

One of its most popular features is the ability for users to use any computer to play games they buy/download to their Steam accounts. The platform hosts thousands of games (as well as downloadable content, or DLC, and user-generated features called "mods") from major developers and indie game designers alike. Steam is an online platform from game developer Valve where you can buy, play, create, and discuss PC games. So is Steam a dream platform for die-hard gamers or a nightmare for parents? Check out these frequently asked questions to learn more about this versatile gaming platform.Īre there privacy or security settings on Steam? While it has plenty of fantastic, family-friendly games like Rocket League and Sid Meier's Civilization VI, it also has games where the main draw is the graphic violence or explicit sex, like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or Grand Theft Auto V. The platform has even come under fire for boldly announcing that it would sell any title, no matter how extreme (including a controversial 2018 school-shooter game that was only removed for violating Steam's terms of service).įortunately for parents, Steam has parental controls that let families pick and choose precisely which titles and features their kids can have access to. Like other content-streaming platforms, Steam has oodles of content, but the quality varies a lot, and not all of it is age-appropriate. Steam is to gaming what Netflix or Amazon Prime Video are to TV. Steam also runs some sweet sales (often timed to line up with school breaks). It's a one-stop shop where you can buy, sell, and store games, plus do tons of other stuff like trade items, watch demos of up-and-coming titles, and interact with a passionate community. Launched in 2003 by Valve and now boasting over 150 million users, Steam has become one of the most important platforms in the world of PC gaming. If your kids are into video games, it's only a matter of time before you start hearing about Steam. Keeping Kids Motivated for Online Learning.Use these free activities to help kids explore our planet, learn about global challenges, think of solutions, and take action.
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