tech
February 16, 2026
'This shouldn’t be normal': developers speak out about bigotry on Steam, the world’s biggest PC gaming storefront
Multiple game creators describe ineffective moderation on the platform, resulting in unchecked hatred in forums and targeted campaigns of negative ‘anti-woke’ reviews
TL;DR
- Steam's moderation is criticized by players and developers for allowing abuse and bigotry, violating its own guidelines.
- Reviews and forums on Steam are described as constantly abusive, making the platform unsafe for developers and consumers.
- Bigoted reviews significantly affect game sales, and Steam curators have been noted for directing campaigns against games perceived as leaning left or promoting inclusion.
- Developers have faced challenges getting hateful reviews removed, with Steam support citing inability to verify accuracy and concerns about censorship.
- Some developers have had to resort to public appeals or direct contact with Valve employees to get problematic reviews removed.
- Steam curators like 'CharlieTweetsDetected' target games based on developers' perceived political leanings, leading to off-topic negative reviews.
- Campaigns also target games with trans or LGBTQ+ characters, with reviews and discussions using derogatory language.
- Steam's near-monopoly makes it essential for developers, despite the ongoing moderation issues and the feeling of being held hostage by the platform.
- Valve's moderation process is elusive, with many believing it to be outsourced, and the company has not publicly commented on these issues.
- Developers are exploring their own security measures or hiring external moderators, while some are trying to reframe negative comments into marketing.
- The lax moderation on Steam has serious economic implications for developers, as reviews affect game visibility and sales.
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