Valve to Remove all Non-game Videos from Steam

[VSG]

Steam is perhaps most known for their massive video-game library, but they have expanded their product portfolio in the recent years to include software and other video content, including movies that could be rented or even purchased. Valve perhaps wanted to go beyond just being a game storefront, and take in some of that hollywood money as well. Things did not turn out as they expected, however, with the vast majority of end users not using the Steam platform for this venture. It also did not help that movies tend to operate with in a market where Steam does not boast a large market share, and licensing rights meant that the available content was meager at best. Valve tried to work around this by providing a platform for free content as well, but that did not help either.

In a blog post, Valve confirmed that they are making changes to all non-gaming video content on Steam. Indeed, as of the time of this post, there is no more Video section on Steam. They mentioned, and I quote, "In reviewing what Steam users actually watch, it became clear we should focus our effort on offering content that is either directly related to gaming or, is accessory content for games or software sold on Steam". Accordingly, any existing content will be retired in the coming weeks, although owners of previously purchased video content will still find it accessible in their library. With pressure building from competing store fronts, perhaps this renewed focus on video games will be just what Valve, and Steam, want to have.



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[silentbogo]

They are also slowing down on software. Right now Valve restricted new account registrations for software developers. It's back to the old "games only", which is probably a good thing.

P.S. I only hope they leave Kung Fury alone.

 

[moob]

I honestly had no idea they offered movies...

 

[neatfeatguy]

I remember when Videos were available first on Steam. Then I forgot right away and didn't care. I thought it was an odd move because anyone I know that uses Steam, they never, not once said, "I wish I could purchase movies on Steam because I don't like to play games they sell."

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

I wonder if they will remove purchased video too.

 

[Fluffmeister]

1. John Wick is awesome
2. Valve have/did lose focus on what made Steam popular in the first place, yes it's great games, but it was also their OWN great games. Half-Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead.... come on Valve we need another killer title!

 

[silentbogo]

Valve we need another killer title!

confirmed

 

[VSG]

I wonder if they will remove purchased video too.

No, as mentioned in the news post. They will be treated similar to game titles no longer on sale, but still available for download.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

1. John Wick is awesome
2. Valve have/did lose focus on what made Steam popular in the first place, yes it's great games, but it was also their OWN great games. Half-Life, Portal, Left 4 Dead.... come on Valve we need another killer title!

L4D3 was literally in the bag when it got shit canned. Reason why development stopped and the project was cancelled was because the dev team couldnt decide if they wanted to make it in the source engine or use Unreal engine to make it.

Maybe some dev will leak the game in the same way that black mesa originally came to light... its on steam now but about some 10years ago the only way to get it was via torrent if i remember correctly....

Or there was a version of HL2, like an expansion that was half finished that got leaked onto torrent sites bearing the same black mesa name, and that game was buggy as hell. but it was more like an Alpha version of the game

 

[MrGenius]

P.S. I only hope they leave Kung Fury alone.

I would think it's probably the last one you should worry about them doing away with. For one thing, there's the game. For another, there's the game. And, did I mention, the game? Which would be a game about nothing, or nothing that made any sense at all, if you didn't watch the "movie" first. Not that either make a ton of sense actually. But it's the good type of nonsense, with a high entertainment value.

 

[silentbogo]

Not that either make a ton of sense actually.

It's the best nonsense ever. It has Kung-fu, Hackers, killer-robot-arcade-machine, Giant T-Rex, Humanoid triceratops, viking chicks with machine guns, time travel and Hitler.
... and the best origin story ever...

 

[Gersonh]

I hear about streamago but steam I not sure