original Link: https://techncruncher.blogspot.com/2021/10/valve-bans-blockchain-games-and-nfts-on.html
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