Valve has removed a game that infected gaming PCs with malware. Valve has sent a message to affected users. However, according to user data, it is unlikely that many players are affected.
What game is it about? Specifically, it is about the free game PirateFi, which was released on Steam on February 6, 2025. However, just a few days after the release, the game was already taken offline.
Why was it taken offline? SteamDB reports on x.com that some players received an email from Valve. In this email, they were informed that there were suspicious files in the last build of the game “PirateFi.” At the same time, the email warned players that their system might have been infected with malware. Specifically, it states:
We are contacting you because you recently ran PirateFi on Steam. The Steam account of the developer for this game has released builds on Steam that contained suspicious malware. You played PirateFi on Steam while these builds were active, so it is possible that these malicious files were launched on your computer.
How many players are affected? Probably very few. According to SteamDB, the game had a peak of 5 players, and the website estimates the users who have registered the game on their account to be somewhere between 800 and 1,500. Therefore, the chance is very low that you have downloaded this app.
Antivirus Software, Check Installation, and Format Partition
What can be done about it? The first and most important step, if you really suspect you are affected by malware: Disconnect your computer from the internet. Because usually, the software communicates with the fraudster sitting somewhere on the internet.
In the next step, you should switch to Windows Safe Mode. Only the most essential data is loaded here. Ideally, the virus has not yet settled in: Press F8 as soon as you start the computer and select the menu option “Enable Safe Mode.” Next, delete all temporary files using Windows Disk Cleanup. Ideally, the malware hasn’t gotten further.
Valve also mentions several options that you can take against malware:
- Check your computer with an antivirus system of your choice. Ideally, use an external solution, as malware may have also infected your installed antivirus software, thereby distorting the data.
- Check your system for any new software installed in the last few days that you did not install yourself.
- Valve recommends formatting the corresponding partition to completely eliminate the malware: However, note that all files on the formatted partition will be lost. This includes games and personal data.
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