Valve breaks down what will (and won't) get your game featured on Steam

gamedeveloper.com:

Ever wonder what it takes to get your game featured on the front page of Steam? Valve is finally ready to share answers. In a new video hosted by Steam business team representative Erik Peterson, the company breaks down the difference between algorithmic and curated sections of the Steam Store, providing guidance on how developers can make themselves visible to players who might want to check out their game.

Some key tips from Valve's explainer include how developers can make the most of tags, the factors strong localization, regional pricing, and controller support will increase the odds that Valve will choose to feature your game in key locations, and that ultimately "player interest drives visibility."

In the video, Peterson explained that Valve's two big pillars for marketing on Steam are this: Valve wants to "match games with the players who will love them," and Valve does not sell advertising or optimal placement on the platform. "We don’t think Steam should be pay to win," he said. "Not selling ads levels the playing field and makes recommendations better for players."

Valve's statement on that topic is a fascinating contrast to how other platforms like the Roblox marketplace do rely on storefront advertising to generate revenue. Those platforms have been plagued with controversy and accusations that they support a "pay to win" model.

(One wonders if Valve had either been fielding high-profile requests to buy such advertisements...or if conspiracies about such advertising were spreading too far in certain circles).

If you're looking for a quick rundown of what is "algorithmic" and what's "curated" on Steam, here's a quick breakdown of the two categories.

When you open the Steam front page, the game featured in the top