Valve releases alpha version of Steam with restrictions for the Chinese market

It seems that Valve has released a Chinese variant of Steam as an alpha version. Steam China has some changes compared to the global Steam version, such as a limitation that apparently does not allow play at all times of the day.

The website Win.gg has been able to test the version and writes that three striking changes have been made. First of all, a mandatory message from the Chinese state appears for five seconds when a game is started. Among other things, this calls on users not to play too much and to reject piracy in gaming.

Second, account names and images are automatically replaced with Steam ID numbers and default images. Finally, it seems that Steam China blocks games at certain times of the day, which was the case, among other things, when Win.gg tried to launch Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. At that time it was 4:00 PM; it was 5 a.m. in the Chinese time zone at the time. Whether the Steam China client automatically assumes a Chinese time zone is not clear.

Valve announced two years ago that there would be a Chinese version of Steam. To this end, the company is working with Shanghai-based Perfect World. That way, Steam China can get approval from the Chinese government. When Steam China is officially released, it is not yet known. The changes mentioned may need to be approved by China first.

Screenshot taken from Win.gg