https://youtu.be/FI1GNsFpsyA

https://steamcommunity.com/groups/Sentinels_of_the_Store/announcements/detail/4140568465006104496

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the growing issue of impostor games on the Steam platform. Impostor games, also known as Trojan Horse games, deceive consumers by masquerading as popular titles while offering low-quality shovelware games. These deceptive practices not only harm consumers who are misled into purchasing inferior products but also undermine the hard work and reputation of legitimate developers.

Recent incidents, such as the fake Day Before, Helldivers, and Counter-Strike pages, have highlighted the urgent need for action. Despite efforts to remove impostor games, the problem persists, leaving consumers and developers vulnerable to exploitation.

We call upon Valve Corporation to implement the following measures to address the issue of impostor games on Steam:

1. Block Banned Developers' Active Steam Keys: This will immediately pinch the problem of key redistribution at the roots. These scams are facilitated by Steam allowing keys to remain active after a developer has been banned. Once a developer violates Steam's rules, these keys should no longer be able to be redeemed. Ultimately what this also achieves is it makes this scheme far less profitable for them.
2. Implement Developer and Publisher Verification: Allow legitimate developers and publishers to claim and verify their names on the Steam platform, reducing the risk of misrepresentation and ensuring that consumers can trust the authenticity of the games they purchase.
3. Manually Review Substantive Store Page Changes: These scams occur not at the immediate launch of a store page, but a few weeks/months after the store page is approved. We are calling on Valve if the developer/publisher wants to make substantive changes to the store page (e.g. a total title change & more than 50% of the description being changed, and/or the entirety of the page's screenshots being overhauled) then this needs to be manually reviewed to assess for any abuse of store tools or any cases of misrepresentation before the changes are rolled out. 

Valve must take swift and decisive action to address this issue and restore trust in the Steam platform. Valve can demonstrate its commitment to protecting consumers and supporting the legitimate game development community by implementing these measures.

We urge Valve Corporation to prioritize the integrity of the Steam platform and take proactive steps to combat impostor games. Together, we can ensure a fair and transparent gaming environment for all.

Sign this petition to demand action against impostor games on Steam!