Steam users now have to spend $5 worth in purchases before they can add friends

[Enferk]

Smart move from Steam. That might actually help with bot problem that many steam users have. 

[decer304]

im actually glad that this is a thing. Everyday i would get 2 invites from a phishing bot, and it gets annoying as hell. I block them all but they keep coming. 

[popman]

Hmm, good point. I guess they could contact Steam Support, because that is so good?

That's what I was interested in. Whether or not you can contact support to get around this, if you are FTP only.

I can imagine the social-network standard, photo ID scan would be requested.

[Rohith_Kumar_Sp]

I think this is fine.

i only steam for free to play game Ghost recon phantom, i've never bought anything from steam, what is my fate then ? 

[Recon97]

Only dumbs fall for bots.

[SIGSEGV]

Does this include the worth of game keys you've put into steam or not?

[Rohith_Kumar_Sp]

@TheSLSAMG 
 

CD Keys, retail purchases, and gifts do not remove limited user restrictions. See How do I gain access to these features

 

Pretty shitty of them if you ask me, i can never buy anything in India on steam as it never accepts debit card, all the games i own on steam are from CD keys(Batman arkham Asylum) and Assassin's Creed (Bought from G2A as gifts) and retail (Arkham city) and F2P games, so according to steam, entire India will have to face limited accessibility from steam because of this shitty implement. was just starting to like steam. i'm real upset on this one.

[Blebekblebek]

buy $5 steam wallet, problem solved

you don't have to spend it for games, it could be items from dota store or CS GO store

it also unlock marketplace, and this term only for new user.

[Victorious Secret]

I can add friends for free on my Xbox Live basic account. What the fuck Valve? 

Is it too hard to add more advanced captchas, user responses or even phone # verification to make a new account? Really? This is the solution? To make someone pay for basic features if all they want to do is play a F2P game with friends? 

LOL. The GabeN Mustard Race will defend this either way. 

[alicskysareblue]

I am glad they are doing this I am tired of these stupid bots

[bcredeur97]

ummm im actually kind of saddened by this... I have over 60 games and they were all bought from outside sources (G2A, Humble bundle, etc.) 

 

Will I now have to spend $5 in the steam store in order to have a friends list??? imo they should automatically allow people who have games that are >free bought from outside sources to count for at least 50% of their known value or something...

[Nowak]

I can add friends for free on my Xbox Live basic account. What the fuck Valve? 

Is it too hard to add more advanced captchas, user responses or even phone # verification to make a new account? Really? This is the solution? To make someone pay for basic features if all they want to do is play a F2P game with friends? 

LOL. The GabeN Mustard Race will defend this either way. 

Well hey, at least they're doing something against all the phishing bots instead of sitting there just like "Yeah it's not a problem", like what they've been doing up until now.

[Thorium19]

I don't mind it if it will noticeably reduce the amount of phishing and fraud, largely because I have vouchers to spend on the steam store, but I can see a number of issues with it, especially with those who buy games from outside sources or only play F2P games. It's a step in the right direction, but it's still a long way from being the clear cut answer.

[Beskamir]

It's to prevent scambots from doing their thing.

 

The files are usually disguised .scr files.

I've never had steam bots trying to add me on steam...

[Nowak]

I've never had steam bots trying to add me on steam...

Not experiencing the problem doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Look at all the people in this thread saying "I hope this reduces the bot invites I get on Steam." I've gotten a few invites myself and don't have a very valuable backpack.

[marldorthegreat]

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3330-IAGK-7663

 

Say what you will about this, but they are actually taking a stride to really protect their users from phishing bots. Yeah, $5 seems a bit steep to remove these restrictions upon new accounts, but it's Steam. It's easy to meet that quota. Again, hopefully this helps protect us from phishing bots, which are a huge problem on Steam now.

All of the steam fanboys are like "its a good thing" Hahahahahahaha. What about people who cant afford games?. Or people who just play free to play games like dota and star trek online.

[Sonefiler]

They should add that it CANT BE CS:GO.

[Nowak]

All of the steam fanboys are like "its a good thing" Hahahahahahaha. What about people who cant afford games?. Or people who just play free to play games like dota and star trek online.

Like not being able to afford games on Steam is really a problem.

[cubercaleb]

If a had a dollar for everytime a bot tried to add me to scam my csgo skins...

Easy, dont add them and even if you do just don't trade to them.

[tp95112]

Easy, dont add them and even if you do just don't trade to them.

I dont, I just block them instantly

[othertomperson]

Just to clarify: "limited" accounts CAN STILL ACCEPT FRIEND INVITES SENT TO THEM. You just can't send them. You can also use the client chat just fine.

 

That's not so bad. Limiting all of social would be disastrous for Steam: most new members only join because they have that friend who introduces them.

 

iirc £5 is about what I paid for Watch Dogs. I paid £7 for Thief. I dunno, I don't think spending £5 in a store in order to get full functionality out of their free services is too much to ask. McDonalds ask for more to use their toilets tbh.

[BonSie]

Well, in the last few months. I had multiple dipshits try to do that link fishing thing.

[NickTheMajin]

I get a lot of free games. But i use all those features like very heavily. But what  Idon't get is why they don't allow sending friend requests. That's honestly bullshit.

 

You're serious?

 

You have not spent a dime on steam in your life and you're saying that Valve implementing a system to cut down on phishing and spamming users is a bad thing? Seriously **** off dude. If you haven't given Valve any money you have no right to criticize the free service you're using. 

[NickTheMajin]

All of the steam fanboys are like "its a good thing" Hahahahahahaha. What about people who cant afford games?. Or people who just play free to play games like dota and star trek online.

 

It's $5. If you can't afford $5 what the hell are you doing on this website. As I said in my above post, if you haven't spent any money on Steam you have no right to complain about it. 

[Rohith_Kumar_Sp]

You're serious?

 

You have not spent a dime on steam in your life and you're saying that Valve implementing a system to cut down on phishing and spamming users is a bad thing? Seriously **** off dude. If you haven't given Valve any money you have no right to criticize the free service you're using. 

You are not the center of this world, you have to understand others problems other than your own for once, it's the internet here, also, you don't have to be a dick about it when replying to others, there's a reason Code of conduct exists, read it 

on topic 

i have bought games physically which i have added on steam and bought games as steam gift from 3rd party vendors as steam doesn't accept debit card, and purchased games in retail, so according to steam

CD Keys, retail purchases, and gifts do not remove limited user restrictions. See How do I gain access to these features

 

so even thought i have my games legit in steam, i'm now a limited user who can't even add friends.