Valve overhauls tag system on Steam to improve game discoverability
GamesIndustry.biz • • technology
Key Points:
- Valve has revamped its Steam tagging system by adding 17 new tags, removing 28, and consolidating or renaming several others to improve game discovery and recommendations.
- Removed tags include broad or overlapping terms like 'NSFW,' 'Mature,' 'Well-Written,' and franchise-specific tags such as 'Lego' and 'Warhammer 40k,' with the aim of reducing redundancy and inconsistency.
- New tags introduced cover specific content (e.g., 'Wolves,' 'Zoo'), broader genres ('Bullet Haven,' 'Desktop Companion'), and gameplay elements ('Organising,' 'Decorating'), while some tags were renamed for clarity, such as changing 'Pool' to 'Billiards.'
- Valve stated these changes help players find games that better fit their interests and improve Steam's recommendation algorithms.
- Industry voices, like TinyBuild CEO Alex Nichiporchik, emphasize the importance of accurate tagging for personalized game recommendations and niche targeting, highlighting the system's growing value to developers and players.