Huge 12TB Leak Exposes a Decade of Steam’s Game Data

About 12 terabytes of gaming data has reportedly been extracted from the gaming platform Steam, CNET’s sister site IGN reports. The leak seems to show everything that was published on the platform, owned by the game developer Valve, from about 2003 to 2013.

Before you ask, no, the leaked data doesn’t include a complete build of the mythical Half-Life 3, but Mashable reports there is data pertaining to the canceled Half-Life 2: Episode 3. The data also reportedly has prototypes of some games, including an early look at Left 4 Dead that features a different heads-up display and map locations not included in the retail version.

IGN reports the data doesn’t just pertain to Valve games. People have reportedly found data for games like Grand Theft Auto 5 in the leak, as well.

Valve-related content creators Scolcer and Gabe Follower both posted about the leak online. Scolcer writes that the data, dating from 2003 to 2013, was hidden in a public repository.

“No hacking involved,” Gabe Follower wrote on X. “It’s Valve’s fault…”

According to Mashable, the data is from Steam2, which Valve launched in 2003 and used to deliver updates to games via the company’s digital storefront, Steam. Valve replaced Steam2 with SteamPipe in 2013, which is why there is no data from after 2013 within the leak.

The leak reportedly consists of just game data, not player data. Which is great, because no one needs to see my abysmal Team Fortress 2 stats.

Valve did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.

Zachary McAuliffe

Senior writer

Zach began writing for CNET in November, 2021 after writing for a broadcast news station in his hometown, Cincinnati, for five years. You can usually find him hanging out with his wife, son and dog. You can reach him at zmcauliffe@cnet.com.

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