Steam Removes Another Free Game Accused of Stealing Player Data Through Malware
Steam’s malware problem is not new, but it still has not disappeared. In recent months, the platform has removed several games infected with malicious software, to the point that the FBI opened a criminal investigation to find the people responsible.
The latest game added to that list is Beyond the Dark, a free-to-play survival horror game.
However, the creator of the game reportedly designed it to steal personal information from players. The malware was discovered by cybersecurity YouTuber Eric Parker, who published a video explaining how the game hid malicious software inside a file called UnityPlayer.dll.
Beyond the Dark Removed From Steam Over Malware Concerns
Parker explained that this is a common technical file used in games made with the Unity engine, and it is also easy to change without creating suspicion.
After Parker released the video, Valve removed the game from Steam, meaning it is no longer available to download. Still, players who installed it earlier could now be at risk of having their personal information exposed or stolen without knowing it.
What makes the situation more concerning is not only the malware itself, but also the method reportedly used by the creators to bypass Valve’s security checks. Beyond the Dark did not first appear on Steam in May. It originally launched in December 2024 under a different name and with a completely different look, called Rodent Race.
On May 4, the developers reportedly started changing the game’s name, images, description, and content, eventually turning it into Beyond the Dark, which included the malware.
The problem seems to be that Steam only checks games when they are first published. Steam should clearly improve its security and review systems to make sure situations like this never happen again.
In other news, Steam is preparing a feature that would add a native 30-day price history tool directly to game store pages to improve discount transparency. Another feature reportedly in development is an estimated FPS display that would show how well a game is expected to run on a user’s PC.
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