Steam's New 'Item Stores' Allow Developers to Create & Sell Digital Items

Valve has just launched “item stores” on Steam that will allow developers to sell digital items for their games through the Steam platform. Rust is the first game to do so, launching its store with a plethora of cosmetic items ranging from $2.50 to $5.00 a pop.

Interestingly, this change means that developers can now set values for items and possibly compete with users selling items. Developers will also be able to sell user-made items in their stores with portions of the sale going toward the creator of the item, effectively a revenue share model as is possible through other marketplaces, like the Unreal Engine marketplace.

Game developers will now have more direct control over the value of cosmetic items and consumables as an addition to opening another revenue stream. A single storefront may also make it easier for creators to front wares to a wider audience. On the other hand, developers with this level of control could stifle the market for players hoping to sell the various items they already accumulate from playing the game -- and there’s no shortage of developer abuse on Steam’s existing platforms, like Early Access.

The effect this will have on item prices, and the ability for players to sell items on Steam, has yet to be seen.

- Keegan "HornetSting" Gallick.