This guide covers the difference between the two Chinese store languages, your game's Chinese name, what to translate, how to write Chinese text that reads naturally on the page, and how to enter it in Steamworks.
Simplified or Traditional Chinese: add both
Simplified Chinese is the script used in mainland China. Traditional Chinese is used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. In Steam they are two entries in the language list, each with its own text:
| Steam language | Native name | Steamworks API code | Share of Steam users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 简体中文 | schinese | 31.4% |
| Traditional Chinese | 繁體中文 | tchinese | 1.3% |
Codes: Steamworks documentation, Languages Supported on Steam. Shares: Steam Hardware & Software Survey, language section, September 2026. The shares move from month to month.
Valve's documentation names English as Steam's fallback language and does not describe any fallback from one Chinese to the other, so expect Traditional Chinese readers to see your English text, not your Simplified Chinese text. Start with Simplified Chinese because of its size, then add Traditional Chinese.
Traditional Chinese is more than converted characters
Tools that convert Simplified characters to Traditional ones change the script, not the vocabulary. Many everyday words differ between mainland and Taiwanese usage, for example:
| English | Simplified (mainland) | Traditional (Taiwan) |
|---|---|---|
| software | 软件 | 軟體 |
| mouse | 鼠标 | 滑鼠 |
| video | 视频 | 影片 |
A character-converted page is readable, but Taiwanese players notice mainland wording right away. Translate Traditional Chinese from your English text, or have the converted text read and fixed by someone who uses Traditional Chinese.
Steam's Traditional Chinese uses the code zh-TW, so Taiwanese wording is the usual choice. Hong Kong wording differs again: software is 軟件 in Hong Kong.
Give your game a Chinese name
Steamworks lets you set a localized name for each language. Valve's documentation says the localized name is shown to customers who run Steam in that language and is used for their search suggestions, with the base name also kept as a fallback for search suggestions. Keeping the original title next to the Chinese one helps players match the game to videos and posts they have already seen.
If you set a Chinese name, use the same name in your short description, your About This Game text and any images with text, so the page reads as one product.
What to translate
- Short description: the short text under your header image at the top of the page. Players read this first, so translate it carefully.
- About This Game: the long description, including headings, lists and links.
- Images with text: screenshots or banners with English words in them can be uploaded again with Chinese text.
- Trailers: if your trailer has narration or text on screen, you can upload a separate trailer for a language.
Writing Chinese text that reads naturally
- Use full-width Chinese punctuation in Chinese sentences:
，。！？：rather than the English comma and period. For quotation marks, Simplified Chinese uses“ ”and Traditional Chinese (Taiwan) normally uses「 」. - Do not put spaces between Chinese characters. A space is normal only around English words or numbers inside a sentence, and even that varies by writer.
- Keep names that should stay the same: your game's title (or its chosen Chinese name), character names, and mechanics with a fixed name. Use the same Chinese term every time.
- Chinese text is usually much shorter than English. Headings that wrapped onto two lines in English often fit on one, which is fine.
- Keep every formatting tag exactly as it is:
[h2],[img],[url=…],[list]and the links inside them.
Entering the Chinese text in Steamworks
- In the Steamworks partner portal, open the store page text you want to translate.
- Choose Simplified Chinese with the language drop-down at the top right of the text editor, paste the text and save. Do the same for Traditional Chinese.
- For many languages at once, export the store page text as JSON from your store page's localization tools, add the translations, and import the file back in the same place.
- Open the store page preview with Steam set to Simplified Chinese, then Traditional Chinese, and read it before you publish. On a public store page you can also add
?l=schineseor?l=tchineseto the end of the URL.
For the full steps for every language, see How to Translate Your Steam Store Page into Other Languages.
If you translate with AI
Valve's Content Survey in Steamworks asks you to disclose AI-generated content that players consume, and its examples include localization. To be safe, disclose AI-made store page translations there too, before you publish them. If your game is already released, some survey answers can only be changed by contacting Steam Support.
AI translation does well on plain descriptive text. Check the Chinese name, character names and fixed terms, and if you can, ask a player who reads Chinese to read your short description.
Check whether your page has Chinese
Store Page Localizer checks any public Steam store page for free. Enter the store page URL or the app ID and it lists every Steam store language, Simplified and Traditional Chinese included: whether your page is translated, partly translated or still in the original language, the share of Steam users who use that language, and which of them your game already supports. It needs no account and no Steamworks login.
If you want every missing language filled at once, upload the JSON you exported from Steamworks. Each missing Steam store language, both Chinese ones included, is translated by AI from your own text, languages you already translated stay exactly as they are, and you get files to import straight back. You can read a free sample in two languages before you pay. One payment of JP¥5,800 (about US$39) per game, for up to 40,000 characters of store page text.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add Chinese to my Steam store page?
In Steamworks, choose Simplified Chinese with the language drop-down at the top right of each store page text editor, paste the translated text and save, then do the same for Traditional Chinese. You can also export the store page text as JSON, add the translations and import it back. Check the store page preview in both languages before you publish.
Should I use Simplified or Traditional Chinese on Steam?
Both, because Steam shows each one only to players who browse in it. Simplified Chinese is the larger one: 31.4% of Steam users in the September 2026 Steam Hardware & Software Survey, against 1.3% for Traditional Chinese. Start with Simplified Chinese, then add Traditional Chinese.
What do Chinese players see if my Steam page has no Chinese?
They see the text you entered for English, because Valve names English as Steam's fallback language. The same goes for Traditional Chinese readers when your page has only Simplified Chinese, so add both.
Can I convert my Simplified Chinese text to Traditional Chinese automatically?
Character conversion changes the script but not the vocabulary, and many everyday words differ between mainland and Taiwanese usage, such as 软件 and 軟體 for software. Translate Traditional Chinese from your English text, or have the converted text read by someone who uses Traditional Chinese.
Can I give my game a Chinese name on Steam?
Yes. Steamworks lets you set a localized name for each language, and Valve says it is shown to customers who run Steam in that language and is used for their search suggestions. The base name is also kept as a fallback for search suggestions.
Do I need Steam China to reach Chinese players?
Steam China (蒸汽平台) is a separate onshore version of Steam that Valve runs with Perfect World. Valve says it works with a select group of partners there, and games need Chinese government approval first. Adding Chinese text to your regular Steam store page is a separate step that you can do in Steamworks yourself. The 31.4% Simplified Chinese share comes from the regular Steam survey, so those players already read your regular store page.