Developers complain about Steam moderation, with bigotry rampant in reviews and forums

Valve fosters gaming communities where fans are free to express their opinions. Yet, hate speech plagues a growing number of reviews and forums for Steam games. A report by The Guardian highlights the struggle of these developers to address bigotry that has no relevance to a title’s quality.

Steam moderation relies on developers and users

The complaints from these creators focus on forums, rating systems, and curator lists. Designer Nathalie Lawhead spotted reviews that questioned her sexual assault claims filed in 2019. Other posts included personal attacks and antisemitic remarks. Even though Valve’s guidelines prohibit abusive language or insults, moderators refused to take action.

Lawhead called readers on social media to flag the reviews, prompting the removal of one rating. To deal with the other comments, she had to contact a Valve employee. Many game-makers may not have the same following or connections, forcing them to rely on the company’s often lax oversight.

Curator lists allow individuals to recommend Steam games. These pages help gamers with similar tastes find new titles. An individual with a large following can prompt fans to criticize a project they disapprove of. Ethan, a developer of the retro shooter Coven, was targeted by supporters of an assassinated right-wing activist, Charlie Kirk.

Ethan saw a parade of negative Steam reviews that accused him of celebrating the political influencer’s death. Despite off-topic remarks that didn’t address gameplay or graphics, Valve support again let them remain online. Negative ratings have a dramatic effect on a title’s visibility and potential sales.

Steam forums often devolve into chaos

Forums can be a valuable resource for gamers looking for guidance. Sadly, many have become inundated with bigotry and arguments. Chatters often connect a game’s characters or narrative to opposing political beliefs. These messages are of little value to a player contending with bugs or a difficult mission.

Unlike with reviews, studios can enlist moderators to manage message boards. Regardless, critics believe Valve needs a more hands-on approach. TOS-breaking activity and irrelevant conversations often go unchecked. Reports suggest that, even as Steam earns record revenue, it's woefully understaffed to monitor active forums.