Valve releases Steam upgrades
Redesigned store gives gamers more options; changes are the first of a series to be released in the coming months.
Valve Software has updated its Steam client software, making changes to the integrated Steam Store and available games list. Steam users will have the update applied automatically the next time they log into the service. Steam allows players to download full versions of games directly to their hard drive, and also serves as a multiplayer matching service and authentication utility once the games are downloaded.
On the official Steam Web site, Valve announced the changes as "part of a larger set of features (collectively known as Steam 3) which will be introduced over the course of the coming months."
The biggest addition in this update brings a la carte purchasing options to the service. So, if gamers don't want to buy a bundled edition of Half-Life with all the expansions and mods, they can pick out the specific pieces they want and pay for them separately. Prices run from $9.95 for the original Half-Life to $39.95 for Half-Life 2. Nuclearvision Entertainment's 2D Half-Life-inspired shooter Codename Gordon and a Half-Life 2 demo are offered free for Steam users.
Changes to be implemented in the rest of Steam 3 updates include improved server robustness and support for third-party games. The next major piece of the upgrade the company is working on is a complete overhaul of Steam's friends system.
Related Content
-
Dark Void Aerobatics Movie
Learn some cool stunts to get you out of trouble in Dark Void!
- Dec 4, 2009
Matches based on text similarity.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
Nov. 'biggest month in Xbox 360 history' - Microsoft
Despite dip in console sales, Aaron Greenberg says Xbox 360 hardware, software, and accessories sales were a record $838 million--thanks largely to Modern Warfare 2. Full Story
- Posted Dec 11, 2009 11:31 am PT
- 282 Comments
-
Martin Sheen, Tricia Helfer sounding off in Mass Effect 2
BioWare's sci-fi RPG gains celebrity voice cast, including Seth Green, Keith David, Adam Baldwin, Michael Hogan, Carrie-Anne Moss, more. Full Story
- Posted Dec 10, 2009 11:10 am PT
- 102 Comments
Featured Stories
-
Dec. game sales drop to cap 'miserable' 2009 - Analysts
Double-digit drop predicted for last month of the year; Modern Warfare 2 "sucking the air" out of lesser games' sales, 2010 delays justified. Full Story
- Posted Dec 11, 2009 4:43 pm PT
- 300 Comments
-
GTA: Episodes from Liberty City sells under 160K in Oct.-Nov.
Boxed combination of Grand Theft Auto DLC expansions Ballad for Gay Tony, The Lost and Damned gets cool retail reception; analyst still predicts global sales of 1-1.5 million. Full Story
- Posted Dec 11, 2009 4:07 pm PT
- 154 Comments
-
Nov. US PC game retail sales hit $51.7 million, Call of Duty top 2009 franchise
NPD analyst pegs total store-bought software figure at $1.46 million last month; Activision's shooter franchise most lucrative so far in 2009. Full Story
- Posted Dec 11, 2009 12:49 pm PT
- 162 Comments
-
2 million New Super Mario Bros. Wiis sold in US
Nintendo's latest portly plumber platformer hits double-platinum milestone stateside in less than a month. Full Story
- Posted Dec 11, 2009 2:32 pm PT
- 134 Comments
-
Nov. sales down 7.6%, 6M Modern Warfare 2s sold - NPD
Activision blockbuster can't save industry from posting eighth loss in last nine months; New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Assassin's Creed II, Left 4 Dead 2, Dragon Age make top 10. Full Story
- Posted Dec 10, 2009 4:03 pm PT
- 497 Comments
Submit News
Related Game
- VU Games
- Valve Software
- Sci-Fi First-Person...
- Release: Nov 16, 2004 »
- ESRB: Mature
Recent News
-
Pokemon's March 14 debut caps Nintendo Q1 lineup
First-quarter release schedule headlined by HeartGold, SoulSilver; Mega Man 10 mobilizing by March; blue, pink Wii Remote due Feb. 14.
0 Comments
Sign in / Sign up