First reported by Linux gamesValve added a novel one Advertising page for Steamworks programmer documentation. The site presents what types of advertising and promotion allows for Steam, and at the same time clearly prohibits advertising in the game as a model of revenues on the ubiquitous computer games platform.
Placing the product is still inside, provided “such performances are not disturbing and are appropriate in the context of the game.” Valve gives a racing game with real sponsors in cars as one example of what is fine, and it certainly sounds like my dream restart Pepsiman Thank God I could find a house in the store. Promotions are also allowed, but the valves state “under no circumstances can developers be charged to participate in the package or sell access to the store or other side on Steam.” Finally, paid advertising campaigns outside Steam, which lead to the store’s website, are also an forthright game.
What has been banned is every form of advertising in the game to which gates access or otherwise disturb the game. “Developers should not use paid advertising as a business model in their game, for example, demanding from watching players or in a different way of getting involved in advertising to play,” writes Valve on the website. Basically, it sounds like a general prohibition of the project “Watch this advertisement to play the game”, and also extends to advertising in a game related to prizes such as power supplies or currency in the game.
I do not think that I have ever met or heard about one game involved in this behavior on Steam, but given its spread on other platforms, especially in mobile games, it makes sense that Valve becomes more preventive. Valve is a legendary lightweight touch when it comes to moderation of Steam, but in addition to the approach “I will know it when I see it” to prohibit offensive content, Valve clearly banned NFT games and cryptocurrency games, and also requires games consisting of generative artificial intelligence in order to reveal it operate. The company apparently has the feeling of how it wants to look like PC Gaming when it comes to its influential platform.
