Steam Developer Tools

Steam & Steamworks integration for Cursor IDE - built for game developers, modders, and power users.

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30 skills  •  9 rules  •  25 MCP tools

Query Steam store data, manage Steamworks app configurations, build multiplayer networking, implement cloud saves, design achievements, manage Workshop mods, compare games, and look up player profiles — all from within Cursor's AI chat. Covers the full Steam & Steamworks ecosystem with live data via the companion Steam MCP Server.

No API key required for most features. Store lookups, player counts, global achievement stats, and app searches all work out of the box.

Quick Start

1. Install the plugin (see below)
2. Ask Cursor anything about Steam:

What's the current price and review score for Hollow Knight?

How many people are playing Elden Ring right now?

Compare Hades, Dead Cells, and Hollow Knight — price, reviews, and current players.

3. Get results — the plugin fetches live data from Steam's APIs and formats it in chat

That's it. No configuration needed for basic usage.

How It Works

flowchart LR
    A["You ask Cursor\na Steam question"] --> B["Cursor loads\na Skill"]
    B --> C{"MCP server\navailable?"}
    C -- Yes --> D["Steam MCP Server\n(25 tools)"]
    C -- No --> E["curl to\nSteam Web API"]
    D --> F["Steam API"]
    E --> F
    F --> G["Formatted answer\nin Cursor chat"]

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Skills teach Cursor how to handle Steam-related prompts. Rules enforce best practices in your game project files. The MCP server provides live, structured API access so skills can fetch real data instead of relying on shell commands.

Features

Skills (30)

 

Category	Skill	What it does
Core SDK	Steam Store Lookup	Look up any game by name or App ID — price, tags, reviews, platforms, system requirements
	Steamworks App Config	Generate depot configs, build VDF files, launch options, DLC setup
	Steam API Reference	Search Web API and SDK docs — endpoint signatures, parameters, auth, code examples
	Steam Testing Sandbox	App ID 480 (SpaceWar) sandbox, test accounts, Steam console commands, dev workflow
	Steam Migration Guide	Migrate from Epic/GOG/itch.io to Steam — Unity, Unreal, Godot SDK integration
Game Features	Steam Achievement Designer	Design achievements, generate VDF/JSON configs, get unlock code (C++/C#/GDScript)
	Steam Multiplayer Networking	Lobbies, matchmaking, Steam Networking Sockets, dedicated servers
	Steam Cloud Saves	Auto-Cloud config and ISteamRemoteStorage SDK — conflict resolution, quotas
	Steam Leaderboards	Create leaderboards, upload scores, download entries (global/friends/around-user)
	Steam Input / Controllers	Action sets, bindings, controller glyphs for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, Steam Deck
	Steam Inventory & Economy	Item drops, crafting, Steam Item Store, ISteamMicroTxn
Social	Steam Friends & Social	Friends list, rich presence, game invites, overlay, avatars
	Steam Profile Lookup	Player profiles — games, playtime, level, badges, friends, activity
	Steam Workshop Helper	Workshop item queries, UGC integration patterns, upload workflow
Analytics	Steam Player Stats	Player counts, achievement rates, playtime data, game libraries
	Steam Game Comparison	Side-by-side comparison — price, reviews, players, genres, platforms
	Steam Review Analysis	Sentiment breakdown, common complaints, update comparisons, review bombs
	Steam Wishlist Estimates	Boxleiter method, conversion rates, revenue projections
Market	Steam Price History	Pricing trends, sale history, regional pricing, value scoring
	Steam Market Research	Genre trends, tag popularity, competitor analysis, market gaps
	Steam Pricing Strategy	Base pricing, regional tiers, launch discounts, bundles, F2P
Publish	Steam Build Automation	SteamPipe CI/CD — GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, Docker, beta branches
	Steam Release Checklist	Pre-release validation — store page, depots, achievements, Deck, pricing
	Steam SteamCMD Helper	steamcmd scripting, Docker builds, Steam Guard, troubleshooting
	Steam Store Page Optimizer	Capsule specs, description structure, tags, trailers, demos, screenshots
Grow	Steam Community Management	Announcements, events, forums, update posts, Community Hub config
	Steam DLC & Expansion Planning	DLC roadmap, season passes, content cadence, pricing tiers
	Steam Playtest Setup	Open/closed playtests, key distribution, signups, Next Fest integration
Quality	Steam Bug Report Template	Structured templates, steam://sysinfo, crash dumps, known issues
	Steam Anti-Cheat Integration	EAC, BattlEye, VAC — Proton/Deck compat, server-side validation

Rules (9)

 

Rule	What it does
App ID Validation	Checks App ID consistency across steam_appid.txt, VDF files, and source code. Warns if 480 (SpaceWar test app) appears in production. Suggests MCP live validation.
Steamworks Secrets	Flags API keys, partner credentials, auth tokens, ssfn files, DRM keys. Suggests secure alternatives.
Steam Deck Compatibility	Flags hardcoded resolutions, mouse-only input, anti-cheat blockers, Windows paths, missing controller support.
MCP Tool Preference	Flags raw curl/fetch calls to Steam APIs when the MCP server is available. Suggests equivalent tools.
Build Config Validation	Validates VDF configs: missing depots, mismatched App IDs, invalid file mappings, setlive safety.
Launch Options Check	Flags missing executables, wrong OS targeting, missing descriptions, invalid type values.
Save File Compatibility	Flags cross-platform issues: binary endianness, OS-specific paths, non-portable serialization.
Network Security	Flags unvalidated auth tickets, trusting client data, missing encryption, deprecated APIs.
API Error Handling	Flags unchecked SteamAPI_Init(), missing StoreStats(), ignored callbacks, missing RunCallbacks().

Companion: Steam MCP Server

The Steam MCP Server provides live, structured API tools that Cursor can call directly — no shell commands needed.

Setup

 

Requires Node.js v18+. Add to .cursor/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "steam": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@tmhs/steam-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "STEAM_API_KEY": "your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

STEAM_API_KEY is only needed for user-specific tools (player summaries, owned games, workshop queries, leaderboards). Store lookups, player counts, and achievement stats work without a key.

Available Tools (25)

 

Read-only (no auth) — 10 tools:

Tool	Description
steam_getAppDetails	Store data — price, reviews, tags, platforms
steam_searchApps	Search the Steam store by name
steam_getPlayerCount	Current concurrent players
steam_getAchievementStats	Global achievement unlock percentages
steam_getWorkshopItem	Workshop item details
steam_getReviews	User reviews with filters for language, sentiment, purchase type
steam_getPriceOverview	Batch price check for multiple apps in a region
steam_getAppReviewSummary	Review score, totals, and positive percentage
steam_getRegionalPricing	Pricing breakdown across multiple countries
steam_getNewsForApp	Recent news and announcements for a game

Read-only (API key) — 8 tools:

Tool	Description
steam_getPlayerSummary	Player profile — name, avatar, status
steam_getOwnedGames	Game library with playtime
steam_queryWorkshop	Search/browse Workshop items
steam_getLeaderboardEntries	Leaderboard scores and rankings
steam_resolveVanityURL	Convert vanity URL to Steam ID
steam_getSchemaForGame	Achievement/stat schema with display names and icons
steam_getPlayerAchievements	Per-player achievement unlock status and timestamps
steam_getLeaderboardsForGame	List all leaderboards with numeric IDs

Write / guidance (publisher key):

Tool	Type	Description
steam_createLobby	SDK guide	Code examples for ISteamMatchmaking lobby creation
steam_uploadWorkshopItem	SDK guide	Code examples for ISteamUGC Workshop uploads
steam_updateWorkshopItem	HTTP POST	Update Workshop item metadata via partner API
steam_setAchievement	HTTP POST	Set/unlock achievements (dev/test)
steam_clearAchievement	HTTP POST	Clear/re-lock achievements (dev/test)
steam_uploadLeaderboardScore	HTTP POST	Upload leaderboard scores
steam_grantInventoryItem	HTTP POST	Grant inventory items

For Modders

 

If you're a mod creator, these tools are directly useful for your Workshop workflow:

Tool	What it does for modders
steam_queryWorkshop	Browse trending mods, find inspiration, check competitor items
steam_getWorkshopItem	Look up any Workshop item — subscribers, tags, update history
steam_uploadWorkshopItem	Get SDK code for publishing your mod to the Workshop
steam_updateWorkshopItem	Update your mod's metadata via the partner API
steam_searchApps	Find games to mod — check Workshop support before starting
steam_getAppDetails	Check a game's categories, tags, and Workshop status

The Workshop Helper skill provides end-to-end guidance for mod creators: uploading, updating, querying, and managing Workshop items with C++, C#, and GDScript examples.

Installation

Marketplace listing pending review. Use manual installation in the meantime.

Clone the repo and symlink it to your local plugins directory:

git clone https://github.com/TMHSDigital/Steam-Cursor-Plugin.git

Windows (PowerShell as Admin)

New-Item -ItemType SymbolicLink -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\.cursor\plugins\local\steam-cursor-plugin" -Target (Resolve-Path .\Steam-Cursor-Plugin)

macOS / Linux

ln -s "$(pwd)/Steam-Cursor-Plugin" ~/.cursor/plugins/local/steam-cursor-plugin

Usage examples (all 30 skills)

 

Store Lookup

Look up Steam App ID 1245620

Steamworks Configuration

Set up Steam build configs for my game. App ID is 2345678, Windows and Linux only.

API Reference

What parameters does ISteamUserStats/GetUserStatsForGame accept?

Player Stats

What are the rarest achievements in Celeste?

Workshop

I want to add Workshop support to my Unity game. How do I handle uploads and downloads?

Achievement Design

I need achievements for my platformer. Milestones: complete tutorial, beat each world, collect all coins, speedrun under 2 hours.

Multiplayer Networking

How do I set up Steam lobbies for a 4-player co-op game?

Cloud Saves

I want to add cloud saves to my roguelike. I have a single save file in AppData/Local.

Leaderboards

My speedrun game needs a leaderboard for each level. Times in ms, lower is better.

Friends & Social

I want to show "Playing as [Character] on [Map]" in the Steam friends list.

Controllers & Steam Deck Input

My platformer has move, jump, dash, and pause. Set up Steam Input for Xbox and Steam Deck.

Inventory & Economy

I want cosmetic hat drops every 2 hours of playtime, plus a Steam Item Store for direct purchases.

Profile Lookup

Look up the Steam profile for vanity URL "gaben"

Game Comparison

Compare App IDs 570 and 730 side by side.

Review Analysis

Analyze recent reviews for Baldur's Gate 3. Are players happy with the latest patches?

Price History

What's the pricing history for Hades? Is it a good deal right now?

Market Research

I'm thinking about making a cozy farming sim. Is the market too saturated?

Wishlist Estimates

My game has 25,000 wishlists two weeks before launch. What should I expect for sales?

Build Automation

Set up GitHub Actions to automatically upload my Unity game to Steam when I push a version tag. App ID 2345678.

Release Checklist

I'm about to launch my game on Steam. App ID 2345678. What do I need to check?

SteamCMD

I need a script to download and update a CS2 dedicated server on Linux.

Community Management

I just released a big content update. Help me write patch notes and set up an announcement.

Store Page Optimization

I need to set up my Steam store page. The game is a pixel art metroidvania. What do I need?

Pricing Strategy

I'm launching a roguelike deckbuilder. 15-20 hours of content. How should I price it?

DLC Planning

I want to plan 3 DLC packs and a season pass for my roguelike. Base game App ID is 2345678.

Playtest Setup

I want to run a closed playtest for my game before Early Access. How do I set it up?

Bug Reporting

I need to set up bug reporting for my game. Players keep submitting vague reports.

Anti-Cheat

I'm making a competitive FPS. I need anti-cheat that works on Steam Deck. What should I use?

Testing Sandbox

I want to test Steam achievements in my game but I don't have an App ID yet. How do I get started?

Migration Guide

I have a game on itch.io built with Godot. I want to bring it to Steam with achievements and cloud saves.

Configuration

Steam API Key setup

 

Some features (player stats, user data, workshop queries) require a Steam Web API key.

1. Get a free key at steamcommunity.com/dev/apikey
2. Set it as an environment variable:

Windows (PowerShell):

$env:STEAM_API_KEY = "your_key_here"

macOS / Linux:

export STEAM_API_KEY="your_key_here"

Persistent (.env file in your project):

STEAM_API_KEY=your_key_here

The plugin's Steamworks Secrets rule will warn you if it detects an API key hardcoded in your source files.

No-key features — these work immediately without configuration:

• Store lookups (price, description, reviews, system requirements)
• Game comparisons (side-by-side analysis)
• Current player counts
• Global achievement unlock percentages
• App and game searches

Roadmap

See ROADMAP.md for the full themed release plan toward v1.0.0.

Release history

 

Version	Theme	Highlights	Status
v0.1.0	Foundation	14 skills, 3 rules, plugin scaffold	Done
v0.2.0	Live Data	Steam MCP server with 10 read-only tools, skill updates	Done
v0.3.0	Insights	Review analysis, price history, market research, wishlist estimates	Done
v0.4.0	Ship It	CI/CD automation, release checklist, steamcmd helper, build validation rules	Done
v0.5.0	Grow	Community management, store page optimization, pricing strategy, DLC planning	Done
v0.6.0	Quality	Playtest setup, bug reporting, anti-cheat, save compat / network security / error handling rules	Done
v0.7.0	Full Power	Testing sandbox, 6 MCP write tools (lobbies, workshop, achievements, leaderboards, inventory)	Done
v0.8.0	Polish	Migration guide, common pitfalls across all 30 skills	Done
v0.9.0	Complete	4 new MCP read tools (reviews, pricing, regional) — 20 MCP tools at release	Done
v1.0.0	Stable	Production release: 30 skills, 9 rules, 25 MCP tools	Current

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines on adding skills, rules, and improvements.

Support

If this plugin is useful to you, consider sponsoring the project.

License

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 — see LICENSE for details.

Steam API reference links

 

• Steam Web API Overview
• Steamworks SDK Reference
• Store API (appdetails)
• Steamworks Partner Documentation
• Steam Workshop Implementation

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Built by TMHSDigital