Steam has added an option that allows you to see how much you’ve Spent on the platform. You may regret looking at it.
The “External Funds Used” tool – quietly released at the end of last month – allows you to see how much you’ve spent on Steam in total. According to the tool’s description, the total shown is “a sum of external funds that have been applied to your Steam Account, either to purchase games on the Steam store or fund your Steam Wallet.”
Aside from your overall total, the tool also shows two other totals. OldSpend represents funds which were put into your account before April 17 2015 (the date “Limited User Account” restrictions were put in place). PWSpend represents funds spent on Perfect World accounts. Perfect World Entertainment is a Chinese developer which has a partnership with Steam, allowing Valve to operate Dota 2 and CS:GO in China.
According to Valve, this value is used to determine if an account is a “Limited User Account”. “Limited User Accounts” are Steam accounts which have spent less than $5.00 and are therefore prevented from accessing certain community and social features. This is done to make it harder for “malicious users” with dummy accounts, or bots, to spam, phish, and abuse others on the platform.
The external funds tool was added alongside several other account data options which allow you to view everything from chat history and profiles you’ve reported, to threads you’re subscribed to and sale votes.
Elsewhere in the world of Steam, Valve has come under fire recently for announcing it will “allow anything onto the Steam Store” as long as it isn’t deemed illegal or “straight up trolling.” The company revealed the change in policy following backlash over threatening popular erotic games on Steam with takedown warnings. However, some feel Valve has put Steam on an enormous pedestal.
Vic is a freelance news writer for IGN. Often found force-feeding people The Sims or gifting PlayerUnknown potato bread. You can follow her on Twitter.
