Valve updates Steam tags, adding 17 and removing 28

Valve has overhauled the tag system on its Steam digital storefront, adding 17 new tags, removing 28, and modifying several others. The company announced the changes in a blog post, stating the goal is to help players identify games that fit their interests and to improve the platform's recommendation algorithms.

The removed tags include several that Valve deemed redundant, subjective, or overly specific. Tags such as "NSFW" and "Mature" were eliminated because they overlap with more descriptive options like "Gore," "Violent," and "Sexual Content." Subjective tags like "Masterpiece" and "Well-Written" were removed due to inconsistent application and frequent disagreements. Tags tied to specific intellectual properties, including "Warhammer 40K," "Dungeons & Dragons," and "LEGO," were also cut, as Valve noted these franchises are already clearly identified by publishers on store pages. Other removed tags, such as "Drama" and "Ambient," were cited as applying to too few products.

The 17 new additions aim to provide more precise descriptors for emerging genres and content. Notable new tags include "Bullet Heaven," described as the opposite of "Bullet Hell" for games focusing on...