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Valve Makes Steam’s Discounts and Events Algorithmic

Tests showed personalized recommendations exposed ten times more games, boosting store visits and wishlists ahead of a planned full switch in early 2027.

Overview

  • Valve announced Tuesday that it will move the Discounts & Events section from a manually curated calendar to algorithm-driven, personalized recommendations for each user.
  • In experiments, Valve says the new system showed roughly 10x more games per day in that section and produced measurable increases in store page visits, wishlists, and cart additions.
  • The company has paused scheduling new curated placements but will honor developers’ already-booked slots while it continues tuning the system and finalizes timing.
  • Valve plans to release new and updated Steam tools so developers can manage discounts and sale events directly, a change aimed at reducing the need to secure manual front-page placements.
  • Early developer reports show increased discovery for some smaller indies, though observers warn personalization can favor familiar tastes and may hide unexpected titles, so Valve says it will keep tuning the algorithm.