In the world of PC gaming, few platforms have made as big of an impact as Steam. Launched in 2002, the digital distribution platform quickly became a mainstay of the gaming industry. Now, with Valve's Steam Deck going down as one of the best pieces of hardware of 2022, Gabe Newell and his team continue to dominate the PC market. But how has Steam changed over the years? Let's take a look back at the platform's evolution since its launch 20 years ago.
Before its launch, Steam was in its pre-beta form, and its interface was far from its modern iteration. According to a profile dedicated to showcasing how websites used to look, Steam's pre-launch interface was relatively basic and sparse. It featured a single page with no tabs or navigation bar. Instead, the page simply listed all the games available to buy or download.
The platform has changed dramatically since then. Steam's interface now features a modern design with a series of tabs and an intuitive navigation bar. It has also become much more than just a store, with a range of social features, achievements, and content such as news articles, videos, and user reviews.
Steam has become a major platform for indie developers, too. Through Steam Greenlight, developers have been able to submit their games to be considered for the platform. This has helped to open up the gaming industry to independent developers and allowed them to access a much wider audience.
Over the last 20 years, Steam has gone from an ambitious idea to a major force in the gaming industry. From its pre-launch interface to its current sophisticated design, the platform has come a long way, and it shows no signs of slowing down. With its continued commitment to supporting indie developers and its range of features, Steam is sure to remain a key player in the gaming industry for years to come.