How does Steam work? Easily explained

In this practical tip, we explain how Steam works. On Steam you can buy, download and play various games directly afterwards. This tip also tells you what Steam can do and how the program works.

Steam: how does the gaming distribution platform work?

• You can purchase a wide variety of games via Steam. Games are often also sold exclusively on Steam, so they are only available there.
• To download Steam games, you need the free Steam client. You also need to create a Steam account.
• When you buy a game on Steam, you acquire the license of the game. Payment can be made, for example, by credit card or PayPal. The game license is linked to your Steam profile immediately after purchase.
• You can also purchase some Steam games normally in stores. These games then contain a serial number that must be registered on Steam.
• As a rule, you only save by downloading the data from the Internet by buying in a retail store. In such cases, the serial number only unlocks the game data. The installation of the client and registration with Steam are still necessary.

The Steam offer in the overview

Steam not only offers games for sale, but also has some other useful features.

• As soon as you are registered with Steam, you have your own Steam profile. On this profile, you can share your achievements in the games played with the Steam community, if desired.
• Steam includes an instant messenger called Friends. So you can get in touch with your fellow players while playing.
• In the meantime, Steam also offers the possibility to broadcast your own gaming sessions. The broadcasting of the games is then similar to that of Twitch. We'll show you in a separate article how to track Steam games.
• The Steam game offering now includes over 3, 500 titles. Games are available from all genres from RPG to strategy games.

If a Steam game is suddenly stuck, the best thing to do is to use our tips to prevent stuttering.