Steam scams continue to threaten PC gaming success, as popular hits like Helldivers 2 and Palworld face cunning counterfeit schemes in 2026.

In the dynamic landscape of PC gaming, massive success on platforms like Steam can be a double-edged sword. While it signifies a major achievement for developers, it also paints a target on their backs for opportunistic scammers looking to exploit popular hype. As of 2026, this unfortunate trend continues to be a persistent issue, with notable recent examples being the surprise hits Helldivers 2 and Palworld. These games, celebrated for their innovative gameplay and massive player bases, have repeatedly been the focus of fraudulent schemes where scammers attempt to trick eager consumers into purchasing counterfeit or misrepresented products on Steam.

steam-s-moderation-challenges-and-the-scams-targeting-helldivers-2-palworld-image-0

Whenever a game creates significant waves within the gaming community, there is inevitably someone who tries to capitalize on that momentum. The common tactic involves either creating an entirely new but inferior project that mimics the original's branding or, more insidiously, editing the store listing of an already existing, obscure game to impersonate the popular title. This practice preys on the excitement of potential buyers who might be searching for a deal or who are not paying close attention to the details. Fortunately, the gaming community is often vigilant; internet-savvy users are usually quick to identify and call out listings that are not legitimate, serving as a first line of defense against these deceptive practices.

The case of Helldivers 2, the critically acclaimed cooperative shooter from Arrowhead Game Studios, provides a clear example. In 2024, user @Wario64 on X (formerly Twitter) shared images of three suspicious Steam listings all purporting to be Helldivers 2. The first was listed at the standard price of $39.99, while the others featured steep, almost unbelievable discounts. An investigation into the SteamDB data for one of these products revealed the scam's mechanics: a user had altered the game's core store metadata. The original title, Figurality, was crossed out and marked in red, while the store name and description were changed to Helldivers 2. Steam's response in this instance was relatively swift, and the fraudulent listing was removed, but the incident highlighted a vulnerability in the platform's ecosystem.

A strikingly similar instance occurred with Palworld, the surprise survival game phenomenon from Pocketpair that blends creature collection with base-building mechanics. On the game's dedicated subreddit, user u/Maximum_Quartermain highlighted a fraudulent listing. A product titled Palword (note the misspelling) with a sharp 95% discount was found positioned immediately below the legitimate Palworld page in search results, a placement clearly designed to catch the eye of bargain hunters. Delving into this product's SteamDB history told a familiar story: the original game, Stolen Mushrooms, had its title and description unceremoniously crossed out and replaced to impersonate the popular title. Steam also acted to remove this listing.

steam-s-moderation-challenges-and-the-scams-targeting-helldivers-2-palworld-image-1

While these specific incidents of hijacking existing product pages are less common than the proliferation of outright clone games, they point to a broader, ongoing challenge for Steam: content moderation. The platform hosts a vast and ever-growing library, making consistent, real-time oversight a monumental task. This environment can allow bad actors to slip through, at least temporarily. The core issue isn't necessarily frequency but the potential impact on trust. A single successful scam can disillusion a new user and damage the platform's reputation for reliability.

Common Scam Characteristics on Steam:

  • Too-Good-to-Be-True Discounts: Listings offering 90-95% off on a brand-new, popular game are a massive red flag.

  • Slight Misspellings: Fraudsters often use titles like "Palword" or "Helldiverz 2" to bypass simple filters and confuse quick searches.

  • Sparse or Copied Content: Fake listings often have very few screenshots, reused assets from other games, or descriptions that are generic or directly copied from the real game's page.

  • Suspicious Developer/Publisher Info: The company name may be unfamiliar, non-existent, or a clear parody.

  • Recent & Drastic Metadata Changes: As seen on SteamDB, a history of recent, sweeping changes to a game's name and description is a telltale sign of a hijacked page.

Despite these challenges, the community itself remains a powerful moderating force. Players are often the first to spot discrepancies and will flood the review section of a fraudulent game with warnings, tagging it with the "Off-Topic Review Bomb" label to alert others. This collective vigilance is crucial in the gaps between a scam's appearance and its removal by Valve's moderation team.

The backdrop to all of this is the undeniable and sustained success of both Helldivers 2 and Palworld. By 2026, these titles have solidified their places as modern classics, maintaining strong player counts and cultural relevance. Helldivers 2 mastered the formula of chaotic, team-based warfare with a satirical edge, while Palworld continued to expand its unique blend of survival, automation, and creature collection. Their lasting popularity makes them perennial targets for imitators and scammers looking to leverage their brand recognition. The persistence of these scams serves as a reminder that in the digital marketplace, popularity must be guarded as carefully as it is earned. For platforms like Steam, the balancing act between an open marketplace and a secure, trustworthy storefront remains an ongoing priority, with community watchdogs playing an indispensable role.