Valve Corporation has implemented a significant change to Steam's review system, now filtering user ratings based on language preferences. This update, designed to create more region-specific scoring, has sparked discussions about its impact on games with international appeal and the transparency of user feedback on the world's largest PC gaming platform.

Since its introduction in 2013, Steam's user review system has served multiple purposes beyond simple recommendation. Players have utilized this feature not only to share genuine gaming experiences but also to organize collective actions against developer decisions, demand specific changes, and occasionally boycott titles. The recent case of Ready or Not facing coordinated review bombing after content modifications demonstrates how this system has evolved into a platform for community expression.

The platform's latest adjustment localizes review scores for each user, prioritizing feedback written in their preferred language while minimizing the visibility of international opinions. According to the new parameters, games must have at least 200 reviews in a specific language and exceed 2,000 total public reviews to trigger this localization feature. This change has immediately affected the visible review counts of numerous popular titles, with some games experiencing dramatic reductions in their displayed rating numbers.

The Chinese action RPG Black Myth: Wukong provides a striking example of this system's impact. Previously boasting over 850,000 overwhelmingly positive reviews that significantly contributed to its commercial success, the game now shows approximately 64,000 reviews to English-speaking users. While still substantial, this represents merely a fraction of its total international reception, potentially affecting how new customers perceive the title's popularity and quality.

Games with substantial international followings appear most affected by this policy shift. Titles like Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Tale of Immortal have experienced similar review count reductions across various regions. Valve maintains that localized scoring helps users make better-informed purchasing decisions by reflecting regional preferences more accurately. However, developers express concern that thousands of legitimately earned reviews may become invisible to potential buyers, potentially undermining their global marketing efforts.

Despite these changes, users can still access comprehensive review data through the Language Breakdown filter feature. The coming weeks will reveal whether Valve's approach ultimately enhances user experience or generates additional controversy within Steam's ongoing ecosystem developments. This update arrives amid other platform changes, including payment processing adjustments and content guideline revisions, marking a significant period of transformation for the digital distribution giant.

Latest Game Information