Steam is the biggest digital marketplace for PC games — and that status means developers’ opinions about it are nuanced. Many praise what it enables, but many also criticize what it costs in terms of visibility, fees, and community dynamics. Let’s explore both sides of the coin — supported by direct quotes, forum sentiment, surveys, and industry commentary.
🔥 Positive Views — Why Many Devs Still Value Steam
1. Steam Is a “Democratic Platform”
A group of game creators from studios behind Slay the Spire, Warframe, Baldur’s Gate 3, and EVE Online described Steam as a platform that gives everyone a chance to reach players — regardless of size. They noted that:
- Steam helped many indie teams make a living from games, not just hobby projects.
- Unlike traditional retail shelf space, Steam lets good games be discovered purely on merit.
- Without it, some developers wouldn’t have been able to break into the industry at all. PC Gamer
2. Discoverability & Scale
One publisher highlighted Steam’s discovery systems — recommendation tools, lists, and algorithms — as unmatched compared to other marketplaces. Their view is that the problem isn’t the platform, but overproduction and unrealistic budget expectations. GamesRadar+
3. Ecosystem Tools and Hardware Support
Beyond the store itself, some developers praise Valve hardware like the Steam Deck, saying it “just works” and continues to bring PC gaming into the handheld space. PC Gamer
4. Community Connectivity
Many developers value the community and feedback mechanics Steam offers — including reviews, forums, and player interaction — which, when managed well, help grow engagement with a title. app2top.com
⚠️ Criticisms — What Game Devs Are Concerned About
1. Market Dominance & Monopoly Pressure
A recent report found a large portion of PC developers are concerned about Steam’s dominance — with ~72% seeing it as a de facto monopoly and many studios relying on it for the majority of their revenue. This has led teams to prioritize other platforms for diversification. Outlook Respawn
2. Oversaturation & Discoverability Problems
While Steam lets everyone publish, that very openness leads to a flood of games — many of which never get noticed. One analysis suggested around 80% of releases receive “limited status,” meaning they’re so low in engagement they lose visibility and key features. Critics say this makes it harder for genuinely ambitious titles to stand out. The Sun
3. Revenue Share & Fees
The standard ~30% revenue cut that Valve takes is a sore point for many developers — especially indies who feel pressured to accept it because of Steam’s market reach. Forum discussions show developers lament the lack of strong pushback against these fees. Reddit
4. Early Access Risks
Releasing games under Steam’s Early Access model brings community management burdens and reputational risks if expectations aren’t met quickly — “you sign up for a second job,” one dev warns. Game World Observer
5. Toxic Community Effects
Negative reviews and review bombing — sometimes as soon as the first day — can severely impact perception and sales. Many devs grapple with how to handle feedback in ways that help the game, not hurt morale. Forums are full of these shared frustrations. Reddit
6. Transparency & Policy Issues
Developers have also criticized the opacity of Steam’s review process for controversial titles, saying unclear guidelines and decisions can have serious business consequences. Recent reactions to Horses being banned illustrate this tension. GamesRadar+
So Which Side Is “Heavier”?
Looking at the overall industry sentiment:
🎯 The positive side is broad and strategic
Many developers — especially those with successful Steam launches — see Steam as essential for discovery, community engagement, and revenue opportunities. Veteran devs often speak about how Steam made their careers possible and still remains a key pillar of the PC ecosystem. PC Gamer
⚖️ The negative side is about systemic issues
Criticism tends to focus on structural challenges like fees, market saturation, review dynamics, and dominance. These are not minor complaints — and they affect indie and mid-sized studios disproportionately. But they’re not generally a rejection of Steam outright; rather, devs want reforms, alternatives, and better tools, not the platform gone.
👉 Overall mix: The positive perspective holds more weight in terms of sheer developer reliance and gratitude for Steam’s reach. At the same time, critical viewpoints around control, discoverability, and fees carry serious industry weight — and they’re fueling conversations about diversification to other storefronts like Epic, GOG, and console marketplaces.
Conclusion
Game developers’ views on Steam are nuanced, passionate, and evolving:
- Steam is loved for scale, visibility, community, and career opportunities.
- It’s criticized for fees, saturation, review volatility, and opaque policies.
- Most developers accept Steam’s importance, but also want meaningful changes and alternatives to reduce risk.
In other words, Steam still wins the day on core value, but the industry is pushing for a more diversified, fair, and transparent ecosystem around it.