Valve removes crypto and blockchain-based games, stops users from publishing content on crypto and NFTs
Valve, the video game corporation, has, in the latest announcement, informed its users that no content related to cryptocurrencies or nonfungible tokens would henceforth be allowed through its Steam marketplace.
Game developer SpacePirate has reported on October 14 that Steam has updated its set of guidelines regarding what content creators on the platform are allowed to publish.
As per Steam, no applications originally built on blockchain technology that “issue or allow” exchange of crypto or NFTs are permitted in its onboarding process for partners. The rule has been mentioned alongside its guidelines that prohibit sexually explicit images, hate speech and defamatory statements.
Although the new guideline would apparently ban all traditional games from including content on cryptocurrency tokens or NFTs, it has also reportedly halted blockchain game developers from publishing content on the platform. SpacePirate said that their Age of Rust game was now being removed, with various others likely to follow suit.
The developer has explained that behind this step, Steam’s viewpoint is that items hold value, and the platform cannot allow items that have “real-world value on their platform.” The developer added that he respects Steam’s choice, but he “fundamentally believes that NFTs and blockchain games are the future.”
As per analysts, this move could also be financially disadvantageous to Valve because, according to recent trends, blockchain-based games are growing tremendously in terms of popularity.
A recent report from DappRadar shows that unique active wallets that are connected to gaming decentralized applications have reached a total of 754,000 for Q3 2021.
Similarly, many blockchain games are offering players the opportunity to earn real-world token rewards and trade in-game NFTs, thus laying out a potential prospect to advance cryptocurrency adoption in the mainstream.
However, Valve Corporation had also previously targeted crypto and blockchain on its Steam marketplace. Back in 2018, the firm had removed a game that allegedly hijacked users’ computers for mining crypto coins.
Valve had initially announced that it would start accepting Bitcoin payments in 2016, but later, the firm stopped this practice, citing high fees and volatility.
