Valve releases Steam Trading Cards, overhauls community pages

Steam users can now craft game badges and level up their accounts with the service's trading card system, Valve announced.

Steam Trading Cards are digital cards that Steam users can trade or cash in for rewards. After collecting a set, users can then transform cards into a game badge. These badges are tied to user accounts and earn their owners profile backgrounds, coupons and emoticons. Badges can also increase a user's level. Higher levels will earn extra friend list slots, profile showcases including the user's favorite games and mods, and more.

Steam's Community profile pages have been updated to include customizable options on what users are playing, items available for trade, achievements and more. For those with a Steam account more than a year old and at least one game, two badges have been automatically awarded.

Valve announced last week that Steam Trading Cards would finally exit its beta phase. Previously, users could pick up cards while playing Portal 2, Half-Life 2, Team Fortress 2, Don't Starve, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Valve will continue to add new games.