“That’s a really good question. I think the honest answer is: most Chinese players just don’t think of Steam forums as the primary way to communicate with developers.

There are a few reasons:

First, Steam is not fully accessible in China without a third-party tool (often called a ‘game accelerator’ or VPN). So the forums — and sometimes even the store page — aren’t something everyone casually browses. It’s not impossible, but it adds a layer of friction.

Second, and I think this is the bigger one: we’re just not used to forum-style communication anymore. For younger Chinese players, the internet culture shifted from forums to apps like WeChat, QQ, or Bilibili a long time ago. Replying in a forum thread, or sending an email, feels like a much more ‘formal’ and slower way to communicate. Leaving a review, on the other hand, is quick, familiar, and doesn’t require switching context.

Third, many Chinese players actually do use reviews as a way to say ‘please add Chinese’ — not out of anger, but because they’ve seen it work before. Developers often respond to review trends faster than forum threads, especially when a game gets sudden attention from a Chinese streamer or YouTuber. That visibility creates pressure, and the developer decides whether the Chinese market is worth investing in. And honestly? Most players understand if the answer is ‘no’ — they’re not demanding, they’re just signaling.

So yes, forums exist. But for most players, a review is just the path of least resistance. Not the most logical path — just the most familiar one.”