Steamworks Documentation
Talk And Slides From GDC 2019
These are the talk and slides from our presentation at GDC 2019.

Talk Video Recordings



You can also view the talk on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/wrvr02SiHY4

Talk Slides

Pick a language to download localized version of the talk slides.

Talk Highlights

Here are a few highlights from the talk, along with video timestamps where you can find that portion of the talk begin:

0:00 - Tom Giardino

Tom starts by talking about Valve's goals and priorities for Steam for 2019 and beyond.

7:10 - Alden Kroll

Alden describes new features coming to Steam to help developers build closer relationships with players. Among these features are:
  • Steam Events - A brand new way for developers to have a real-time, open line of communication with their players inside of the Steam client.
  • Steam Library Update - We've totally redesigned the Steam Library from the ground up. You can easily see what's going on inside of any individual game, from recent updates to on-going events, organize your game collection the way you want, and much more.
  • Per-app traffic and visibility dashboard - We've improved the tools that allow developers to see how players are reaching their store pages and where and how often their games is showing up across all of Steam.
  • Developer and Publisher Homepages - Fans can follow developers or publishers and automatically get a notification when that developer or publisher releases another game.
  • Store page streaming - Developers can choose to feature a stream of their game right there on the store page; showing potential customers exactly what it's like to play their game.
  • Updates to user reviews - We've updated tools and functionality to mitigate the effects of off-topic review bombing.

23:22 - Kassidy Gerber

Kassidy talks about the new best-in-class network that Valve makes available for game developers to use in multiplayer games. This new free API provides game developers with:
  • A durable, reliable, world-wide private network upon which to host, deliver and match-make their games.
  • Fast ping times between clients and servers
  • Protection from DDoS attacks

32:44 - Ricky Uy

Ricky talks about Valve's focus on growing PC games in emerging markets to create even more opportunity on Steam for our developer and publisher partners.
  • How we make games accessible to players no matter where they live and in all the ways in which they're familiar playing.
  • How we support all of the payment methods and currencies that allow customers to buy games in the easiest ways possible.
  • How cash payment methods, while potentially cumbersome for the platform, are essential in dozens of countries and the ways Steam facilitates the ease of those transactions.
  • The payment methods throughout Asia and and other parts of the world: for instance, almost 90% of transactions in East Asia don't use major credit cards or PayPal.
  • PC Cafes are an important way that many customers play games. Steam makes it easy to enable play in those cafes.

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