What is Steam (service)?
[[File:Steam icon logo.svg|thumb|Steam Logo since 2014]] '''Steam''' is an internet-based [[digital distribution]], [[digital rights management]], [[multiplayer]] and [[social networking]] [[computer program|program]] developed and distributed by [[Valve Corporation]]. Steam has its own store where the user can purchase [[video game]]s and other software. It is available for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[OS X]] and [[Linux]], and also has an application with fewer functions for [[smartphone]]s which is available for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Steam, The Ultimate Online Game Platform|url=http://store.steampowered.com/about/|work=steampowered.com}}</ref> Steam can also be used as a communication software, meaning that you can talk with people if they are your friends on Steam. == Popularity == The Steam platform is considered to be one of the largest digital distribution platform for [[Personal computer|PC]] gaming, and was estimated by [[Screen Digest]] to have 75% of the market space in October 2013. In 2015, users purchasing titles through Steam or through Steam keys from third-party vendors totaling around $3.5 billion representing 15% of the global PC game sales for the year, based on estimations made by the tracking website [[Steam Spy]]. By the end of 2015, the service had over 125 million registered accounts, with 12.5 million [[Concurrent user|concurrent users]]. The success of the Steam platform has led to the development of a line of [[Steam Machine (hardware platform)|Steam Machine]] micro-console, as well as [[SteamOS]], an in-house [[Fork (software development)|fork]] of the [[Debian]] [[operating system]]. As of February 2015, Steam has over 125 million users.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/02/24/steam-has-over-125-million-active-users-8-9m-concurrent-peak/|title=Steam has over 125 million active users, 8.9M concurrent peak|work=VG 24/7|last=Saed|first=Sherif|date=February 24, 2015|accessdate=June 7, 2015}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}}