Steam
Steam, operated by privately held Valve Corporation, is the dominant PC game distribution platform, serving over a hundred million individual gamers and tens of thousands of game publishers through a marketplace charging roughly 30% commission on sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersBellevue, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Steam does
Steam is the digital distribution platform operated by privately held Valve Corporation, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Launched in 2003 and opened to third-party publishers in 2005, it functions as the dominant marketplace for PC game distribution, hosting 18,941+ titles as of December 2025 across Windows, macOS, and Linux clients. The platform combines a storefront (Steam Store, Steam Points Shop), social surfaces (Community, Forums, Reviews), user-generated content (Workshop), a trading venue (Steam Market), and ancillary services including Steam Cloud saves, Steam Input controller support, Steamworks developer APIs, VAC anti-cheat, and Steam Link remote streaming.
Underlying technology centers on a globally distributed CDN, DRM, matchmaking, and the Steamworks integration layer used by tens of thousands of third-party titles. Valve has extended the platform into hardware: Steam Deck handheld (2022), Steam Controller, Steam Link streaming devices and apps, and the forthcoming Steam Machine console and Steam Frame VR headset, both targeted for 2026.
Steam's commercial model is a marketplace commission (approximately 30%) on game sales, supplemented by transaction fees on Community Market trades, payment-processing revenue through Steam Wallet, and hardware sales. Customer segments split into individual PC gamers and a long-tail of independent and enterprise game publishers ranging from solo developers (e.g., lemorion_1224, Blood Pact Studios) to AAA houses (Microsoft/Playground Games, Ubisoft, Bethesda). Steam itself is free to use; monetization flows primarily through paid games, in-game purchases, and marketplace trading.
Steam firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Steam
- Legal name
- Valve Corporation
- Website
- https://steamcommunity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Steam, operated by privately held Valve Corporation, is the dominant PC game distribution platform, serving over a hundred million individual gamers and tens of thousands of game publishers through a marketplace charging roughly 30% commission on sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Steam industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Game Distribution
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- PC Digital Game Stores & Launchers (MPAFACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Virtual Goods & Digital Item Commerce (skins, cosmetics, DLC) (MPAFAJAF), Game & In-App Content Stores (BPAMADAC)
Keywords
Where Steam is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bellevue
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Steam business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Game Sales Commission: Steam takes a commission (approximately 30% standard rate) on all game sales made through the platform. This is the primary revenue stream, with developers receiving the remaining 70%.
- Steam Marketplace Transaction Fees: Steam charges fees on community marketplace transactions for trading in-game items, cards, and other digital goods between users.
- Steam Wallet / Payment Processing: Steam generates revenue through payment processing on game purchases and wallet top-ups, processing millions of daily transactions for the gaming ecosystem.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free-to-Play games with optional in-game purchases |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Game Sales |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Steam Gift Cards |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Steam product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Steam operates a digital marketplace where third-party game developers and publishers list and sell games directly to consumers, with Valve taking a commission (approximately 30%) on each sale. The platform includes a content delivery network, integrated DRM, matchmaking services, anti-cheat (VAC), and developer tools (Steamworks API). Beyond the marketplace, Steam provides community features (forums, guides, reviews, Workshop for mods) and consumer hardware including the Steam Deck handheld gaming device.
Product overview
Steam is Valve's digital gaming platform that operates as a unified ecosystem combining game distribution (Steam Store), community engagement (Steam Community with discussions, reviews, and user-generated content), marketplace trading, and a points-based reward system (Points Shop). The platform extends beyond pure software through hardware products including the Steam Deck handheld gaming PC, Steam Controller, Steam Machine console, and Steam Frame VR headset, along with streaming capabilities via Steam Link. Steam also offers mobile access through its dedicated app and Apple Vision Pro compatibility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Steam: Digital distribution platform for PC games
- Steam Store
- Steam Community
- Steam Workshop
- Steam Market
- Steam Points Shop
- SteamVR
- Steam Deck
- Steam Machine
- Steam Link
- Steam Controller
Products and services
- Steam Store
- Steam Deck
- Steam Controller
- Steam Machine
- Steam Frame VR
- Steam Link
- Steam Mobile App
Quantifiable outcome
- 72% of game developers view Steam as effectively a PC gaming monopoly
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Steam
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Steam technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Steam partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.
- Australian eSafety CommissionminorAustralia's eSafety Commissioner issued legally enforceable transparency notices to major gaming platforms including Steam, requiring them to explain how they protect children from predators and radicalization. This is a regulatory compliance requirement, not a commercial partnership.
- Microsoft / Playground GamesmajorMicrosoft's Playground Games released Forza Horizon 6 on Steam in May 2026, marking significant AAA collaboration. The game achieved 500,000+ pre-orders on Steam before launch.
- FBIminorFederal Bureau of Investigation Seattle division is investigating Steam games that contained hidden malware between May 2024 and January 2026. FBI is seeking potential victims to report experiences and losses. This is a regulatory/investigative relationship rather than a commercial partnership.
- Various Game DeveloperscoreSteam hosts 18,941+ games from thousands of independent developers and publishers. Valve provides distribution infrastructure, payment processing, and Steamworks tools while developers provide game content. This is the core business relationship.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Steam competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Microsoft Store / Xbox app for PC: Microsoft's PC storefront tied to Windows and Game Pass, distributing titles like Forza Horizon 6 alongside Steam. Overlaps with Steam on PC game distribution at platform-holder scale.
- Battle.net (Activision Blizzard / Microsoft): First-party PC launcher for Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. Overlaps with Steam on PC distribution and competes for gamer engagement, while also publishing some titles via Steam.
- NVIDIA GeForce NOW: Cloud gaming service that integrates with Steam libraries to stream owned games. Both partners with Steam (extends reach to non-PC hardware) and competes via a parallel cloud gaming model.
- Amazon Luna: Amazon's cloud gaming service. Competes with Steam's PC distribution model by offering subscription-based game streaming, partly overlapping with Steam Link's streaming value proposition.
Direct peers
- GOG (CD Projekt): PC digital game storefront specializing in DRM-free classic and modern games. Operates by CD Projekt and competes for the same indie and catalog-game audience as Steam.
- EA App (formerly Origin): First-party PC game distribution platform for Electronic Arts titles (EA Sports, Apex Legends, Battlefield). Competes with Steam for PC game sales while publishing through Steam in parallel.
- Epic Games Store: Direct competitor to Steam as a PC digital game storefront, using a 12% commission (vs. Steam's ~30%) and exclusive titles to challenge Steam's dominance. Operates by Epic Games (Fortnite/Unreal Engine).
- Ubisoft Connect: Ubisoft's first-party PC launcher/storefront competing with Steam. Ubisoft simultaneously distributes Assassin's Creed and other titles on Steam, making it both partner and competitor.
Emerging players
- itch.io: Indie-friendly PC game storefront with an open submission model and pay-what-you-want pricing. Targets the same indie developer audience that supplies much of Steam's catalog.
- Humble Bundle: PC game bundle and storefront with a charitable component. Acts as a Steam key reseller and direct competitor for indie game discovery and bundled sales.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Steam social profiles
Digital presenceSteam financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Steam leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Steam funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Steam M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Steam
What does Steam do?
Steam operates a digital marketplace where third-party game developers and publishers list and sell games directly to consumers, with Valve taking a commission (approximately 30%) on each sale. The platform includes a content delivery network, integrated DRM, matchmaking services, anti-cheat (VAC), and developer tools (Steamworks API). Beyond the marketplace, Steam provides community features (forums, guides, reviews, Workshop for mods) and consumer hardware including the Steam Deck handheld gaming device.
Is Steam a public or private company?
Steam is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Steam founded?
Steam was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Steam based?
Steam is headquartered in Bellevue, United States, in the North America region.
How does Steam make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales Commission is the primary driver. The others are steam Marketplace Transaction Fees and steam Wallet / Payment Processing.
Who are Steam's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Microsoft Store / Xbox app for PC, Battle.net (Activision Blizzard / Microsoft), NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Amazon Luna. Direct peers are GOG (CD Projekt), EA App (formerly Origin), Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect. Emerging players are itch.io and Humble Bundle.
Does Steam have an API?
No public API is recorded for Steam.
What industry is Steam in?
Steam's product category is Digital Game Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFACAA, PC Digital Game Stores & Launchers, with a secondary code of MPAFAJAF, Virtual Goods & Digital Item Commerce (skins, cosmetics, DLC). Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 5945.