An Intro to Steam Games in China
For PC gamers in mainland China, “Steam” can mean two completely different things. Strangly enough, there are actually two distinct versions of the platform operating within the country.The Steam gaming platform, owned by the private company Valve, occupies a very interesting position inside of China’s gaming ecosystem. Being a private company, Valve doesn’t really need to tell the public about the deals it has made with either Perfect World (it’s official partner in China) or the Chinese government.
Whil Steam China 蒸汽平台 is legally compliant and fully accessible, the vast majority of Chinese core gamers favor the global edition.Why? Well, there are many reasons as to why this is, so let’s explore the curious exception to the rule that is Steam, and why its tightrope act is one of the most interesting stories in Chinese gaming.
Perfect World, Imperfect Steam
As we mentioned above, Perfect World operates the fully legal, fully regulated and recognized version of Steam in China. Every single game on this version of Steam has an ISBN and thus is published under China’s regulatory guidelines.
Though the name and branding are the same, there are massive differences between Steam China and the global version of Steam.
1. Catalog Size: Steam China’s catalog is limited to just a few hundreds titles. These games have been strictly vetted in order to be officially licensed inside China.
2. Social Features: The global version of Steam grants full access to forums, guides, and activity feeds. The Chinese version of Steam doesn’t offer any of this.
3. Steam Workshop: No user-generated content, mods, or assets are available on Steam China.
4. Acount Regulations: Standard Valve accounts don’t require any local ID verification. Steam China requires real-name registration and enforces anti-addiction time limits for minors.
Why Chinese Players Favor the International Version
After detailing the core differences above, it’s easy to see why Chinese players prefer the global version of the Steam gaming client.
1. Way More Games: The international version of Steam features 100,000+ games. (Compared with just a few hundred on Steam China)
2. Launch Times: It takes a long time for a game to be licensed and approved for play in China. So often times, even if a game can eventually make it to Steam China, players can play it first on the international client.
3. Modding Culture: Some games depend heavily on user generated content. Games like Left 4 Dead, Cities: Skylines, or RimWorld depend on a vibrant community for repayability.
4. Uncensored Content: Gamers can experience the original artistic vision as it was meant to be experienced.
Gray Market Mechanics: How Do Players Access Steam?
Other gamers might wonder… if the international version isn’t officially sanctioned, then why are there so many Chinese players on Steam? Simplified Chinese is often the most-used language on the platform.
Game Accelerators
When I first heard about game accelerators when living in China, I was intruiged. How could large Chinese corporations like NetEase sell a tool that bypasses China’s firewall?
It turns out, gaming accelerators take advantage of a loophole that separates their classification from a standard VPN. Since these tools are used for server routing and network optimization, they aren’t considered VPNs and are thus permitted in China. Part of the rationale for this is because China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom often aren’t optimized well cross-service performance, so these accelerators are permitted.
Payment: A Seamless Experience
If you live in China, you’re still able to use local Chinese payment methods directly on the international client. Players are able to use Chinese Yuan to purchase games on the global version of Steam.
Alternative Regions & Gift Cards
For games that are still hidden from Chinese IP addresses, players use a combination of VPNs and gift cards from other regions to purchase games. These gift cards can be directly purchased on local Chinese e-commerce platforms.
So Why Does the Government Allow It?
Soft Power and Influence
One reason could be called Review Bomb Geopolitics. Because Steam provides an open bridge between China and the rest of the world, the user review section can sometimes become a geopolitical or cultural battleground.
If a foreign developer commits a political faux pas or doesn’t offer a simplified Chinese version of the game, Chinese netizens can and have coordinated review bombs. In one way, this can be considered a form of cultural soft power or pro China activism that forces international companies to acknowledge the power and influence of China.
A Release Valve for Society
As a Chinese friend once told me “上有政策，下有对策”. This roughly translates to “There are measures from above and counter-measures from below.” If you spend any time in China, you’ll see this kind of behavior everywhere. An activity or product may be technically illegal, but the government leaves the door cracked open to serve as a pressure release for the people. This is especially important. Young, tech-savvy adults are a potential source of instability, and leaving a method for these people to play games and connect with others offers a nice little safety valve that relieves societal pressure.
So, yes, there are two versions of Steam in China that operate in a seeming harmony with each other. Steam China provides the legal basis for the government to shut the doors whenever they feel it is prudent to do so, and the international version of Steam exists with a wink and a nod towards a nation of passionate, tech-savvy gamers.
