You now have to spend at least $5 to access some Steam features Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. You now have to spend at least $5 to access some Steam features Valve battles spamming and phishing. News by Wesley Yin-Poole Deputy Editorial Director Updated on 22 May 2019 111 comments Steam users must now spend at least $5 to access some of the platform's most popular features. Valve hopes its new system will combat spamming and phishing on Steam. Valve has limited access to features such as sending friend invites, voting on Greenlight and gaining Trading Cards in a bid to combat spamming and phishing. "Malicious users often operate in the community on accounts which have not spent any money, reducing the individual risk of performing the actions they do," Valve explained in an update on Steam. "One of the best pieces of information we can compare between regular users and malicious users are their spending habits as typically the accounts being used have no investment in their longevity. Due to this being a common scenario we have decided to restrict certain community features until an account has met or exceeded $5.00 USD in Steam." Here are the features "limited users", as they're called, can no longer access: Sending friend invites Opening group chat Voting on Greenlight, Steam Reviews and Workshop items Participating in the Steam Market Posting frequently in the Steam Discussions Gaining Steam Profile Levels (Locked to level 0) and Trading Cards Submitting content on the Steam Workshop Posting in an item's Steam Workshop Discussions Accessing the Steam Web API Using browser and mobile chat It's worth noting that CD keys, retail purchases and gifts do not remove limited user restrictions. You will need to spend at least $5 within the Steam store itself. For example, you can add the equivalent of $5 (Valve will work out the currency conversion) or more to your Steam Wallet, buy a game or games equal to $5 or more from the Steam store, add a Steam Wallet card to your Steam account, or buy a Steam gift equal to $ or more from the Steam store. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Digital Foundry Sennheiser's legendary HD 599 open-back headphones are just £70 at Amazon in the Prime Early Access Sale Comfortable with neutral sound and a wide sound stage. Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. 1 Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 61 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store