Valve recently unveiled its new Steam platform for the Chinese market. The independent storefront, created in collaboration with its long-time Chinese partner, Perfect World, will go by its official name “Zhengqi Pingtai”, which literally translates to Steam Platform.
For those not in the know, Perfect World has been a close partner of Valve over the years, and the Shanghai-based company is responsible for bringing the popular MOBA (Massive Online Battle Arena) game, Dota 2, into China.
It’s also no secret that China’s policy and stringent regulation towards gaming has a part to play in the creation of the Steam Platform. As such, the digital platform has been built from the ground up for the Chinese market, as well as to comply with Chinese regulations and communications law.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7-riIWqzR0
Interestingly enough, DJ Powers, a member of Valve’s Development team, told Eurogamer in an interview that despite the launch of the China-based Steam Platform, the international version of Steam will still be accessible in China. He also says that Valve would not pursue exclusive titles on the Chinese Steam platform. Stating that games are “best when they’re available in as many places as possible”.
Steam China will have a meagre game roster at launch; the full list comes up to just 40 games, but it does include titles such as Two Point Hospital, Dota 2 (obviously) and its spin-off, Dota’s Underlords, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV., to name a few. Naturally, it goes without saying that more games will arrive on the platform in the months to come.
(Source: Sina Tech via Techspot, Eurogamer, Video: Youku via Youtube)
