Steam Removes Over 260 Items from Russian Store Following Government Complaints

Valve’s digital distribution platform Steam has recently taken action to remove content from its Russian storefront in response to government complaints. According to reports from Russian state-controlled media Interfax, Steam has removed eleven webpages and over 260 items described as “banned materials” from its platform in Russia.

The exact nature of the removed content has not been specified by either Russian officials or Steam. However, this move appears to have allowed Steam to continue operating in Russia, unlike many other digital services that have been banned outright following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

This action by Steam is not unprecedented. The company has previously tailored its offerings to comply with local regulations in other markets, such as the creation of Steam China, a specialized version of the platform that adheres to Chinese regulations.

The removals come amidst a broader trend of restricted access to online services in Russia. Social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, as well as streaming services such as Crunchyroll, have suspended operations in the country. There are also reports of YouTube experiencing outages in Russia, with speculation about a potential ban in the future.

While the content removal may impact some Russian users, it’s likely that these items remain available to Steam users in other regions. The move highlights the ongoing challenges faced by international digital platforms in navigating geopolitical tensions and varying regulatory landscapes.

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