Besides buying Steam Deck, what are Steam points used for? That’s the burning question on everyone’s mind these days. Steam first introduced these points in June 2020 during the Steam Summer Sale, giving players a new way to customize their profiles and interact with the community as they play Steam games. Before this system, players could only unlock special backgrounds and emoticons by collecting Trading Cards and crafting badges.
So if you’re wondering what are Steam points used for, here’s a breakdown of what you can do with them.
How Do You Get Steam Points?
Earning Steam Points is simple: Spend money on the Steam Store. For every $1 you spend, you earn 100 Steam Points. If you’re outside the US, the points you earn are based on your local currency’s equivalent.
Steam Points aren’t limited to just game purchases. You can also earn them by buying DLCs, soundtracks, and hardware like the Steam Deck.
However, you cannot earn Steam Points from wallet top-ups or purchases made outside the Steam Store. Also, Steam Points cannot be exchanged for real money.
What Are Steam Points Used For?
Steam Points are mainly used to customize your profile and enhance your interactions on the platform. Here’s a detailed look at what you can spend them on:
Profile Customization
The most popular use for Steam Points is to buy items that make your profile stand out. These items are available in the Steam Points Shop, and here’s what you can get:
- Avatars: 2,000 Points
- Animated Avatars: 3,000 Points
- Avatar Frames: 2,000 Points
- Profile Backgrounds: 1,000–2,000 Points
- Startup Animations (for Big Picture Mode or Steam Deck): 3,000 Points
- Item Bundles: 5,000 Points
Chat Stickers and Emotes
Steam Points can also be used to buy animated stickers and emotes for use in chats. These are great for adding some personality to your conversations with friends.
Seasonal and Limited-Time Items
During seasonal sales, Steam often adds exclusive items to the Points Shop, such as special backgrounds, badges, and free stickers.
Giving Awards to Other Users
Another use for Steam Points is to give Awards to other users in the Community section. If you find a helpful review, a funny comment, or an impressive mod, you can use your Points to give them an Award. Awards include options like the Clown Award (for trolling) or more positive ones to show appreciation.
Where Do You Find the Points Shop?
Open Steam and look for the ‘Store’ tab in the main navigation bar. Under the Store tab, you’ll see the Points Shop option.
Alternatively, you can visit the Points Shop directly through your web browser by going to this link. Your current Points balance is displayed at the top of the Points Shop page, so you can easily track how many Points you have.
Hopefully, now you know what are Steam Points used for. For more Steam-related queries, stay tuned to RetroNoob.
