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Valve launches Steam mobile app

Published on 27th January 2012 by Gareth Halfacree

Valve's Steam for Mobile app offers iOS and Android users an even more convenient way to spend all their money on discount games.

Valve has announced the launch of a beta mobile app for its Steam digital distribution platform, available now on iOS and Android devices.

Before you get too excited, though, let's get one thing out of the way: this isn't an OnLive-style product that will let you play your favourite games while on the move; instead, it's a mobile interface to the Steam app, providing you with an easier way to give Valve all of your money when you're away from your PC.

Using the app, Steam customers will be able to chat via instant messaging, access the community groups and view user profiles, peer intently at screenshots and user-generated content, read Steam news stories and get alerted whenever Valve launches one of its wallet-depleting and bargain-filled Steam sales.

'The Steam app comes from many direct requests from our customers,' claimed Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve, in a statement regarding the launch. 'Seeing which of your friends are online and playing a game, sending quick messages, looking at screenshots for an upcoming game or catching a sale - these are all features customers have requested. Mobile is changing way people interact, play games and consume media, and the Steam app is part of our commitment to meet customer demands and expand the service functionality of Steam to make it richer and more accessible for everyone.'

Sadly, the service is currently only available as a closed beta. If you want access, Valve recommends that you download the free app and log in with your usual Steam credentials; while it won't work at first, that will enter you into the queue for access to the beta.

Are you pleased to see Valve adding mobile device support to Steam, or just wondering what a native app offers that a mobile version of the Steam Store website wouldn't? Share your thoughts over in the forums.

38 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

Jack_Pepsi 27th January 2012, 15:23

I want in on the closed beta please Valve.

improprietary 27th January 2012, 15:35

woot!

Cerberus90 27th January 2012, 15:40

I was looking for something like this just the other day on Android, mainly for chat as some people I can only contact through steam chat, :D, and so when I'm away from the PC or its off, this could be really handy.

Zurechial 27th January 2012, 15:56

I really wish they'd invest the efforts on a fully-functional Linux client for Steam instead and start porting some of the source games over.

Scarlet0pimp 27th January 2012, 17:15

Damn no WP7 version yet

Tyr 27th January 2012, 17:46

About damned time! I have been wanting a mobile app with friends/chat so that I can see who is online without needing to turn my PC on.

srgtherasta 27th January 2012, 18:30

I posted this already but it seems to have disappeared so, cool app but i want to be able to buy a game on it at work and have it download to my pc at home. Steam make it happen!

OWNED66 27th January 2012, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zurechial
I really wish they'd invest the efforts on a fully-functional Linux client for Steam instead and start porting some of the source games over.

crossover works well

Tasslehoff 27th January 2012, 19:15

Whats WP7?
:D
Oh & really want to try this out on iOS & android although I would guess there will be no differences :)

gosh 27th January 2012, 19:16

missed some lovely steam sales 'cos the browser version of steam store didn't want to take my money or kept blocking me from logging in on my mobile, plus store frontpage is an arse to load and browse on a phone with slow internet so nice one.

Sloth 27th January 2012, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tyr
About damned time! I have been wanting a mobile app with friends/chat so that I can see who is online without needing to turn my PC on.

This is what's got me the most interested. Between Skype and Steam I should be able to communicate with people using my phone just as I would from my PC.

nemo 27th January 2012, 20:16

Now gf will be able to see how much time I spend in Skyrim ...

knuck 27th January 2012, 20:40

All i want/need is the chat ;)

GravitySmacked 27th January 2012, 21:01

Just got my invite after registering my interest yesterday; first impressions are pretty good.

Blazza181 27th January 2012, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by GravitySmacked
Just got my invite after registering my interest yesterday; first impressions are pretty good.

Me jealous.

GravitySmacked 28th January 2012, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blazza181
Me jealous.

Well it seems to haven given me some invites. I'm sure it would invite you too if you registered but by all means add me as a friend (steam details in sig) and I'll try to send a you an invite ;)

smc8788 28th January 2012, 00:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by GravitySmacked
Well it seems to haven given me some invites. I'm sure it would invite you too if you registered but by all means add me as a friend (steam details in sig) and I'll try to send a you an invite ;)

I just got access too, but I'm pretty sure it only gives you one invite (at least I only have one in my inventory).

yodasarmpit 28th January 2012, 00:40

Wait, so it's msn for your steam mates?

faugusztin 28th January 2012, 00:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by yodasarmpit
Wait, so it's msn for your steam mates?

It is pretty much everything you have in your Steam client, except downloading and installing the the games. Included are the friends & groups (including chat), store, wishlist and community features.

yodasarmpit 28th January 2012, 01:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by faugusztin
It is pretty much everything you have in your Steam client, except downloading and installing the the games. Included are the friends & groups (including chat), store, wishlist and community features.

So no games then :)

Aracos 28th January 2012, 16:21

I wonder how long before they decide to start selling mobile games on the service, a year? 2 years?

V3ctor 28th January 2012, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by srgtherasta
I posted this already but it seems to have disappeared so, cool app but i want to be able to buy a game on it at work and have it download to my pc at home. Steam make it happen!

That would be a killer app :D Buy it thru the phone and put the pc downloading the game, so when a guy comes home it'll be ready.

Or if u have an urge to play a game, and don't have it installed, your phone could make the pc intall it... That would be awesome.

scott_chegg 29th January 2012, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aracos
I wonder how long before they decide to start selling mobile games on the service, a year? 2 years?

More like months i would say.

Hg 29th January 2012, 16:45

I have a beta to give away if anyone wants it?

IamJudd 29th January 2012, 17:55

Yes please...

wuyanxu 30th January 2012, 09:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aracos
I wonder how long before they decide to start selling mobile games on the service, a year? 2 years?

it won't happen on Apple devices with its current T&C. would be great on Androids though.

anyone got more Beta invites please? would love to get in on this :D

Splooshiba 30th January 2012, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott_chegg
More like months i would say.

fingers crossed for tf2 mobile

lacuna 30th January 2012, 11:31

Ah yet another app that doesn't work on my 3G. Nevermind.

Jack_Pepsi 30th January 2012, 11:47

App is a little buggy which is to be expected. I haven't been able to get chat to work yet and as lacuna says, doesn't work over 3G.

:(

GravitySmacked 30th January 2012, 12:13

Seems to run OK over 3G for me.

Sloth 30th January 2012, 20:17

Works fine over 3G for me as well. Only "bug" I've found so far is that if you've got a chat window with the same person open on your phone and on your PC they don't display the same thing. Messages you send on your PC show up on your phone's chat window, but messages sent from your phone don't show up on your PC's chat window.

EDIT: Also, I have an extra access that I can gift if anyone wants it.

SighMoan 31st January 2012, 10:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zurechial
I really wish they'd invest the efforts on a fully-functional Linux client for Steam instead and start porting some of the source games over.

I don't use Linux, but i completely agree. It seems like a largely untapped market.

Jack_Pepsi 31st January 2012, 13:23

Update released today.

:)

shankly1985 31st January 2012, 22:39

enjoying the app me, a couple thing I would like them to add is forums within the app itself, the groups need more work. Overall the have done a great job it runs very smooth also.

Gareth Halfacree 1st February 2012, 07:48

If you're still waiting for an invite to the beta, there's some good news: the update Jack_Pepsi noticed yesterday opened the app to all, no invitation required. Go nuts.

Jack_Pepsi 1st February 2012, 10:21

Another update came out (version 1.02) which has improved performance for me and it now works over 3G.

:D

wuyanxu 1st February 2012, 17:25

on iphone, when closing the app it also signs you out. no push notification. :( (i didn't have steam running on computer though) kind of pointless by signing you off though, should add a new status called "on mobile" and keep you signed in when not on computer.

overall nice app, a bit slow with the amount of web pages. (eg, anything not friends list) wish some parts are pre-loaded instead of requiring to reload over mobile internet every time.

faugusztin 1st February 2012, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuyanxu
on iphone, when closing the app it also signs you out. no push notification. :( (i didn't have steam running on computer though) kind of pointless by signing you off though, should add a new status called "on mobile" and keep you signed in when not on computer.

Complain to Apple for their "multitasking" implementation.