DEFINITELY, Valve should set limits on the U.S. culture war.

[Imon Spartan]

Edit:

A few days ago, I came here with a genuine thought I wanted to share, hoping to read the opinions of non-American users and understand if I was the only one feeling this way or if it was a widespread sentiment. Days later, I return to find a thread with over 400 comments, 300 of which are users arguing and providing a literal, perfect example of my main complaint in this topic.

The forum is completely ruined and unusable. Either Valve starts taking a firm stance and outright bans these types of discussions, or all of this will end up turning into a pit of debates monopolized by Americans and their political arguments that only concern their own country.

Original post:

I had never felt the need to use this forum, but I think the situation is starting to become very annoying for the average user. I would like to bring this issue to the attention of non-American users and hear their opinions or how they feel about it.

I've been observing for a while how this whole woke vs. anti-woke cultural war, which originates solely in the United States, is starting to flood the entire Steam platform. As a European user, I'm starting to get tired of it.

Let me give you a recent example: I'm interested in Avowed. I really like its universe ever since I played Pillars of Eternity, and I had several questions about its lore that I wanted to ask in its forum. The unpleasant surprise? When I entered, all I found was an all-out war between Americans creating threads either supporting or opposing the supposed "woke" content of the game. The atmosphere was completely toxic and unbearable, taking away any desire I had to ask my questions.

The tags we use in game descriptions have lost their useful purpose and been distorted. Game forums are becoming unusable, filled with threads of Americans spewing hate at each other, and overall, the environment feels unbearable.

I know the question I’m raising is a complex one. Valve, as a tech company, must maintain corporate neutrality, especially when it comes to social and cultural debates, to avoid polarizing its users and negatively impacting its business model.

I also understand that, from a freedom of expression perspective, setting limits on these kinds of discussions—which add no value and only worsen the platform—could create tensions regarding censorship and the boundaries of free speech.

However, from a global impact standpoint, even though this cultural war is mainly happening in the United States, it is negatively affecting the platform on a worldwide scale. If no minimum attention is paid to this issue, it could lead to worse outcomes. These might range from users in other parts of the world choosing to stop using key features of the platform to developers and companies potentially viewing the platform less favorably and opting for alternatives like GOG (though I see this last scenario as less likely).

Finally, I want to say that while Valve is a company focused on generating profit, I believe it has a social responsibility toward its users—all users on its platform. This social responsibility has been evident in many pro-consumer policies Valve has implemented on the platform over recent years.

With all this said, I would like to ask other users if they feel the same way about the current atmosphere on the platform. I am particularly interested in hearing from users in LATAM, Europe, Asia, Africa, etc.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Maybe I’m mistaken, and the situation isn’t as serious as I perceive it to be. Perhaps it’s not such a big deal. But I felt the need to share my opinion.

That’s all. Sending you all a hug, and have a great day.

[The nameless Gamer]

Diposting pertama kali oleh DarkRooster:

Diposting pertama kali oleh The nameless Gamer:

Frankly, I just find it peculiar how obsessed people are with games they dislike. And with all the games to LIKE out there, why talk only about things people dislike? So far, every attempt to point people away from things to be outraged about resulted in nothing. So I get the impression that people who are complaining are simply looking for things to be outraged about instead of things they enjoy. Or maybe they enjoy being outraged at something. It's a mindset I can't understand.
Edit: yelling on social media avails to NOTHING.

This argument only works if you pretend prequels, sequels, spin offs and cherished companies doesn't exist. There is already vested interest in getting a good product.

''Is the new GTA going to be woke, is the new Witcher going to be woke? I spent half my life invested in this franchise''

Everyone is all for making original titles instead of corrupting existing franchises.

But yes keep pretending that answering every chud is not politically motivated, you just happen to find it peculiar, completely amazed by the outrage, how could this happen you can't even look away..

I have forfeit a number of franchises. I don't have to pretend that they don't exist. When I no longer feel I'm the target audience, I just move to other games.
Command & Conquer 4 changed the core gameplay too much for my liking, so I didn't play it.
Warhammer 40.000 Dawn of War III did the same.
Guilty Gear Strive: ditto.
Company of Heroes I was cool, Company of Heroes II is a pay-to-win mess, so I forfeit that too.
I don't have to play every game ever made. There's greener pastures EVERYWHERE.

Edit: I also ditched the Torchlight franchise in favor of Grim Dawn because of the business model and gameplay changes made to Torchlight III and Torchlight Infinite.

[alex-spieleder]

Diposting pertama kali oleh ghost:

Diposting pertama kali oleh PocketYoda:

Its only rage bait when its not accurate.

Wokies call everything ragebait, they always dismiss things because they are too stupid to actually address things,

I find it funny that the left says that right peope are only right because the want to troll, ragebait etc and dont believe the stuff
While the right realy believes that the left believes their bs and we want to save most of them

[Thermal Lance]

So, do you guys start freaking out about "woke" the moment you wake up? Or is it a thing that happens a couple hours into the day?

[The nameless Gamer]

Diposting pertama kali oleh alex-spieleder:

Diposting pertama kali oleh The nameless Gamer:

So what? Upset that there are non-straight people in video games? Why would you be? They're not real people to begin with, but fictional characters. You aren't part of these games' worlds but a VISITOR. And if you don't like what you see, play something else. Plenty of games not on mainstream that would suit your taste. You are a PLAYER, not the main character.

And again your sprouding nonsense and lies.We gamers are not against noncis charackters. We are against bad writing and forced Dei content as well as the hate for masculine men or feminin women. I allready named you examples which you ignored. I qould say you kost the argument but nope you were nvere even within the competition

Then why are people not being specific and call bad games bad games, instead of using dog-whistles like "woke"?

Edit: There are many games which feature what you want: masculine men, feminine women, good writing and characters... but you have to look for them AWAY FROM MAINSTREAM TITLES.

[alex-spieleder]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Jonny Friggin Panic:

I'm going to step in merely to say we're reaching a point where all social media will need to start doing better about moderating the content they allow. For the past 30 years, the internet has been the new Wild West frontier, but that's reaching a head with the rampant hate speech, harassment, stalking, and even organization of violent insurrections and class warfare punching down.

Also, video games as a media is, itself, political. That's why you keep hearing news about racist, misogynist, and exploitative behavior in games and in the industry.

Cheers.

I only hear about anti-gamer, left authoritarian behavoir from them

[alex-spieleder]

Diposting pertama kali oleh The nameless Gamer:

Diposting pertama kali oleh DarkRooster:

Companies work their ass off to put inclusivity and diversity everywhere just to have someone pretend it doesn't exist to own the chuds.

Also if someone has 0 issues with the games, would he really be running around and trying to combat every complaint there is?

The levels of disingenuousness is reaching nuclear reaction.

Frankly, I just find it peculiar how obsessed people are with games they dislike. And with all the games to LIKE out there, why talk only about things people dislike? So far, every attempt to point people away from things to be outraged about resulted in nothing. So I get the impression that people who are complaining are simply looking for things to be outraged about instead of things they enjoy. Or maybe they enjoy being outraged at something. It's a mindset I can't understand.
Edit: yelling on social media avails to NOTHING.

Because it destryoed franchises we love. Thats why fans of those are fightinh back. Simple. Does that go in your head or is it silly form me to be hopefull

[The nameless Gamer]

Diposting pertama kali oleh alex-spieleder:

Diposting pertama kali oleh The nameless Gamer:

Frankly, I just find it peculiar how obsessed people are with games they dislike. And with all the games to LIKE out there, why talk only about things people dislike? So far, every attempt to point people away from things to be outraged about resulted in nothing. So I get the impression that people who are complaining are simply looking for things to be outraged about instead of things they enjoy. Or maybe they enjoy being outraged at something. It's a mindset I can't understand.
Edit: yelling on social media avails to NOTHING.

Because it destryoed franchises we love. Thats why fans of those are fightinh back. Simple. Does that go in your head or is it silly form me to be hopefull

Refer to post #530. That happens all the time. And it isn't even "woke" that "destroys" franchises, it's either changes in core gameplay, business model or both.

[alex-spieleder]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Tito Shivan:

Diposting pertama kali oleh Noir:

easiest solution would be if devs would stop waging their culture war against their customers.

Easiest solution would be all the people in the ragebait industry finding real jobs instead of leeching off every popular novelty they don't even care about just to get people riled up and scrap some ad revenue from idiots too hooked up on hating everything.

Agreed.
We beginn with Hasan Piker, Vauth, destiny, Shurijoka

[The nameless Gamer]

Diposting pertama kali oleh alex-spieleder:

Diposting pertama kali oleh Tito Shivan:

Easiest solution would be all the people in the ragebait industry finding real jobs instead of leeching off every popular novelty they don't even care about just to get people riled up and scrap some ad revenue from idiots too hooked up on hating everything.

Agreed.
We beginn with Hasan Piker, Vauth, destiny, Shurijoka

And move on to Asmongold, the Critical Drinker, Vara... Only fair if we ban BOTH sides.

[alex-spieleder]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Volfogg:

Well... Maybe if people would be willing to actually spend time on GAMES instead of this pointless placebo for social interaction here... maybe then things would be looking different.

That's probably too much to ask for though.

Well since steam want to give the users the "better" experience than other plattform fpr user we will have all the extra stuff which isnt linked to gaming

[alex-spieleder]

Diposting pertama kali oleh The nameless Gamer:

Diposting pertama kali oleh alex-spieleder:

Because it destryoed franchises we love. Thats why fans of those are fightinh back. Simple. Does that go in your head or is it silly form me to be hopefull

Refer to post #530. That happens all the time. And it isn't even "woke" that "destroys" franchises, it's either changes in core gameplay, business model or both.

So story and background are not core gameplay?

[alex-spieleder]

Diposting pertama kali oleh The nameless Gamer:

Diposting pertama kali oleh alex-spieleder:

Agreed.
We beginn with Hasan Piker, Vauth, destiny, Shurijoka

And move on to Asmongold, the Critical Drinker, Vara... Only fair if we ban BOTH sides.

Asmongold feeds on hate? That would be new to me.
But yeah we have to many influencers who could have been good workers

[The nameless Gamer]

Diposting pertama kali oleh alex-spieleder:

Diposting pertama kali oleh The nameless Gamer:

Refer to post #530. That happens all the time. And it isn't even "woke" that "destroys" franchises, it's either changes in core gameplay, business model or both.

So story and background are not core gameplay?

They're important for a story-driven game. So to cut a long story short, in regards to... let's take the Witcher franchise. Geralt had three story arcs. Ciri gets the fourth. It's CDPR's choice. You don't have to like that. But instead of giving them a hard time, you can simply look for a game which has a story arc you will like. It'll work out better for both sides. Being outraged at a game is a waste of time. If you don't like something about a franchise, be it gameplay or story... find a different franchise. I didn't like the direction Command & Conquer was taking, so I moved on to Relic's opus until THEY also took a path I didn't like. But my old games didn't disappear. Nobody is stopping me from playing C&C Tiberian Sun, Red Alert 2, Warhammer 40.000 Dawn of War I and II... as well as giving other franchises and games a spin. I didn't end up liking every game but it's still time better spent than yelling at EA or Relic on Reddit, X or somewhere else.

[DarkRooster]

Diposting pertama kali oleh The nameless Gamer:

Diposting pertama kali oleh DarkRooster:

This argument only works if you pretend prequels, sequels, spin offs and cherished companies doesn't exist. There is already vested interest in getting a good product.

''Is the new GTA going to be woke, is the new Witcher going to be woke? I spent half my life invested in this franchise''

Everyone is all for making original titles instead of corrupting existing franchises.

But yes keep pretending that answering every chud is not politically motivated, you just happen to find it peculiar, completely amazed by the outrage, how could this happen you can't even look away..

I have forfeit a number of franchises. I don't have to pretend that they don't exist. When I no longer feel I'm the target audience, I just move to other games.
Command & Conquer 4 changed the core gameplay too much for my liking, so I didn't play it.
Warhammer 40.000 Dawn of War III did the same.
Guilty Gear Strive: ditto.
Company of Heroes I was cool, Company of Heroes II is a pay-to-win mess, so I forfeit that too.
I don't have to play every game ever made. There's greener pastures EVERYWHERE.

Edit: I also ditched the Torchlight franchise in favor of Grim Dawn because of the business model and gameplay changes made to Torchlight III and Torchlight Infinite.

Someone comes and ruins your franchise and you can't even complain about how ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ it is? I called half your mentioned games pure ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ when they came out, and i called woke games woke.

Its not like everyone won't move on anyway, they will and studios will close. Why ruin it and antagonize your audience on top of that?

[The nameless Gamer]

Diposting pertama kali oleh DarkRooster:

Diposting pertama kali oleh The nameless Gamer:

I have forfeit a number of franchises. I don't have to pretend that they don't exist. When I no longer feel I'm the target audience, I just move to other games.
Command & Conquer 4 changed the core gameplay too much for my liking, so I didn't play it.
Warhammer 40.000 Dawn of War III did the same.
Guilty Gear Strive: ditto.
Company of Heroes I was cool, Company of Heroes II is a pay-to-win mess, so I forfeit that too.
I don't have to play every game ever made. There's greener pastures EVERYWHERE.

Edit: I also ditched the Torchlight franchise in favor of Grim Dawn because of the business model and gameplay changes made to Torchlight III and Torchlight Infinite.

Someone comes and ruins your franchise and you can't even complain about how ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ it is? I called half your mentioned games pure ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ when they came out, and i called woke games woke.

Its not like everyone won't move on anyway, they will and studios will close. Why ruin it and antagonize your audience on top of that?

I can complain but I simply don't want to. It avails to nothing. They won't start the development process from scratch just because some Jon/Jane Doe told them so on Reddit, X, the Steam Hub or wherever else. I prefer to just try other games. I don't get emotionally attached to a franchise, simple as that.