In an unprecedented shift, Simplified Chinese has now surpassed English as the most-used language on Steam. This marks a significant moment in the platform’s history, reflecting broader trends in the global gaming community. For the first time since its inception in 2003, Steam, the world’s leading PC gaming platform, is witnessing a surge in Chinese-speaking users, overtaking English, which has long dominated the platform.

The Evolution of Steam in China

Steam’s journey in China has been anything but smooth. Despite its popularity among Chinese gamers, the platform has faced substantial regulatory hurdles. In 2021, these challenges culminated in the banning of the international version of Steam in China. Chinese gamers were left with two choices: either use the heavily restricted Steam China, which offers a limited selection of games, or access the global version via VPNs, skirting around government restrictions.

First time in history, more Steam users using Chinese than English
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Despite these barriers, China’s vast population, exceeding 1.42 billion, has shown a persistent interest in Steam, gradually making its presence felt. This shift in language preference on Steam is a testament to the resilience and passion of Chinese gamers, who have navigated numerous obstacles to access their favorite games.

The Black Myth: Wukong Phenomenon

One major catalyst behind this language shift is the success of Black Myth: Wukong, a game developed by the Chinese studio Game Science. Since its release, Black Myth: Wukong has taken the gaming world by storm, selling over 10 million units within just three days. Its deep roots in Chinese mythology, specifically the beloved story Journey to the West, have resonated strongly with Chinese players, propelling the game to unprecedented heights.

The game’s release has not only boosted sales but also significantly increased traffic on Steam from China. Reports indicate a 50% spike in Chinese Steam traffic following the game’s launch, further solidifying the influence of Chinese gamers on the platform.

Language Preferences on Steam: A New Era

The numbers speak for themselves. According to recent data, 35.03% of all Steam users are now using Simplified Chinese, compared to 31.17% using English. This marks a historic change, as English has been the dominant language on Steam for nearly two decades. Following Chinese and English, the other most popular languages on the platform are Russian (8.49%), Spanish (Spain) (3.86%), and Portuguese (Brazil) (3.43%).

It’s interesting to note that this shift in language preference is not entirely new. Last year, a hardware survey indicated that over 52% of Steam PC gamers had their language set to Simplified Chinese. However, this data was met with skepticism due to past issues with Valve’s data tracking. The latest figures, however, are more reliable and have been corroborated by various sources, indicating that the shift is genuine and likely here to stay.

Final Thoughts

The rise of Simplified Chinese as the top language on Steam is more than just a statistical anomaly; it reflects the growing influence of Chinese gamers on the global stage. As games like Black Myth: Wukong continue to break records and capture the imaginations of players worldwide, it’s clear that the gaming industry is becoming increasingly globalized, with China at the forefront of this evolution.

For developers and publishers, this trend highlights the importance of considering diverse language options and cultural contexts in their games. As Steam’s demographics continue to evolve, we can expect more games to be tailored to the tastes and preferences of a global audience, further enriching the gaming experience for everyone.

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