Buying Games through Steam

Article ID: 8360-WEJC-2625 FAQ ID: 583

How do I purchase a game through Steam?

You may purchase games through Steam with a credit card or a PayPal account which has been associated with a credit card or bank account.

Please observe the following process to complete a credit card or PayPal purchase through Steam:

1. Log in to your Steam account (if you do not have a Steam account, please see the Installing Steam topic for instructions to install Steam so you may create an account)
2. Use the Search feature to find a game by its title, or use the Browse Games link to find a game by Category, Genre, or Price
3. Click the Purchase button on the game page to select an individual game or game package to buy

Is entering my payment information in Steam safe?

All payment information is protected by industry-standard RSA public key encryption. If you have any questions about our privacy policy or the security of your information, please review our Privacy Policy:

Steam Privacy Policy

http://www.valvesoftware.com/privacy.htm

What forms of payment are accepted on Steam?

We accept the following forms of payment:

• Credit/debit cards
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Discover
  • American Express
  • JCB
• PayPal
  • For more information on PayPal, please visit http://www.paypal.com/
• ClickandBuy
  • For more information on ClickandBuy, please visit http://www.clickandbuy.com/
• Visa Electron
  • Please contact your card issuer to ensure that your Visa Electron card is enabled for online purchases before attempting to purchase games on Steam.

Can I use a gift card or virtual card?

It is possible to order through Steam with a gift card from one of the credit card issuers listed above, however, we require that the address information and CVV2 information for the card be an exact match to the gift card or virtual card issuer's system.

We recommend that you inquire with the card issuer to ensure you have the correct address and CVV2 information to complete the transaction.

I have an APO / FPO address - how should I enter my information?

AP addresses should use CA as the routing state - AE addresses should use NY. If you encounter any difficulty with your purchase, please contact us to ensure the purchase attempt may be reviewed.

Is there a monthly subscription fee or any other additional fees?

There are no monthly fees to download games and use Steam. Certain games offered on Steam may require a monthly fee to play. Games that require a monthly fee will be indicated on the Steam Storefront page for that particular game. Downloading additional content such as game updates or reinstalling the game after getting a new computer will not require any further purchases or fees.

What currency are the prices in the Steam store priced in?

All prices presented in the Steam store are in United States dollars - if you need the exact total in your country's currency, please contact your credit card issuer or bank for the current exchange rate (order totals are based upon the exchange rate at the time of purchase).

Do I get a CD or printed CD Key when ordering through Steam?

You will not need to enter a CD Key to retrieve your game, you will only need your to login to your Steam Account to get access to your games.

Do Steam subscription purchases expire?

Games purchased through Steam do not expire - you will only be charged once for permanent access to the game through your Steam account.

How can I purchase multiple copies of the game with one credit card?

In order to deter fraud, Steam does not allow multiple purchases of the same product with the same credit card.

To purchase multiple copies of a game you must attempt a purchase (a "test purchase") on each Steam account before we can remove the lock on your card. Simply enter your credit card information in the Steam Account you wish to make the purchase on.

Once you have placed a test purchase on each of the accounts and received notice that it was declined, please contact our billing department and provide the following information:

• The last four digits of the credit card you are using for your purchase.
• The Steam Account name(s) you would like to purchase software for.
• The Steam Account name(s) you have purchased games on prior to this attempt.

We will send you confirmation after reviewing the issue and enabling your card for an additional purchase.

If I format my hard drive or get a new computer, will I need to purchase my games again?

Since games purchased on Steam are a one time charge, you do not need to purchase any games you already own again. To access your games after a hard drive format or when you get a new computer, simply log in to your existing Steam account and then download your games again.

Please see the Steam account use topic for more information.

Related Topics

• Steam Error: Credit card declined
• Entering non-English Characters in Billing Information
• Steam Problem: PayPal requires a credit card for purchases
• Taxes for Steam Purchases