“Off-topic review bombs” will no longer count toward Steam user scores

Review bombs have been a problem across online media for some time, as users frequently campaign to drop ratings for games, movies, and other products for reasons unrelated to the quality of the thing itself. It’s been a particular issue on Steam, and Valve has made some small changes to how the user review system works in an effort to combat the practice. Steam will now remove the effect of “off-topic review bombs” on the user score displayed at the top of a game’s store page, according to the announcement. The reviews will remain attached to the game and viewable, and users can opt-in through their account preferences to see all reviews counted. The “off-topic” criteria refers to reviews “where the focus of those reviews is on a topic that we consider unrelated to the likelihood that future purchasers will be happy if they buy the game.” Widespread complaints about DRM and EULA changes are considered off-topic under this rule. Valve says “our reasoning is that the ‘general’ Steam player doesn't care as much about them, so the Review Score is more accurate if it doesn't contain them.”