Steam updated to improve how user reviews work

Valve has updated its Steam platform so that user reviews will "better describe the current customer experience in games." In a post on the Steam website, Valve admitted that "it isn't always easy to tell what the current experience is like in a game months after release" based on user reviews, and the company outlined measures it is taking to address this issue.

Steam will now list the most recently posted reviews more prominently by default, which Valve hopes will "show a more current idea of what it's like to play the game now."

Another problem Valve highlighted with the old system was that the "review scores that appear at the top of a product page didn't always reflect the dynamic nature of the game."

To remedy this a "Recent review score" has been added. It calculates the positive percentage of reviews within the past 30 days, provided there are enough reviews posted within that period and the game has been available on Steam for at least 45 days.

Other changes include a summary tab on each customer review section to highlight the most recent helpful reviews, a new check box for disclosing whether the reviewed game was received for free and the option to see all reviews regardless of language.

For more on the changes, along with further explanations of Valve's reasoning, check out the full blog post here.

Further reading

• Valve Makes It Easier to Change Your Steam Controller's Design
• Here's Why Valve Won't Put Ads on Steam
• You Can Finally Delete Your Steam Games Permanently