Steam for Mobile app now in beta on Android, iOS

Valve's Steam service has just expanded to iOS and Android devices. The newly-released Steam Mobile app will allow gamers to chat with Steam friends, browse community groups, read the latest gaming news, and more.

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Valve's Steam service has just expanded to iOS and Android devices. The newly-released Steam Mobile app will allow gamers to chat with Steam friends, browse community groups, read the latest gaming news, and more.

"The Steam app comes from many direct requests from our customers," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve, said in the announcement.

"Seeing which of your friends are online and playing a game, sending quick messages, looking at screenshots for an upcoming game, or catching a sale - these are all features customers have requested," Newell continued. "Mobile is changing way people interact, play games and consume media, and the Steam app is part of our commitment to meet customer demands and expand the service functionality of Steam to make it richer and more accessible for everyone."

The initial beta release will be locked. While the apps can be freely downloaded, not everyone will gain immediate access. "Those who wish to join the beta just need to download the Steam app (free of charge) and log in to their Steam account via the mobile app to express interest in the beta," the announcement notes.

Click here for the iOS version, and here for the Android version.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 26, 2012 11:30 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Steam for Mobile app now in beta on Android, iOS.

    Valve's Steam service has just expanded to iOS and Android devices. The newly-released Steam Mobile app will allow gamers to chat with Steam friends, browse community groups, read the latest gaming news, and more.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 11:30 AM

      WH0A

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 11:30 AM

        I hope the And More is being able to buy shit during sale periods I'm not at my PC for :D

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 2:43 PM

        EXACTLY MY THOUGHTS!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 11:34 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 11:38 AM

      Appears to be invite only. Downloaded it for my SGSII and it says I'm not part of the beta.

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 11:39 AM

        Once you log on, it will put you in the queue for beta access.

        • reply
          January 26, 2012 1:26 PM

          it seems to not let me log in because I don't have beta access (might be just bad error written)

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 11:39 AM

        The initial beta release will be locked. While the apps can be freely downloaded, not everyone will gain immediate access. "Those who wish to join the beta just need to download the Steam app (free of charge) and log in to their Steam account via the mobile app to express interest in the beta," the announcement notes.

        • reply
          January 26, 2012 12:16 PM

          Worth the download to have the Steam icon...

          • reply
            January 26, 2012 8:49 PM

            i thought the same thing :) my phone is now complete.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 11:49 AM

      Is this just a shopping app or start of Valve branching out in to mobile games/distribution.

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 11:50 AM

        I imagine they'd like to sell games on mobile devices as well. HL3 iOS exclusive!

        • reply
          January 26, 2012 1:13 PM

          It's on both platforms! No exclusives!

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 11:57 AM

        [deleted]

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 11:58 AM

        Wouldn't it be neat if they could one day SteamPlay to iOS. Buy the game once, get the Windows, Apple, and iOS version. Too bad Apple will probably never let that happen.

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 3:50 PM

        [deleted]

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 11:52 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 11:53 AM

      Hoooooooly shit!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 11:54 AM

      Finally!!!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 11:54 AM

      Well there goes the last reason for keeping my netbook.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 11:54 AM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 11:56 AM

      Fantastic. Does it also serve as a 2 factor authenticator?

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 1:41 PM

        No, but it will ask for a steamguard code that gets emailed to you.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:03 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:05 PM

      Where is the WP7 love? I want to play with steam on my phone too!

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 12:15 PM

        Good point. If they have a decent C# coder on staff they could knock one out in a few days.

        Maybe after the Android/iOS thing is out of beta...

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 2:54 PM

        Yeah, as a WP7 user that's a bummer

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:07 PM

      Awesome, I'll have to check that out.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:13 PM

      app also to turn on and speak to you while you sleep "Just go ahead and buy it, you'll play it eventually"

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:17 PM

      Did anyone get in yet?

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:18 PM

      Too late. :( I tried. Awesome regardless.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:18 PM

      [deleted]

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 12:42 PM

        They linked it at the bottom of the article.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:21 PM

      I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS, PUMPING SO MUCH CUM

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:33 PM

      (I wonder if this may lead to the injection of Steam as a mobile app storefront...)

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 2:47 PM

        Nope, but they could definitely implement Steam features into mobile games, letting you get achievements on Steam, find friends to play with, etc. Basically something like GameCenter.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:41 PM

      WHO DO I HAVE TO FUCK TO GET A BETA KEY.

      This has seriously been my #1 most anticipated iOS app since I got my phone

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:50 PM

      They were asking for opinions about this on the forums years ago. They sure took their time!

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 5:03 PM

        The only Valve didn't take their time on was L4D2.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 12:56 PM

      I'm not sure what I'd do with this, but it'd be cool if you could tell Steam to download shit through it, while away from your PC

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 1:01 PM

      I'm so happy right now, I might need to lay down a bit. I've been hoping for this to happen for ages, but I never through that dream would come true!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 1:06 PM

      The only thing that sucks about this is my complete inability to remember my steam password.

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 1:15 PM

        haha it took me a while

        • reply
          January 26, 2012 1:36 PM

          Auto-sign in and forget is the bane of my existence, even just using a finger scanner I think about the password as I'm swiping my finger but auto-password? Forget about it.

          • reply
            January 26, 2012 1:39 PM

            I almost always buy using the website instead of going through the client (since it just loads the website anyways). Thus I have to type in my password fairly often.

            • reply
              January 26, 2012 1:41 PM

              I'll probably remember once I get in front of a keyboard, reverse-muscle memory FTW!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 1:34 PM

      this is great.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 1:46 PM

      Haha, this is the only news item on the shack in a long time that has had 100% strongly positive comments!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 1:48 PM

      I WILL BE DOIN DISSSS!!!

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 1:48 PM

        P.S. reviewers of things are IDIOTS

        Morgan on January 26, 2012 (Version 1.0)
        Limited Beta

        This is a limited beta offering from Valve. Too bad their website, app description, nor the login screen of the app itself bothers to mention this. Only once you've attempted to login (after obtaining and entering a verification code) that you're not cool enough to use the app. This is a complete failure of a product launch. I'm giving this app 1 star since I was denied functionality of the application and it was _NOT_ clear that this would be the case. Valve needs to get their act together.


        you fucking noob

        • reply
          January 26, 2012 1:56 PM

          Yea, I never buy apps off any app stores based on the app published reviews, that stuff is such garbage, it's like they let idiot facebook FWD'rs review everything.

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            January 26, 2012 1:57 PM

            I just read the reviews to see if there was a serious permissions issue.

            • reply
              January 26, 2012 3:56 PM

              The only permissions issue is letting those idiot reviewers on a computer without adult supervision.

          • reply
            January 26, 2012 4:16 PM

            If reviews are bad the dev just pushes a .x update for the app and the negative reviews from the old version get swept away.

            • reply
              January 26, 2012 4:44 PM

              Usually if I'm buying an app it's because I saw it get a good review somewhere else first, it's been at least a year since I went to actually go buy an app by just browsing to see "whats out there"

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 2:00 PM

      gonna have to try this on my Kindle Fire and see if it works

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 2:07 PM

      can we join community chat rooms?

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 2:49 PM

      No WP7 app, pre-order cancelled!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 3:18 PM

      It's not just going to be for browsing the store to push purchases to the desktop and chatting for very long, I'd imagine.

      Guess I'm gonna need to buy a bigger memory card for my phone, even mobile games ain't small...

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 3:30 PM

      not available for canada?

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 3:35 PM

        I live in Canada and I was able to find it and install it. This was on the Apple app store though. Dunno about Android.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 3:35 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 3:45 PM

      I wish the hp touchpad would get more love

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 4:11 PM

        as much as I love webOS, that's never going to happen.. give up hope while you still can!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 3:49 PM

      Nice this is awesome. Not in beta but I hate always missing steam sale days

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 3:57 PM

      why the hell do i have to be in the beta to use an app? garbage

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 4:23 PM

        perhaps to try and inform users before they declare it "garbage" ? oh wait. good ol' internet

        • reply
          January 26, 2012 6:20 PM

          steam apologist!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 4:13 PM

      Universal app please

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 4:36 PM

      who do i have to JO to get beta access?

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 5:10 PM

      If you guys look on the login screen when you try to login with an account not in beta, it says at the bottom that your account has been noted and you are put on a list for when they send out more invites.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 6:19 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 7:32 PM

      installed!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 7:52 PM

      I'm surprised this came before http://www.steampowered.com/steamworks/thebigpicture.php

      • reply
        January 26, 2012 8:54 PM

        I've been desparately clinging to every bit of news about BP for the last 12 months. YESPLEAZE!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 8:14 PM

      This is rad, signed up and hope I get in!

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 8:15 PM

      Awesome, been waiting for something like this. Hopefully we can buy stuff on there too, for those time-sensitive sales.

    • reply
      January 26, 2012 8:36 PM

      [deleted]

    • reply
      January 27, 2012 8:45 AM

      What about Window 7 phone?!?!?! GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH it's so easy to develop on, why is it so unsupported>!?!?!??!?! ><

      • reply
        January 27, 2012 8:55 AM

        I will give you a hint it is the 3rd word in you're sentence.

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        January 28, 2012 9:52 AM

        Glad I went Android :D

    • reply
      January 27, 2012 9:08 PM

      Sweet, got in. FWIW, I signed up a few hours after it went live.

    • reply
      January 28, 2012 9:24 AM

      Other distribution services just can't compete. With Steam actually offering EVERYTHING you could want, it would make more sense for the big companies just to chuck their lot in with Valve.

      Make money, guaranteed customer satisfaction, less moaning, great rep and all round a better service for gamers.

    • reply
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