steam-community-management

name	steam-community-management
description	Post-launch community management for Steam games. Covers announcements, events, discussion forum moderation, update post templates, and Community Hub configuration. Use when managing player communication, creating events, or setting up community channels.
standards-version	1.10.0

Steam Community Management

Trigger

Use this skill when the user:

• Wants to post an announcement or patch notes on Steam
• Needs templates for update posts, sale announcements, or roadmap updates
• Asks about Steam Events (livestreams, free weekends, seasonal events)
• Wants to set up or moderate Steam Discussion forums
• Asks about Community Hub configuration (screenshots, artwork, guides)
• Needs help with community engagement strategy post-launch
• Is a modder managing their Workshop item's discussion threads or changelogs

Required Inputs

• App ID - the game's Steam App ID
• Task - what the user wants to do (post announcement, create event, set up forums, etc.)

Workflow

Preferred: If the Steam MCP server is available, use it to verify app details. See MCP Usage.

1. Steam Announcements

Announcements appear in the game's Community Hub, the Activity Feed, and as notifications to followers/owners.

Announcement types:

Type	Use case	Visibility
Regular update	Patch notes, minor updates	Owners + followers
Major update	Large content drops, expansions	Broader reach, Steam algorithm boost
Event	Time-limited events, sales, livestreams	Calendar integration

Patch notes template:

## [Game Name] Update v1.2.0 - [Title]

### New Features
- Feature 1: brief description
- Feature 2: brief description

### Improvements
- Improvement 1
- Improvement 2

### Bug Fixes
- Fixed issue where [description]
- Fixed crash when [description]

### Known Issues
- Issue 1 (fix in progress)

---
Thanks for playing! Join the discussion below or report bugs in the Bug Reports forum.

Major update template:

# [Update Name] is Live!

[Hero image or GIF]

We're excited to announce [update name], the biggest update to [game] yet!

## What's New

### [Feature Category 1]
[Description with screenshots]

### [Feature Category 2]
[Description with screenshots]

## How to Access
[Instructions — update automatically, opt into beta, etc.]

## What's Next
[Teaser for upcoming content]

## Thank You
[Community acknowledgment]

Sale announcement template:

# [Game Name] is [X]% Off!

[Game] is on sale during the [Sale Name]!

🎮 **[X]% off** — now just $[price]
⏰ Sale ends [date]

[Brief game description for new players]

[Link to store page]

2. Steam Events

Events show on the Steam calendar and can include:

Event type	Description	Setup
Game Update	Patch notes linked to a build	Steamworks Partner > Posts
Livestream	Stream with embedded player	Link YouTube/Twitch URL
Free Weekend	Temporary free access	Steamworks Partner > Marketing
Sale Event	Discount period	Steamworks Partner > Pricing
Seasonal Event	Time-limited in-game content	Custom event + in-game integration
Tournament	Competitive event	Custom event type

Event creation flow:

1. Go to Steamworks Partner > Your App > Community > Posts & Events
2. Choose event type
3. Set title, description, start/end times
4. Add cover image (800×450 recommended)
5. Optionally link to a game build/branch
6. Save as draft → preview → publish

3. Discussion Forums

Recommended forum structure:

Forum	Description	Moderation
General Discussion	Open chat about the game	Light moderation
Bug Reports	Structured bug submissions	Developer-monitored
Suggestions & Feedback	Feature requests	Developer-monitored
Guides & Tutorials	Player-created guides	Community-driven
Announcements	Dev posts only	Locked to developers
Modding (if applicable)	Mod discussion & support	Community-driven

Moderation best practices:

• Pin important threads (FAQ, known issues, rules)
• Respond to bug reports with acknowledgment, even if no fix yet
• Create megathreads for common topics to reduce noise
• Use Steam's built-in moderation tools (delete, lock, move, ban)
• Set up sub-forum permissions for announcement-only forums

4. Community Hub Configuration

The Community Hub includes:

• Screenshots — enable/disable player screenshots
• Artwork — player-submitted artwork and fan art
• Videos — player gameplay videos
• Guides — player-written guides and walkthroughs
• Reviews — player reviews (always enabled)
• Workshop — if Workshop is configured

Configuration in Steamworks Partner:

1. Community > General Settings
2. Enable/disable each section
3. Set content moderation level
4. Configure Community Hub visibility

5. Communication Cadence

Recommended post-launch communication schedule:

Frequency	Content
Weekly	Community engagement (respond to forums, social media)
Bi-weekly	Minor update posts or devlog entries
Monthly	Roadmap progress update or major patch notes
Quarterly	Major content update announcements
As needed	Critical bug fix notices, sale announcements

Key References

Resource	URL
Steam Announcements	https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/marketing/event_tools
Community Hub	https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/community
Discussion Forums	https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/community#discussions
Steam Events	https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/marketing/event_tools/events

Example Interaction

User: "I just released a big content update. Help me write patch notes and set up an announcement."

Agent:

1. Asks for update highlights, new features, and bug fixes
2. Generates a structured patch notes post using the major update template
3. Recommends posting as a "Major Update" event type for maximum visibility
4. Suggests adding a cover image (800x450) and linking to the update build
5. Advises: "Post during peak hours (10am-2pm PST weekdays) for maximum initial visibility."

MCP Usage

Step	MCP Tool	Auth	Purpose
Verify app	steam_getAppDetails({ appid })	None	Confirm app name and current state
Get news	steam_getNewsForApp({ appid })	None	Fetch existing announcements and news posts
Check reviews	steam_getAchievementStats({ appid })	None	Reference achievement data in update posts

Community management actions (posting, moderating) require the Steamworks Partner site — they are not available via API or MCP.

Common Pitfalls

1. Posting announcements without localizing the title — Steam shows announcement titles in the store. Non-English players skip announcements with English-only titles even if the body is translated.
2. Using events for everything — events have a specific time/date and show in the Steam client calendar. Use announcements for news and events only for time-bound activities.
3. Not pinning a "Known Issues" discussion — players create duplicate threads for the same bugs. A pinned thread reduces noise and shows you're aware of problems.
4. Ignoring negative review responses — responding professionally to negative reviews (especially ones citing fixable issues) can lead to review updates. Never argue or be dismissive.

See Also

• Steam Store Page Optimizer - optimize store page for conversions
• Steam Review Analysis - analyze player feedback to inform community posts
• Steam Release Checklist - pre-launch community setup