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Steam is a digital game storefront and distribution service developed by Valve, launched on September 12, 2003. Originally launched to allow Valve to collect their own library of titles and provide automatic updates to them, Steam later expanded to include numerous third-party titles, and has since expanded to become a web-based digital storefront. While primarily dealing in video games, other forms of media such as software, games, movies, and television are available on the service. With a 75% market share as of 2013, Steam is the largest digital storefront for the PC platform. Its primary competitors are GOG.com and the Epic Games Launcher.
SteamOS, an OS based primarily on the Steam software, was developed for use on gaming PCs and Valve's own hardware. Devices such as the Steam Machine and Steam Deck have been developed for use with Steam. Titles not available in Steam's storefront can still be manually added to a user's individual library of games for ease of access and organization. Bluetooth and USB controllers made for other consoles, such as the DualShock 4, DualSense, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, and the Xbox Wireless Controller are natively supported by the Steam software, though not all titles available on the storefront are natively compatible with controllers. Valve has also released their own controller made specifically for use with Steam, the Steam Controller. Valve also developed a device known as the Steam Link made for streaming from Steam to a TV; it has since been phased out and replaced with an application of the same name.