GeoGuessr Steam Edition, a Steam reimagining of one of the world’s best-loved browser games, only released on May 8, but it’s already the second-worst rated game of all time on Steam.
The browser version of GeoGuessr is tremendously successful, boasting 85 million players and a whole host of customization options that let players tailor not only who they play against, but also what maps will spawn, if they’ll be dropped into an urban or rural setting, restrict spawns to certain geographical regions, toggle the ability to move, pan, or zoom — or not move, pan or zoom (NMPZ) — and more, including a smorgasbord of fantastic community-made custom maps.
Of the over 3,000 user reviews left thus far about the Steam version since last Wednesday, however, 84% are negative, with the majority of players complaining about the free-to-play game’s monetization system and stark lack of gameplay options compared to the browser edition.
That’s not the only thing bothering GeoGuessr fans, however. If you link your browser GeoGuessr account to your Steam one, you cannot unlink it, nor can you log out of the Steam version. You cannot play alone, not even to practise and improve. The free amateur mode seems to be full of bots rather than real-life players. And perhaps most surprisingly of all, even if you pay to unlock the features on the browser version, this does not carry over to Steam.
In its defense, GeoGuessr does make this clear — in its FAQs, the developer states “having a GeoGuessr browser subscription does not grant you full access to the GeoGuessr Steam Edition, unless you have an Elite Yearly subscription” — and unlike the browser edition, which requires an annual payment, the Steam Edition Steam Pass is a “one-time purchase giving you access to the full game for the year.” It is also clearly marked as an early access title, so it can refine the gameplay, introduce new features, “and ensure the best possible experience with direct feedback from players.”
However, it’s clear from both the Steam discussion forums and GeoGuessr’s subreddit that the monetization model and lack of features has really taken players by surprise.
Though sold as free-to-play, GeoGuessr Steam arguably offers less than an hour’s free content (that’s how long it took us to complete it), hosts just one mode, Duels (wherein you ostensibly face-off against another human player), and lets you play in just one league: Amateur Division. That’s it. Without paying for the $2.50 monthly subscription — which does not bill monthly but instead requires a $30 upfront one-off payment — you cannot access higher ranks. There are no other modes at all at this time.
To be clear, GeoGuessr’s browser game is not free, either. While you can play three rounds a day for free, to unlock all modes, you need to subscribe to one of three premium tiers: Pro Basic at $2.49 a month, Pro Unlimited’s $2.99pm, or Pro Elite’s $4.99pm. Only the latter two include free access to the Steam game.
In an exclusive statement to IGN, GeoGuessr said it was “excited to have a first version of our game available on Steam, something that has been highly requested by our community for a long time.” It said that the Steam rollout “align[ed] with its vision of letting everyone explore the world, regardless of their preferred platform,” adding: “Bringing the game to Steam offers some great new possibilities, like connecting with Steam friends, enabling additional anti-cheat functionality, and so on.”
That anti-cheat functionality is hugely important to the GeoGuessr community, too. The browser game has long been plagued by cheaters using exploits, bots, or good ‘ole Google, despite it clearly being against the community rules, so it’s possible the developers hopes to lean on Steam’s architecture to help combat pervasive cheating.
“This is a major milestone for us, and also just the beginning,” explained head of marketing, Tomas Jonson. “The game is currently in Early Access, and we’re committed to expanding and improving both the free and paid experiences over time. Much of the feedback so far has been around the monetization of the game, with many wishing for a one-time purchase model.”
The developer said that as GeoGuessr relies on data from Google Street View, “where the costs for street view are ongoing and tied to the number of games played,” it based the Steam edition “on a model similar to what we use in the browser game.”
“The main exception that the Steam Pass is a non-recurring yearly purchase,” Jonson pointed out.
GeoGuessr suggests the Steam version will be in early access for “at least six months”, and it will “introduce new features and ensure the best possible experience with direct feedback from players.” It also states on its Steam page that it aims to “expand” the Steam game with “new modes, maps, and competitive features.”
“We really appreciate the high engagement and all the player feedback we have received so far. We’ll continue listening closely and working with the community as we further develop the Steam Edition,” Jonson concluded.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
