Effective November 20, Steam will implement a change in the official currencies used in Argentina and Turkey. To address the volatility of exchange rates in these two countries, Steam has opted to use the U.S. dollar (USD) as its purchase currency. This change will be accompanied by two new pricing regions: LATAM-USD, which will encompass Argentina, and MENA-USD, which will include Turkey.
This decision is based on the challenges faced by game developers in maintaining stable prices amidst fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs, taxes, and logistics. Steam seeks to offer greater stability to players and partners in Argentina and Turkey. Despite the currency change, developers will retain the freedom to set prices on the platform.
This change will impact not only Argentina and Turkey but also 25 other countries and territories in Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa. These regions will adopt a regionalized USD pricing structure for the first time, and pricing variations will depend on how games were priced on Steam before this change. In addition, in-game transactions will default to USD in these new pricing regions.
In summary, Steam aims to ensure a stable and reliable experience for its users and partners in Argentina, Turkey, and other countries in Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa by adopting the U.S. dollar as the transaction currency.
What STEAM OFFICIAL Says
Frequently Asked Questions
What will happen to my Steam wallet balance in Argentine pesos or Turkish lira?
On November 20, 2023, any balance in your Steam wallet will be converted to USD at the exchange rate of the day.
What is happening with those other countries/territories included in the LATAM-USD/MENA-USD prices?
25 countries/territories in Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa will receive regionalized pricing in USD for the first time. Some countries/territories in the list below may see a price increase, and others may see a price decrease depending on how the developer priced games on Steam before this change.
What about in-game transactions?
In the future, in-game transactions will default to USD in these new pricing regions, LATAM – USD and MENA – USD.
What about subscriptions?
Any customer who had an active subscription on Steam in Argentine Peso or Turkish Lira will have their subscription automatically terminated after the active subscription period. You can resubscribe to the new USD subscription on Steam via the subscription management page. You can access this page by going to your username at the top right of the Steam client, then selecting Account Details and clicking the Manage Subscriptions link at the top of the page.
Source: Steam