Steam, the popular gaming platform, has undertaken a significant overhaul of its tagging system, bidding adieu to 28 tags and welcoming 17 new ones. This move, announced by Valve, seeks to transform tags from jest-filled descriptors into genuinely informative tools for potential buyers. Among the departed tags are notable entries like Warhammer 40K, America, Dungeons & Dragons, Drama, LEGO, and notably, RPGMaker, a tag closely associated with games developed using the RPG Maker engine.
The rationale behind the removal, as explained by Valve, is that these tags no longer serve a purpose in establishing meaningful connections between games or highlighting unique content elements. IP-specific tags, such as Warhammer 40K and LEGO, are deemed redundant since the intellectual property is usually clearly stated by the publisher. Similarly, subjective tags like "Masterpiece" and broadly overlapping tags such as "NSFW" (now covered by more specific tags like "Violence" and "Sexual Content") have been axed.
New Additions: Hits and Misses
On the flip side, Steam's new tags have raised both interest and bewilderment. Notably, the introduction of "Capybaras," "Samurai," "Wolves," and a general "Animals" tag seems to anticipate a surge in games featuring these elements, potentially catering to fans of life simulation games like Animal Crossing. However, the practicality of these tags in enhancing game discovery is yet to be seen. On a more welcomed note, the "Bullet Heaven" tag is a clear nod to the influence of games like Vampire Survivors, providing a specific descriptor for a genre that had been vaguely referred to as "Vampire Survivors-like."
"The set that we’ve removed today are done so because they no longer serve a good purpose for establishing connections between games or describing unique and useful elements of content in the game,"Valve wrote, underscoring the push for tags that offer clear, useful information to gamers.
Implications and Challenges Ahead
This overhaul is a step towards making Steam's tags more meaningful, a challenge the platform has faced for years with tags often being used humorously or inaccurately. For instance, the previous misuse of tags like "Soviet Union" for games with Russian communities, regardless of thematic relevance, highlights the need for stricter tag management. Moreover, the politicization of tags (e.g., LGBTQ tags being used in the midst of Twitter culture wars) indicates that Valve's work is far from over in ensuring the feature's utility and neutrality.
The addition of more specific, content-driven tags like "Bullet Heaven" is undoubtedly a positive step, catering to the growing demand for precise genre identification. However, the inclusion of tags like "Capybaras" might confuse some, questioning the criteria for tag selection and whether these will indeed facilitate better game discovery or simply become the next set of meme-driven descriptors.
Key Takeaways
- Steam removes 28 tags, including RPGMaker, Warhammer 40K, and LEGO, due to redundancy or subjectivity.
- 17 new tags are added, with "Bullet Heaven" being a notable genre-specific addition.
- Capybaras, Samurai, and Animals among the new tags, sparking mixed reactions.
- Valve aims to enhance tag usefulness but faces ongoing challenges with tag accuracy and politicization.
As Steam navigates this tagging overhaul, the true test will lie in how effectively these changes enhance user experience and whether the community will adopt the new tags in the spirit they were intended. With the gaming landscape continually evolving, Valve's ability to balance specificity with broad appeal will be crucial. For now, the gaming community waits to see if "Capybaras" will become a surprisingly useful filter or just another meme in the making.