We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies.
Customize Consent Preferences
We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.
The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ...
Always Active
Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.
No cookies to display.
Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.
No cookies to display.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
No cookies to display.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
No cookies to display.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.
A web3 free-to-play survival game found to be a front for installing malware on your PC has finally been removed from Steam
February 14, 2025
In a recent turn of events, the free-to-play web3 game PirateFi, which reportedly attracted over 7,000 players upon its launch on Steam, faced a swift and decisive takedown due to concerns over “malicious files.” This action was prompted by Valve’s notification to players, warning them that their systems might be at risk after downloading the game.
Concerns Arise Over Game’s Legitimacy
As highlighted by SteamDB, a platform dedicated to tracking Steam data, users who engaged with PirateFi were alerted that the developer’s uploads contained suspected malware. Initial reviews for the game were mixed, with a few positive comments emerging shortly after launch. However, these endorsements came from accounts with minimal gameplay experience, raising eyebrows about their authenticity.
In stark contrast, a wave of negative feedback soon followed, primarily from newly created accounts. Players voiced serious allegations, including claims of data theft and unauthorized spending from their Steam wallets. One user even suggested that the game’s promotional images were pilfered from another pirate-themed title. This pattern of fresh accounts providing negative reviews casts doubt on the legitimacy of the earlier positive feedback, as it is plausible that some of these older accounts may have contributed to the initial praise.
Further complicating the narrative, a Telegram account under the name Jose Andres reportedly offered individuals an hour to moderate the game, hinting at an orchestrated effort to inflate player numbers. This dubious recruitment strategy appears to have been a ploy to entice more users into downloading PirateFi, under the guise of a legitimate job opportunity.
Despite claims of a player base exceeding 7,000, analytics from SteamDB suggest that the game’s peak concurrent players never surpassed five. Reports indicate that many users experienced difficulties launching the game, further diminishing the likelihood of a substantial active player count. Estimates from Gamalytic suggest around 800 downloads, while VG Insights posits that the figure could be as high as 1,500.
This incident raises significant concerns regarding the safety protocols within the Steam store. As the gaming community reflects on this event, the hope remains that it will be treated as an isolated case, prompting Valve to enhance its measures against future threats. The response from Valve is eagerly awaited as stakeholders seek clarity on the steps being taken to safeguard the platform.
A web3 free-to-play survival game found to be a front for installing malware on your PC has finally been removed from Steam
In a recent turn of events, the free-to-play web3 game PirateFi, which reportedly attracted over 7,000 players upon its launch on Steam, faced a swift and decisive takedown due to concerns over “malicious files.” This action was prompted by Valve’s notification to players, warning them that their systems might be at risk after downloading the game.
Concerns Arise Over Game’s Legitimacy
As highlighted by SteamDB, a platform dedicated to tracking Steam data, users who engaged with PirateFi were alerted that the developer’s uploads contained suspected malware. Initial reviews for the game were mixed, with a few positive comments emerging shortly after launch. However, these endorsements came from accounts with minimal gameplay experience, raising eyebrows about their authenticity.
In stark contrast, a wave of negative feedback soon followed, primarily from newly created accounts. Players voiced serious allegations, including claims of data theft and unauthorized spending from their Steam wallets. One user even suggested that the game’s promotional images were pilfered from another pirate-themed title. This pattern of fresh accounts providing negative reviews casts doubt on the legitimacy of the earlier positive feedback, as it is plausible that some of these older accounts may have contributed to the initial praise.
Further complicating the narrative, a Telegram account under the name Jose Andres reportedly offered individuals an hour to moderate the game, hinting at an orchestrated effort to inflate player numbers. This dubious recruitment strategy appears to have been a ploy to entice more users into downloading PirateFi, under the guise of a legitimate job opportunity.
Despite claims of a player base exceeding 7,000, analytics from SteamDB suggest that the game’s peak concurrent players never surpassed five. Reports indicate that many users experienced difficulties launching the game, further diminishing the likelihood of a substantial active player count. Estimates from Gamalytic suggest around 800 downloads, while VG Insights posits that the figure could be as high as 1,500.
This incident raises significant concerns regarding the safety protocols within the Steam store. As the gaming community reflects on this event, the hope remains that it will be treated as an isolated case, prompting Valve to enhance its measures against future threats. The response from Valve is eagerly awaited as stakeholders seek clarity on the steps being taken to safeguard the platform.