For years, Steam, the prominent gaming storefront, has been criticized for its inadequate moderation policies, allowing instances of abuse and bigotry to flourish within its community. Players and developers alike have reported a troubling environment, particularly for marginalized creators, including those from the transgender community. Bri “BlondePizza” Moore, a content creator and Steam curator, encapsulates the sentiment: “Everyone is at one another’s throats all the time in reviews, discussions, forums, anywhere you can possibly find it on Steam. It ensures no one is safe on the platform; developers and consumers alike.”
Concerns Over Bigoted Reviews
Developers have expressed alarm over two primary issues: the prevalence of bigoted reviews on game pages and the actions of Steam curators who launch campaigns against titles they deem politically incorrect or insufficiently inclusive. Nathalie Lawhead, a designer who has faced harassment since making allegations of sexual assault in 2019, shared her frustrations after attempting to have harmful reviews removed from her games’ pages. “I assumed reporting Steam abuse might have its own issues. But when people suggested that I open a ticket, I did have hope that this would be the way to get it resolved.”
One review, labeled as “cringe game, made by a liar,” and another targeting Lawhead’s game, Blue Suburbia, with derogatory comments, were initially cleared by Steam moderators despite violating the platform’s own community guidelines against abusive language and discrimination. Lawhead’s attempts to report these reviews were met with a bureaucratic response from Steam, which stated, “We aren’t in a position to verify the accuracy of statements made in user reviews.” This lack of accountability left Lawhead feeling disheartened, as she noted, “The implication seems to be that I must prove my sexual assault [to Steam] if I want to be protected from harassment over it.”
Challenges in Moderation
Despite the eventual removal of one review after public outcry, the process highlighted the systemic issues within Steam’s moderation framework. Developers like Phi, who faced similar challenges with transphobic reviews, echoed Lawhead’s sentiments about the inadequacies of Steam’s support system. “It’s much better to continue working on the product, while letting the community use the helpfulness feature to surface reviews that they agree with or find to be uninformed,” was the response Phi received from Steam support, a sentiment that has not evolved over the years.
Moreover, the platform’s moderators appear overwhelmed by the sheer volume of support tickets, with Valve reportedly employing fewer than 400 staff members to manage a community of millions. This has led to speculation that moderation tasks may be outsourced, further complicating the issue.
Targeting of Specific Games
Some games have become targets for organized campaigns by Steam curators. Ethan, the developer of Coven, a first-person action-horror game, described being targeted by a curator known as “CharlieTweetsDetected,” who criticized the game based on the developer’s perceived political stance rather than its content. “I even mentioned it to Steam support, but they weren’t interested,” Ethan recounted, illustrating the disconnect between developers and the platform’s support system.
Other developers have reported similar experiences, with games featuring LGBTQ+ characters facing negative attention from curators and users alike. Émi Lefèvre, a developer, noted that the anti-woke sentiment has turned Steam reviews and forums into a battleground for culture wars, creating an unwelcoming environment for marginalized creators.
The Economic Impact of Lax Moderation
The repercussions of Steam’s lax moderation extend beyond individual experiences, impacting the economic viability of developers. With nearly 42 million concurrent players last month, Steam’s dominance in the gaming market makes it a necessary platform for developers seeking visibility and sales. However, the threat of negative reviews can significantly affect a game’s success. “No other storefront has the clout that Steam does,” Lawhead stated, emphasizing the platform’s critical role in the industry.
As developers navigate this complex landscape, many feel trapped by the necessity of being on Steam while enduring the challenges of its moderation policies. Some have begun to take matters into their own hands, either by enhancing their security measures or hiring moderators to manage their own forums. Others, like Mike Rose of No More Robots, have publicly challenged hateful comments in an effort to draw attention to the issue.
Ultimately, the situation underscores a troubling reality for developers: the need to endure a hostile environment simply to maintain their presence on a platform that has become synonymous with PC gaming. “If I am to continue existing on Steam, I am under the impression that I will have to go through this exhausting ordeal every time I want to report abuse,” Lawhead concluded, reflecting a sentiment that resonates deeply within the developer community.
‘This shouldn’t be normal’: developers speak out about bigotry on Steam, the world’s biggest PC gaming storefront
For years, Steam, the prominent gaming storefront, has been criticized for its inadequate moderation policies, allowing instances of abuse and bigotry to flourish within its community. Players and developers alike have reported a troubling environment, particularly for marginalized creators, including those from the transgender community. Bri “BlondePizza” Moore, a content creator and Steam curator, encapsulates the sentiment: “Everyone is at one another’s throats all the time in reviews, discussions, forums, anywhere you can possibly find it on Steam. It ensures no one is safe on the platform; developers and consumers alike.”
Concerns Over Bigoted Reviews
Developers have expressed alarm over two primary issues: the prevalence of bigoted reviews on game pages and the actions of Steam curators who launch campaigns against titles they deem politically incorrect or insufficiently inclusive. Nathalie Lawhead, a designer who has faced harassment since making allegations of sexual assault in 2019, shared her frustrations after attempting to have harmful reviews removed from her games’ pages. “I assumed reporting Steam abuse might have its own issues. But when people suggested that I open a ticket, I did have hope that this would be the way to get it resolved.”
One review, labeled as “cringe game, made by a liar,” and another targeting Lawhead’s game, Blue Suburbia, with derogatory comments, were initially cleared by Steam moderators despite violating the platform’s own community guidelines against abusive language and discrimination. Lawhead’s attempts to report these reviews were met with a bureaucratic response from Steam, which stated, “We aren’t in a position to verify the accuracy of statements made in user reviews.” This lack of accountability left Lawhead feeling disheartened, as she noted, “The implication seems to be that I must prove my sexual assault [to Steam] if I want to be protected from harassment over it.”
Challenges in Moderation
Despite the eventual removal of one review after public outcry, the process highlighted the systemic issues within Steam’s moderation framework. Developers like Phi, who faced similar challenges with transphobic reviews, echoed Lawhead’s sentiments about the inadequacies of Steam’s support system. “It’s much better to continue working on the product, while letting the community use the helpfulness feature to surface reviews that they agree with or find to be uninformed,” was the response Phi received from Steam support, a sentiment that has not evolved over the years.
Moreover, the platform’s moderators appear overwhelmed by the sheer volume of support tickets, with Valve reportedly employing fewer than 400 staff members to manage a community of millions. This has led to speculation that moderation tasks may be outsourced, further complicating the issue.
Targeting of Specific Games
Some games have become targets for organized campaigns by Steam curators. Ethan, the developer of Coven, a first-person action-horror game, described being targeted by a curator known as “CharlieTweetsDetected,” who criticized the game based on the developer’s perceived political stance rather than its content. “I even mentioned it to Steam support, but they weren’t interested,” Ethan recounted, illustrating the disconnect between developers and the platform’s support system.
Other developers have reported similar experiences, with games featuring LGBTQ+ characters facing negative attention from curators and users alike. Émi Lefèvre, a developer, noted that the anti-woke sentiment has turned Steam reviews and forums into a battleground for culture wars, creating an unwelcoming environment for marginalized creators.
The Economic Impact of Lax Moderation
The repercussions of Steam’s lax moderation extend beyond individual experiences, impacting the economic viability of developers. With nearly 42 million concurrent players last month, Steam’s dominance in the gaming market makes it a necessary platform for developers seeking visibility and sales. However, the threat of negative reviews can significantly affect a game’s success. “No other storefront has the clout that Steam does,” Lawhead stated, emphasizing the platform’s critical role in the industry.
As developers navigate this complex landscape, many feel trapped by the necessity of being on Steam while enduring the challenges of its moderation policies. Some have begun to take matters into their own hands, either by enhancing their security measures or hiring moderators to manage their own forums. Others, like Mike Rose of No More Robots, have publicly challenged hateful comments in an effort to draw attention to the issue.
Ultimately, the situation underscores a troubling reality for developers: the need to endure a hostile environment simply to maintain their presence on a platform that has become synonymous with PC gaming. “If I am to continue existing on Steam, I am under the impression that I will have to go through this exhausting ordeal every time I want to report abuse,” Lawhead concluded, reflecting a sentiment that resonates deeply within the developer community.