Steam will soon also sell non-gaming software

Valve CEO Gabe Newell doesn't like Windows 8 and thinks it will be a disaster for PC gaming. In recent weeks we've learned that Valve is planning to expand its Linux efforts, and now news hits the wire that the game developer will expand Steam with non-gaming apps, offering competition for Microsoft's upcoming Windows Store. The first non-gaming ssoftware on Steam will be published on September 5.

The first non-gaming apps will show up on Steam on September 5. They'll include creativity and productivity software, and apparently, some of the apps will feature Steamworks integration—just like Steam games. "Many of the launch titles will take advantage of popular Steamworks features, such as easy installation, automatic updating, and the ability to save your work to your personal Steam Cloud space so your files may travel with you," says the company. Indie developers will be able to submit their software for public consideration through Steam Greenlight, as well.

It's interesting Valve would make this move just as Microsoft prepares to release Windows 8, which will have its own, built-in software distribution service: the Windows Store. The playing field is crowded on the Mac side, too, where Apple's Mac App Store has been featured in two successive OS X releases. Valve claims it's merely fulfilling popular demand, though. "The 40 million gamers frequenting Steam are interested in more than playing games," says Valve's Mark Richardson. "They have told us they would like to have more of their software on Steam, so this expansion is in response to those customer requests."

Source: The Tech Report