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After years of begging, avid Steam users will finally be able to access Valve's gaming platform on mobile devices. The company announced yesterday that Steam applications for both iOS and Android are readily available for download through each operating system's respective marketplace.
Although you can install the app, it's still in closed beta so you can't login if your account isn't approved. However, by attempting to log in, your account is entered into the pool of potential beta invites. There's no word on how the invites will be distributed or when the service will be opened for everyone.
Simply called "Steam Mobile," the app lets you chat with your friends, view gaming news, monitor hot sales as well as browse user and group profiles. We don't have beta access and it's unclear if all profile features are present, such as the ability to view achievements and your Team Fortress 2 inventory.
You can, however, browse Steam's catalog and add titles to your wishlist or purchase them from your handset. Obviously you'll only be able to play the games on your compatible PC or Mac and not your smartphone, but it's still handy if you won't be home to take advantage of the store's daily promotions.
Steam Mobile was rumored last March and its arrival will undoubtedly spark the same question: why the heck doesn't Valve sell mobile games? That's surely easier said than done, but perhaps the company has grander plans for the coming years. For now, you'll have to be satisfied with a community portal.
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User Comments: 11
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I'm throwing money at the screen and nothing happens
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Ranger12 said:
Valve doesn't sell mobile games because apple wouldn't let them on any of their devices. Perhaps on Android but the apple devices have a large chunk of the market and it may not be worth it to just develop for android devices.
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I had downloaded the app litterally minutes before this was posted. I am entered into the beta, I really hope they choose me, I love steam
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Ranger12 said:
Valve doesn't sell mobile games because apple wouldn't let them on any of their devices. Perhaps on Android but the apple devices have a large chunk of the market and it may not be worth it to just develop for android devices.
That's kind of true, but the problem is more subtle than that. Valve themselves could design and sell any games they want on iOS. The problem is that they would only be allowed to sell them through Apple's app store. Steam can't exist on Apple because it's technically a directly competing digital delivery system. Even "streaming game" sytems like OnLive will likely have some issues, which may be why it's taking so long to get approved for the iPad - if Apple feels it will impact their app sales, or that they are being shut out of outside sales or subscriptions that are part of an app, they get all testy... It's a business, after all, and a very lucrative one. Can't blame Apple for their protection of the revenue stream, but that doesn't mean we have to like it.
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Oh yes, make my PC World of Goo available for Android and I'll love you forever, Steam.
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I wish it were 2nd Gen compatible.
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St1ckM4n said:
Guest said:Oh yes, make my PC World of Goo available for Android and I'll love you forever, Steam.
World of Goo IS on Android.
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Android devices hold a larger market share than iOS devices.
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spydercanopus said:
This is very interesting... Steam powered pocket rockets.
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We're all screwed. Bye bye, positive bank balance.
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spydercanopus said:
I got in the beta. It's does everything Steam does except play games. lol
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