Steam allows a developer to implement a third party payment system (PG)?

[SPECIAL FORCE VR INFINITY WAR]

I know an official yet major payment system being used on STEAM is microtransaction APIs based steam wallet plus global credit cards and local payment system in accordance with user's residential area.

BUT, is it possible for developers to implement or add a third party payment gateway (PG) not listed on Valve or Steam? If so, how can we process and if not, what payment gateways is STEAM using so far?

[MalikQayum]

short answer is no.

[Kargor]

I don't think there's a problem. Steam doesn't really force anything onto developers/publishers; I don't see how having a game that handles payments outside of Steam's infrastructure would be a no-go.

[MalikQayum]

Originally posted by Kargor:

I don't think there's a problem. Steam doesn't really force anything onto developers/publishers; I don't see how having a game that handles payments outside of Steam's infrastructure would be a no-go.

read the docs then, or try to release a game with a third party IAP/Microtransaction.

[𝓵𝓲𝓵 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓱]

Grand Theft auto is enough proof for your answer

[MalikQayum]

Originally posted by https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/microtransactions:

In-Game Purchase Requirements
For any in-game purchases, you'll need to use the microtransaction API so Steam customers can only make purchases from the Steam Wallet. You can learn more about how to complete this integration in the Microtransactions Implementation Guide.

You can use the Steam Wallet to purchase individual items or to purchase your in-game currency.

[Zaskar]

If you feel that a dev is breaking the rules, report them from the game's store page.

[Ganger]

EA's games pass is coming in the coming months to steam. I would say that's 3rd party payments.

[Spawn of Totoro]

There are several free to play games that have their own shops and where you can pay directly for things. Warframe is one example. You can buy plat from their website as well as packs.

I don't think Valve has any rules against developers no using Steam for a user to make in-game purchases.

[aiusepsi]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

I don't think Valve has any rules against developers no using Steam for a user to make in-game purchases.

There is a rule against this, see:

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/review_process

Your product must use Steam Wallet for any in-game transactions.
This means that your product cannot link to other store pages that does not offer Steam Wallet.

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/microtransactions

For any in-game purchases, you'll need to use the microtransaction API so Steam customers can only make purchases from the Steam Wallet.

Anybody doing anything else is, at best, operating in a letter-of-the-law-but-not-the-spirit grey area. E.g., you could argue it's permissible to offer a store on your website which lets users make payments using methods other than Steam wallet, as long as the game itself doesn't contain any links to that website. I'd have to check the text of the Steam Distribution Agreement (SDA) itself to be sure, but (pointlessly, because anyone can sign up to read it) the SDA is under NDA and you can't link to it publicly.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by aiusepsi:

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

I don't think Valve has any rules against developers no using Steam for a user to make in-game purchases.

There is a rule against this, see:

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/review_process

Your product must use Steam Wallet for any in-game transactions.
This means that your product cannot link to other store pages that does not offer Steam Wallet.

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/microtransactions

For any in-game purchases, you'll need to use the microtransaction API so Steam customers can only make purchases from the Steam Wallet.

Anybody doing anything else is, at best, operating in a letter-of-the-law-but-not-the-spirit grey area. E.g., you could argue it's permissible to offer a store on your website which lets users make payments using methods other than Steam wallet, as long as the game itself doesn't contain any links to that website. I'd have to check the text of the Steam Distribution Agreement (SDA) itself to be sure, but (pointlessly, because anyone can sign up to read it) the SDA is under NDA and you can't link to it publicly.

True. I guess one's own site could be considered first party and Valve second, though even a first party has to go through a payment processor (not sure if that is also a "payment gateway").

But as I said, there are multiple examples of developers at least hosting their own payment for in-game money and have been for a long time.

[Satoru]

Originally posted by aiusepsi:

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

I don't think Valve has any rules against developers no using Steam for a user to make in-game purchases.

There is a rule against this, see:

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/review_process

Your product must use Steam Wallet for any in-game transactions.
This means that your product cannot link to other store pages that does not offer Steam Wallet.

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/microtransactions

For any in-game purchases, you'll need to use the microtransaction API so Steam customers can only make purchases from the Steam Wallet.

Anybody doing anything else is, at best, operating in a letter-of-the-law-but-not-the-spirit grey area. E.g., you could argue it's permissible to offer a store on your website which lets users make payments using methods other than Steam wallet, as long as the game itself doesn't contain any links to that website. I'd have to check the text of the Steam Distribution Agreement (SDA) itself to be sure, but (pointlessly, because anyone can sign up to read it) the SDA is under NDA and you can't link to it publicly.

Note that you 'can' do external stores that don't link to Steam

HOWEVER

Steam is not dumb

Frontier was required by Steam to take the 30% cut of purchase from ANY steam account linked to Elite Dangerous made on their own store goes to steam. This circumvents the 'we can distribute our game for free on steam but byapss their cut by making our own store'

[MalikQayum]

the whole EA debacle was about a similar thing, trying to IAP dlc, but around valves microtransactions which caused EA to remove their games.

that rockstar does something similar might have indicated valve being more lenient towards the bigger publishers on steam and probably allowed these bigger publishers to do so to avoid another meltdown.

however i highly doubt that valve is going to allow it unless your game is really successful or if you are really well established publisher.

but it is certain that many are told they are not allowed and have to use valves microtransaction implementations.
(Valve does allow certain features to certain developers but it is done case by case. so one dev can be denied and then another dev can be approved and only valve really knows why.)

be that features like, grantpackage api, free weekend promotion and/or even external microtransactions.

[pasa]

Originally posted by aiusepsi:

There is a rule against this, see:

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/review_process

Your product must use Steam Wallet for any in-game transactions.
This means that your product cannot link to other store pages that does not offer Steam Wallet.

Interesting. I played at least a dozen (likely way more) F2P games with their own store to buy expansions, credits, whatever. So possibly the dev can ask valve for exception and it is granted.

Or maybe such purchase applies to the 3rd party account, that account injects the stuff and it does not count as an in-game purchase in the first place.

Also technically the shop may just post an option to pay with steam wallet (beyond card and others) to comply with that text. Might even make it a dud (mapping to a "sorry, transaction failed, try again, check firewall, contact support or use other method" message.)

[Uueerdo]

Originally posted by aiusepsi:

There is a rule against this, see: ...good sources....

I read that more as "anything you sell elsewhere must be purchasable through Steam".

[AirborneMuffins]

Originally posted by Satoru:

Originally posted by aiusepsi:

There is a rule against this, see:

https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/store/review_process


https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/microtransactions


Anybody doing anything else is, at best, operating in a letter-of-the-law-but-not-the-spirit grey area. E.g., you could argue it's permissible to offer a store on your website which lets users make payments using methods other than Steam wallet, as long as the game itself doesn't contain any links to that website. I'd have to check the text of the Steam Distribution Agreement (SDA) itself to be sure, but (pointlessly, because anyone can sign up to read it) the SDA is under NDA and you can't link to it publicly.

Note that you 'can' do external stores that don't link to Steam

HOWEVER

Steam is not dumb

Frontier was required by Steam to take the 30% cut of purchase from ANY steam account linked to Elite Dangerous made on their own store goes to steam. This circumvents the 'we can distribute our game for free on steam but byapss their cut by making our own store'

I felt a little dirty learning this after I linked my accounts.
I'm not anti-valve or any such nonsense, I just really believe in what Frontier does, and want them to do as well as they can.