Steam Wallet Beta Now Available

[ChrisB]

The Steam Wallet, Steamworks' newest feature, is now available for public testing. With Steam Wallet, you can add value to your Steam account using any of the payment methods supported by Steam. Funds in your Steam Wallet may then be used to buy any item available on the Steam store, or combined with other payment methods to make a purchase.

To help us test this new feature, now in beta, click here and follow the instructions available there. Remember, even in beta, purchases are real. You should only fund with money you actually plan to use on Steam. And as always, please report any feedback here on the forums. Thanks!

If you would like to test in your browser, please visit:
http://store.steampowered.com/steamaccount/addfunds/

[xX_Renegade_Xx]

One question for you please Chris, this operates the same as an online bank, kind of, but actually uses my Steam account to hold the funds?

I sense Steam money cards in the future.

[Slayer00]

How is the funds protected from account hijackers?
Is there a pin or additional password? If not there definetly should be atleast 4 digit pin with big red warning not to use the same pin anywhere or real bank pin.

[xX_Renegade_Xx]

Originally Posted by Slayer00

How is the funds protected from account hijackers?
Is there a pin or additional password? If not there definetly should be atleast 4 digit pin with big red warning not to use the same pin anywhere or real bank pin.

Thanks I was just about to ask the same, if these funds are available easily on any account then I presume further security checks are in place to secure those funds?

Also, can money be transfered, for example as a gift to another account?

[boomertank44]

This feature scares me a bit.. what security measures are in place to protect your Steam Wallet from hijackers?

[Lance_Lake]

Furthermore, what's the point? If I can pay for it using a credit card, then why would I need to use this?

[Lord_Gannondorf]

Originally Posted by boomertank44

This feature scares me a bit.. what security measures are in place to protect your Steam Wallet from hijackers?

Common sense.

[chopstix]

Originally Posted by Lance_Lake

Furthermore, what's the point? If I can pay for it using a credit card, then why would I need to use this?

I am curious the same. The only real benefit I see is the ability to set up accounts for younger children who have no cards, and allot them a certain amount to purchase games with. Unless they are looking to add pre-paid cards though, I am not sure the benefit.

[xX_Renegade_Xx]

Originally Posted by Lord_Gannondorf

Common sense.

Common sense yes does help a lot but if hijackers are aware that funds are freely available on any account and those funds can be transferred to any other account without any further security checks then I sense a big rise in hijacked accounts.

[SEKCobra]

I hate such pre made amounts, why cant I specify an own amount, this seems like someone was lazy and didnt want to take care of PSC

[Smertnik]

I'm not quite sure I get the purpose of this feature. Is it supposed to be for those occasions when you don't have access to your payment information, like CC number?
Why would I go through all the trouble first transferring money to my Steam account (wondering about security measures) to spend it on games afterwards when I can just directly buy the items? And you'll also always have a few bucks left over on the account since the prices are never even.

Or do I miss the point?

[strandedPL]

Lets say the game costs you 7 dollars.

Why would anyone transfer 10 instead?

[Toto pectore]

Originally Posted by Lance_Lake

If I can pay for it using a credit card, then why would I need to use this?

You can gift credits/money to another person to buy a game he/she wants.

Or Valve can implement reward system like Bluecoins on GamersGate.

[boomertank44]

Originally Posted by xX_Renegade_Xx

Common sense yes does help a lot but if hijackers are aware that funds are freely available on any account and those funds can be transferred to any other account without any further security checks then I sense a big rise in hijacked accounts.

Recent changes to the Steam Subscriber Agreement say that the funds cannot be transferred to a different account (or refunded, for that matter).

The SSA doesn't say whether the funds could be used to purchase gifts for other accounts or only your own.