Does China Use Steam?
China does use Steam, with an estimated 30 million Steam users in mainland China as of 2018, and this number has likely grown considerably since then due to the rise of the Chinese gaming market. The country has its own version of Steam, called Steam China (蒸汽平台), which was launched in early 2021 and offers a limited selection of games that have received Chinese government approval.
Introduction to Steam in China
Brief Overview
Steam China is a result of Valve’s partnership with Perfect World to bring a version of Steam that complies with China’s regulatory requirements. This version of Steam has a significantly reduced game library compared to the global version, with only 53 games available at launch, including DLC (Downloadable Content), due to the need for Chinese government approval for each game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is China’s version of Steam? China’s version of Steam is called Steam China (蒸汽平台), which is a partnership between Valve and Perfect World to offer Steam services in compliance with China’s regulations.
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When did Steam launch in China? Steam China was launched in early 2021, marking a significant step in Valve’s efforts to tap into the large and growing Chinese gaming market.
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Are Steam games cheaper in China? Yes, Steam games can be cheaper in China when purchased using the local currency, RMB (Renminbi), compared to buying them in US dollars through international credit cards, thanks to Steam’s RMB settlement function introduced in 2015.
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Is Steam still blocked in China? While Steam itself is not entirely blocked, access can be slow and unstable, with frequent connection issues, but Chinese gamers can use games speed boosters as a workaround.
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Is gaming big in China? Yes, China’s online games industry is the largest globally in terms of both the number of users, with about 650 million users, and revenue, reaching $45 billion in 2022.
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When did China stop using steam locomotives? China officially ended the use of steam locomotives on the Jining–Tongliao Railway at the end of 2005, with the last steam locomotive for industrial use closing in 2022.
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Does China use Steam engines? Although steam engines are largely obsolete, China still uses them in limited numbers, with about 400 remaining, primarily for niche applications.
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Does Steam sell games in China? Yes, Steam sells games in China, but only those that have received formal approval from the Chinese government, resulting in a significantly limited catalog of just 53 games.
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Which country blocked Steam? Indonesia has blocked access to Steam, along with other services like Epic Games and PayPal, due to non-compliance with the country’s content moderation laws.
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Does Japan use Steam? Yes, Japan uses Steam, and PC gaming has been growing in popularity, with Japanese-speaking users making up about 2.82% of Steam’s user base as of June 2023.
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How many people in the US use Steam? There are 62.6 million daily Steam users in the US, with access to a vast library of over 50,361 games.
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What platform does China use instead of Steam for social media? China primarily uses WeChat, Sina Weibo, Tencent QQ, and other local platforms for social media, instead of global platforms like Facebook or Twitter.
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What is the most popular social media in China? WeChat is the most popular social media platform in China, offering a wide range of social, payment, and other services.
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How many games are on Steam in China? Steam China currently offers a very limited catalog of just 53 titles, including DLC, in stark contrast to the 20,000+ games available on the global version of Steam.
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What streaming platform does China use? Youku (优酷) is one of the dominant online video streaming platforms in China, often compared to YouTube in terms of its market share and popularity, boasting a 60% market share of the Chinese online video market.
These FAQs provide a comprehensive overview of Steam’s presence in China, the gaming landscape, and related topics, offering insights into the unique challenges and opportunities in the Chinese gaming market.