Steam Faces Growing Issue of Stolen Games and Shovelware
2025-06-28 02:18:44A recent investigation has revealed that Steam, the leading PC gaming platform, is grappling with an increasing influx of shovelware and spam games, many of which are stolen from other platforms. While concerns about low-quality games flooding digital storefronts like the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop are nothing new, it seems Steam is now facing similar challenges.
The rise of generative AI tools in recent years has worsened the issue of asset flips—low-effort games hastily assembled using pre-made assets to mimic popular titles and trick unsuspecting buyers. With AI-generated artwork and assets, these counterfeit games have become even harder to distinguish from legitimate releases.
Mysterious Publisher Illegally Reselling Indie Games on Steam
According to a report by Gamepressure, a shadowy publisher operating under the names "me" or "myself" has been stealing games from Itch.io, a popular indie developer platform, and reuploading them to Steam. This publisher has released nearly 70 titles on Steam, many of which are direct copies of games created by small developers.
Some notable examples include:
- HardCop 2, originally developed by Tokagrien
- Dungeon Minesweeper Chronicles, created by Aftertea_time
- Open Star Fighter, a game by thelastflapjack
While Dungeon Minesweeper Chronicles and Open Star Fighter have since been removed from Steam, enforcement has largely been reactive, relying on reports from the original developers rather than proactive measures from Valve. Shockingly, the publisher's Steam page remains active, raising concerns about platform oversight.
While shovelware and scam games are not unique to Steam—similar issues plague the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop—the outright theft of indie developers' work is particularly egregious. In such cases, it often falls to the community and developers themselves to report fraudulent listings and raise awareness.
The gaming community can only hope that Valve takes swift action to address this issue and protect creators from exploitation. Until then, vigilance and collective reporting remain crucial tools in combating these fraudulent practices.