Steam launches Android and iOS app for free, in beta

by Ben Gilbert on Jan 26th 2012 2:40PM

Valve today announced and launched Steam applications for both iOS and Android platforms. The app, dubbed "Steam Mobile," allows users to chat, read a limited selection of syndicated gaming news (might we also suggest another mobile app for that?), browse groups and profiles, and purchase games while on the go. Like many Valve products before it, the App is launching in limited beta, with only invitees currently able to log in. Snagging the App and attempting to sign in lets Valve know that you're interested, and select folks will then receive an invite should they be chosen.

Company president and co-founder Gabe Newell said the app comes at the request of many fans over the years -- it marks Valve's first foray into the mobile space. "Mobile is changing the 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," Newell said.

No news is given regarding the potential for iOS or Android game selling through the Steam mobile portal, but it seems unlikely -- at least on Apple devices -- given various terms of service restrictions regarding competition with the official application stores. Both the Android and iOS versions are available as of right now.

Source: iTunes, Android Marketplace, Valve Software

Tags: android, ios, ipad, iphone, mobile, steam, steam-mobile, valve, valve-software

Reader Comments (53)

oh god.. oh god.. OH GOD. i was just thinking about this again a week ago. this is going to be exciting.

@(Unverified) This is why Valve is so Awesome and MS will never be up to snuff charging for things that should be free, GO VALVE!

@The angry pro consumer gaming ga
what is microsoft charging for? if you get a windows phone you have access to xbox live and achievements.

@(Unverified) OH GOD OH GOD YES

@The angry pro consumer gaming ga
Not to mention there are plenty of free apps and since I know about the Windows Marketplace they actually allot you a certain number of free apps you can publish per account...so what are you talking about?

"SPLOOSH" - Pam

About damn time!

Now if Microsoft will release their Xbox Live app for Android.

@DCGX

I've been waiting for something like this for the last two years, thank you Valve.

@DCGX http://fudzilla.com/home/item/25721-xbox-live-games-headed-to-ios-android

@Ayepecks

Awesome!

" purchase games while on-the-go"

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! My wallet has no place to hide now.

@NaeemTHM

"You thought you were safe by leaving your computer and travelling across the country? With the new Steam mobile app, now you'll NEVER be able to hide from the amazing deals, and inevitable poor purchasing decisions."

@NaeemTHM

That's what I was thinking. Now you don't have to hover around your computer at 1pm when a Steam sale is underway.

You can be outside and browse and be antisocial in public!

@arkweld or 10 am if you live in the best coast! ;)

"It's a closed beta right now.

The press release is kind of confusing. But right now it looks like game journalists and publications are part of the first wave of invites.

Gamers and other customers can download and sign in to SIGN UP for the beta. "

According to a Mod in their forums. Well, great none the less that they're working on one.

To the point in the article about whether purchases through the app will be allowed; Apple's restrictions about making purchases through apps apply primarily to products that can actually be used on iOS/within an iOS app. There are plenty of retail apps (e.g. Ebay, Amazon) that you can make purchases with directly through the app because you're buying goods that don't exist within the iTunes ecosystem. TLDR: there should be no problem with buying Steam games within the iOS app (so long as they're not iOS titles).

It doesn't appear to be available in the iPhone app store. I just checked.

@(Unverified)

Actually I just checked the Android Marketplace and I don't see it either. It's available on the web marketplace, though.

@(Unverified) Browse to http://store.steampowered.com/mobile and click on the image for the app store/android marketplace to be directly linked to them. These apps only just went "live" recently so it's likely their entries haven't been scraped into the store search databses yet.

@(Unverified)

I couldn't find it either but if you view this Joystiq article in Safari on your iPhone and follow the "iOS" link, you can download the app. I did, and tried to sign in, but it told me that I am not part of the beta but that my account has been noted.

Finally. Good decision on Valve's part. Makes Steam more...universally experienced, maybe even more relevant.

Well its about time! I've been using the IMO chat app on Android instead to chat with Steam friends.

Correction, it just appears to be way down the list, below such great apps lik e"Tinie Tempah Mobile Backstage."

"Account not in beta" :(

@HT UK
yeah I got the same thing, what does that mean?

@tdrwiega
...that the product is currently in beta, and that your account wasn't selected to participate at this time?

Give it some time; just signing in indicates you're willing to try it out for them, and you might be chosen to go ahead and try it later on. That's how I'm seeing it, anyway.

@HT UK

From the article: "the App is launching in limited beta, with only invitees currently able to log in. Snagging the App and attempting to sign in lets Valve know that you're interested, and select folks will then receive an invite should they be chosen."

Now Gabe's gonna make an even BIGGER pile of money.

(And sell even more hats.)

@StClair

Droidguy heads for everyone in the beta, perhaps?

HEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

@Marshillboy

HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

This is awesome because there have been a few years in a row where I've been stranded at my dear grandma's computer-less house during those steam christmas sales.

how long till it sells iOS/Android games or streams them?

how long till it sells android games or streams games to iOS/Android

@Im Squirrel HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

This is a terrible idea! Now Steam games will be even easier to purchase!

Wallet? Where did you go? Stop hiding! This won't hurt a bit...I promise.

awww gotta wait for an invite to beta... hopefully it wont be too long

At first I was like YEAHHHHHHHH

"Account not in beta"

But then I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

about time!" thank you valve

http://imgur.com/j30Bm
all you have to do is login to sign up for the beta.

From the Android Web Store it tells me it will download to my phone shortly...

This is the longest shot time ever.

Please bring it to the Windows Phone :(

I am the 1%!

@Grimbear13

Focus owner here. Did we make it to 1% yet? Success.

Umm, how come it shows a release date of 10/10/10..is this old news?

I'll add this to the list of apps I compulsively check first thing in the morning.

wake me up when they finally decide to release steam on linux.

@PyreKing

No

@PyreKing

or better yet, we could draw a peenie on your forehead while you're sleeping...

Joystiq-kun, can you please update your Android app? The gestures are way too sensitive (an option to turn them off, or simply removing them entirely would make the experience a whole lot better) and it would make a whole lot more sense to open external links with the browser.

I found it, but you need to be accepted into the beta to use it. It told me they noted my interest and I will be considered when more invites are released.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 50 Comments

Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.

Breaking News

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days

Rumor: Japanese Vita devs jumping ship, Sony responds 124 comments
Buy 2 get 1 free on select Vita games at GameStop starting today 114 comments
Sony's Rohde: proprietary Vita cards 'completely necessary' to combat piracy 112 comments
Sony: Call of Duty blasting onto Vita this fall 89 comments
Asura's Wrath review: Wrecking the curve 84 comments

Steam launches Android and iOS app for free, in beta

Reader Comments (53)

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:43PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:06PM The angry pro consumer gaming ga said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:24PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:46PM simplicity14 said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:48PM Grimbear13 said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:44PM shimrra74 said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:44PM DCGX said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:46PM Gibbeynator said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:58PM Ayepecks said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 4:23PM DCGX said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:48PM NaeemTHM said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:14PM Gibbeynator said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:16PM arkweld said

Posted: Jan 27th 2012 4:50PM Accessgranted said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:48PM yab said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:50PM RonnieCordova said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:51PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:53PM Shadowbender said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:58PM RonnieCordova said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:06PM logicbus said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:51PM Shadowbender said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:53PM nerdydesi1 said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:54PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:54PM HT UK said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:11PM tdrwiega said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:21PM Shadow Hog said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 4:10PM Unclear dudebro said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:57PM StClair said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:07PM Gibbeynator said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 2:58PM Marshillboy said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:10PM Im Squirrel said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:03PM GamedJader said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:04PM milliniar said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:04PM milliniar said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 11:05PM JakeAuditore said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:13PM Startbuttonnews said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:15PM Brando Calrissian said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:17PM Rollins said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:34PM Viiral said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:41PM lyons said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:41PM liquidsoap89 said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:49PM Grimbear13 said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 6:11PM Meekermoloko said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:50PM ToKeN2k6 said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:50PM The Tim said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 3:56PM PyreKing said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 4:35PM Ospov said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 11:14PM XLM said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 4:45PM Esposch said

Posted: Jan 26th 2012 5:12PM KaySakura said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs is the next title from Frictional Games and Dear Esther dev

Featured Stories

Building A Machine for Pigs and expanding the universe of Amnesia

Persona 3, Tactics Ogre, and other PSP RPGs that will live on my Vita

Tekken 3D Prime Edition review: Far from prime edition

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days