Technology
12TB archive of historic Steam game builds leaks online
A massive dataset spanning 2003 to 2013 contains unreleased prototypes, cut game content, and early playtest versions.
The short version
- A 12-terabyte archive named the Steam2 Teraleak surfaced online, featuring game versions and development builds uploaded to Valve's servers between 2003 and 2013.
- The leak includes previously unreleased prototypes, cut content, and beta builds for titles such as Portal 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Half-Life 2: Episode 3, CS: GO, Spore, and Dragon Age: Origins.
- Data miners and community researchers state the files were retrieved from an unprotected public API or server before Valve shifted to its SteamPipe distribution system in 2013.
- It remains uncertain whether the underlying data was retrieved recently or compiled from private hoards gathered years ago.
Key facts
- A 12TB archive of old Steam2 content containing game builds from 2003 to 2013 was leaked online.[Slashdot]
- Discovered files include deleted content from Portal 2, files linked to Half-Life 2: Episode 3, and early builds of games like Left 4 Dead 2 and Spore.[Slashdot]
- The archived content cuts off in 2013, coinciding with Valve's transition from the Steam2 system to SteamPipe.[Slashdot]
- Data miners Gabe Follower and Scolcer reported that the files originated from an unencrypted, publicly accessible API or site.[Slashdot]
What remains uncertain
- It is unknown whether the public API was accessed recently to compile the leak or if the archive is a collection of files downloaded years ago and held in private collections.[Slashdot]