Steam Play comes to PS3

[sj33]

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-01-18-valve-debuts-steam-features-on-playstation-3

Those of you who use Steam will know that SteamPlay basically means that when you buy the PC version of a game, you also get access to the Mac version (and vice versa). Apparently, starting with Portal 2, buying the PS3 version of a SteamPlay game will grant you access to the PC and Mac versions too. Looks like the PS3 version of the game will be the one to go for even if you primarily intend to play the game on PC.

It obviously also supports other SteamWorks features like cross-platform play, voice chat etc.

[Matt]

Amazingly amazing new

[Family Fry]

This is game changing news, if you get PC/MAC access with PS3 version.
Just read blurb...

"Valve’s just confirmed that Portal 2 will feature cross-platform play between PS3 and both PC and Mac owners of the game when it releases in April.
Features also confirmed a “persistent cloud-based storage of PS3 saved games” as well as cross-platform chat on PS3, PC and Mac. Valve’s also confirmed it’ll include a “Steam Play” of the game with every copy of the PS3 version, which means a Steam key for the PC and Mac version will be included.
“We made a promise to gamers at E3 that Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 would be the best console version of the product,” said Valve boss Gabe Newell.“Working together with Sony we have identified a set of features we believe are very compelling to gamers. We hope to expand upon the foundation being laid in Portal 2 with more Steam features and functionality in DLC and future content releases.
”Portal 2 for PS3 was announced with full Steamworks support at E3 last June during Sony’s press conference by Newell."

[sj33]

No, the PS3 version uses SteamWorks, so it uses Steam anyway and thus will appear on your Steam list automatically. Presumably the use of Steamworks was a concession that Sony made to get Valve onboard on the PS3 (and also means Sony can claim multiplatform play).

No idea if it works vice-versa though, maybe Sony aren't generious enough to cheat themselves out of a licencing fee.

It would be interesting to see if other developers use this, since most PC games these days use SteamWorks.

EDIT - Okay, it seem it is a key of sorts!

[Brad]

Utopia has been reached. This is how I hoped things would be! Valve - your Orange Box catastrophe is forgiven.

[Largo]

Flippin eck this is pretty damn awesome, im all for x-platform multi too

[InvisibleKid]

Day one purchase for me. Bargainous.

[JP]

I've been a member of Steam since it was Mac compatible but I only really play PS3 games so I'm a little unsure what any of this means to be honest.

Having checked I notice that I've got quite a few PSN games that are also available on Steam so does this mean I'd be able to download the Mac versions as well or doesn't it work that way?

When they added Mac support was SteamPlay available on previously released games by default or was it done on a game by game basis?

I absolutely love the idea of persistent cloud-based saves, it's something Sony had mentioned was on the way absolutely ages ago. I wonder if this means it'll be on the way to PS3s for other games too? I'd be happy to pay for a service like that to be honest.

Although it doesn't really interest me I wonder if the cross-platform chat for SteamPlay games will also mean that cross game chat will be activated on the PS3 too as I know that's been a popular request.

[Brad]

Given that Sony don't charge for online gaming I reckon they should just hand over the entire online multiplayer gaming side of things to Valve. They could match and probably surpass XBox Live overnight if they did that.

[Flabio]

They could match and probably surpass XBox Live overnight if they did that.

Well, apart from the fact that any game released before now wouldn't work with it.

[sj33]

Having checked I notice that I've got quite a few PSN games that are also available on Steam so does this mean I'd be able to download the Mac versions as well or doesn't it work that way?

The publishers would have to ask Valve to make purchases format-agnostic. Some publishers have already done this retroactively with PC/Mac releases (such as Assassin's Creed 2) and they don't have to be SteamWorks games.

When they added Mac support was SteamPlay available on previously released games by default or was it done on a game by game basis?

Steam Play was introduced simutaniously with the Mac release of Steam, so Steam Play support was added as games appeared on the Mac store.

I absolutely love the idea of persistent cloud-based saves, it's something Sony had mentioned was on the way absolutely ages ago. I wonder if this means it'll be on the way to PS3s for other games too? I'd be happy to pay for a service like that to be honest.

Steam Cloud is nothing new on Steam, it was introduced with the original Left 4 Dead, but it's a brilliant idea. Control setups and the like are saved too. It's designed so that you can access your saves and setup from any computer by simply logging into your Steam account.

Although it doesn't really interest me I wonder if the cross-platform chat for SteamPlay games will also mean that cross game chat will be activated on the PS3 too as I know that's been a popular request.

No-one really knows how SteamWorks will be implemented on the PS3. It might be that the SteamWorks layer is only active when you are inside of a SteamWorks game (i.e. Portal 2), so the voice/text chat with other Steam users is limited to when you're inside a SteamWorks game. Who knows.

[Brad]

Don't spoil my party with your facts flabio!

[Bort]

Having checked I notice that I've got quite a few PSN games that are also available on Steam so does this mean I'd be able to download the Mac versions as well or doesn't it work that way?

When they added Mac support was SteamPlay available on previously released games by default or was it done on a game by game basis?

No, the dev/publisher of the PSN (or steam) games would have to choose to enable cross platform access. Apart from a few others only the Valve made games are included in SteamPlay (buy one, get all format copies).

Although it doesn't really interest me I wonder if the cross-platform chat for SteamPlay games will also mean that cross game chat will be activated on the PS3 too as I know that's been a popular request.

Since no official announcement was made at E3 apart from Sony allowing SteamPlay to be embedded I doubt they'll add it to the XMB. If they were going to partner up we would know about it by now.

[JP]

Thanks Shakey_Jake33/Bort, I suppose it's just a matter of seeing what happens at the moment.

Just been thinking about it and in comparison to the other ways that have been attempted this may be one of the best incentives for persuading people to buy new rather than used games.

Publishers have tried a few of doing it with EA going for free content/games on the PS3 version (Dead Space 2, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, Medal of Honor, etc) and Bioware did it via the Cerberus Network which I was a fan of so this is surely something that they're going to want to support if they can?

The PS3 version of games usually have an RRP of about ?10 more than the PC versions so I suppose it's possible that people now may decide to hand over the extra cash to buy the PS3 version knowing that they'll also have access to the PC & Mac versions which will still allow you to take advantage of al the benefits that you get on these platforms.

I'd imagine it's fairly unusual for people to buy the PS3 and PC/Mac versions of a game now so it's not as if the publishers are really going to be losing money by including a code for the PC/Mac versions of the games in the PS3 version.

The multi-player side of things isn't really something I'm interested in but it seems to be a big thing for a lot of people.

I wasn't particularly impressed when I first read about but this could actually be a pretty major announcement now I think about it. Of course, it all depends on how well it's implemented on the PS3 but I suppose if Valve are doing this they'll be wanting to make sure it works well.

[sj33]

It's interesting for me because when I'm at university, my consoles stay at home (hence I use Steam pretty heavily, no need to carry physical games around). The ability to use games on both my laptop and my PS3 at home is appreciated.

Perhaps more significant for me is the ability to access the Steam friendlist on the PS3 since Steam always runs in the background for me so I use it to keep in contact with a lot of people (although whether or not this is accessible outside of Portal 2 etc. will dictate how useful this is).