Launched in the early 2000s, Steam is one of the most popular digital distribution platforms for buying popular and the latest PC games on the internet. Developed by Valve, the maker of well-known titles like Half-Life, Dota, and Counter-Strike, the platform was created to help players keep their video games up to date.
However, Valve soon began adding several third-party games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty, and PUBG, enabling gamers to quickly purchase and download video games from other publishers. If you are new to Steam or PC gaming, here’s a quick introduction to the gaming platform.
![How to install Steam](https://i0.wp.com/images.indianexpress.com/2023/12/How-to-install-Steam.jpg?ssl=1)
How to download and install Steam
Downloading and installing Steam is quite straightforward. To do so, visit the Steam website, where you’ll find a green ‘Install Steam’ button at the top left, next to the login option. Click on it, and it will redirect you to a new page where you can download the Steam installer for your operating system.
*Once you’ve selected your operating system, click on the blue ‘Install Steam’ button, and your browser will start downloading the app installer.
*Open and complete the Steam installation process, then launch the Steam app on your PC. The app will prompt you to either create a new account or log in to your existing profile.
*If you are new to the platform, fill in the required details and proceed to verify your account via email.
Steam has a search bar that lets you quickly search for your favourite game. (Express Photo)
How do I find and download games from Steam
Steam boasts a vast library of both free and paid games. To locate the game of your choice, navigate to the ‘Store’ tab where you’ll find a search bar allowing you to find the game you want to play.
On the home screen, you can discover newly released titles or explore other available games. Steam also categorizes games based on genre, making it easy for you to find the type of games you’re interested in.
Upon finding the game you wish to play, click on it, and a new page will appear. If the game is free to play, you’ll see a ‘Play Game’ button. If it isn’t, you’ll need to purchase the game to play it.
After making a purchase, head to the Library tab to download and install the game. Here, click the ‘Install’ button and follow the instructions. Once installed, the green ‘Install’ button will automatically change to a ‘Play’ button, which, when clicked, will launch the game.
Note: Before buying a game, ensure you scroll down on the game page and check the system requirements to ensure it can run smoothly on your system.
Steam system requirements
The hardware requirements needed to install Steam are relatively low by modern standards. While the app can function on a system with a dual-core processor, Valve recommends a minimum of a quad-core processor for optimal performance.
Additionally, it’s important to note that Steam no longer supports Windows 7 and Windows 8, so you will need a PC with Windows 10. The company also recommends a minimum of 8GB of RAM and either an Nvidia GeForce GTX 970, AMD RX 480, or a newer graphics card. However, the app might still run on systems with lower RAM.
It’s advisable to check the system requirements to ensure the smooth operation of the Steam app on your specific hardware configuration.